CU4 Board of Education approves five administrative appointments

CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – During the July 22nd meeting, the Unit 4 Board of Education approved five administrative appointments.

Caroline Martin was named Assistant Principal at Barkstall Elementary. Her educational career began in August 2019 at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High as a Special Education Teacher. She then served as a High School Life Skills/English Teacher at Fisher High School from August 2020 to May 2023. In August 2023, Martin took a position as a Special Education Teacher at Garden Hills Academy within Unit 4 Schools. She will vacate this role to start her first administrative position at Barkstall.

Martin earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Illinois State University in 2019. She went on to obtain a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2021 and a Principal endorsement in 2022, both from Eastern Illinois University. Her appointment takes effect on July 29, 2024.

Albulena (Abby) Emroski was appointed Assistant Principal & Summer School Principal at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. She embarked on her educational journey with Decatur Public Schools in August 2017, where she spent five years teaching 5th and 3rd grade. Emroski joined Unit 4 in August 2022 as Dean of Students at International Prep Academy and transitioned to Assistant Principal for the 2023-2024 school year. She will depart from IPA to assume her new role at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy.

Emroski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Mathematics minor from North Central College, earned in 2016, and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Illinois State University, obtained in 2023. Her appointment is effective as of July 23, 2024.

Sean Flaherty has been named the Athletic Director/Dean of Students at Edison Middle School. His educational career commenced in August 1996 as a Social Studies Teacher at Momence High School, where he contributed for five years. In August 2001, he transitioned to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School in the same capacity. The 2003-2004 academic year saw him at LeRoy High School, again as a Social Studies Teacher. Two years later, he joined Unit 5 Regional Alternative School in Bloomington, IL, as a Social Studies Teacher. By August 2008, Flaherty was at Pontiac High School, teaching Special Education within the Alternative Education Program. From the 2010-2011 school year onward, he has been with Decatur Public Schools, serving as a Special Education Teacher and, more recently, a Social Studies Teacher. Flaherty is departing his current role to assume his inaugural administrative position at Edison with Unit 4.

Moreover, Flaherty brings a wealth of experience in athletics, having coached baseball, basketball, football, golf, softball, and volleyball across middle school, high school, and college levels. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, minoring in History, from Knox College in 1996 and received his Special Education LBSI endorsement from Eureka College in 2008. His appointment takes effect on July 23, 2024.

Tomisha Carter has been named the Assistant Principal at Edison Middle School. Her educational career commenced in September 2009 with Fort Wayne Community Schools in Fort Wayne, IN. Over seven years, she served as a 5th Grade Teacher, 6th Grade Reading Teacher, and 6-8 Language Arts Interventionist. In August 2016, she moved to Urbana, IL, joining Urbana School District 116 as an Intermediate Grades Teacher. The 2018-2019 academic year saw her as a 5th Grade/Special Education Teacher at Rantoul City Schools. From the 2019-2020 school year, she taught 8th Grade English Language Arts at Danville Schools #118. Carter took on her first administrative role in August 2022 as Dean of Students at Edison Middle School within Unit 4 Schools. She will soon assume her new role as Assistant Principal.

Carter earned a Bachelor of Science in Music with a Marketing minor from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 and a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Cambridge College in 2009. She recently obtained an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, in 2024. Her appointment takes effect on July 25, 2024.

Lakesha Spight has been appointed Dean of Students at Centennial High School. Since August 2001, she has undertaken various support staff roles across school districts, including Bookkeeper/Food Service Supervisor, Secretary, and Teacher Aide. Her licensed educator journey began in August 2020 as a School Social Worker with Sauk Village School District #168 in Sauk Village, IL. In August 2021, she continued as a School Social Worker with Harvey School District #152 in Harvey, IL. After relocating to Champaign in August 2022, Spight joined Unit 4 Schools as a School Social Worker at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. She is set to depart from this role.

Spight has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 2016, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Social Work in 2019, all from Aurora University. Additionally, she obtained a Principal endorsement from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2023. Her appointment will take effect on July 25, 2024.