During the Unit 4 Board of Education special meeting Thursday evening (May 15, 2025), the board approved four administrative appointments.
Ms. Cessily Thomas was appointed as the principal of Booker T. Washington STEM Academy.
She began her career in education in January 2007 when she joined Unit 4 Schools as a Spanish Teacher at Centennial High School. She relocated to Joliet District 86 in Joliet, IL in August 2007 as a Spanish Teacher. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, she accepted a high school Spanish Teacher position with Rich South High School in Richton Park, IL. After two years of service with Rich South, Ms. Thomas rejoined Unit 4 Schools as a Spanish/AVID Teacher at Centennial High School. In August 2022, she became the Dean of Students at Centennial High School. After one year in that role, she was promoted into the Associate Principal/Summer School Principal role there. Ms. Thomas will leave this position to become the next Principal of Booker T. Washington STEM Academy beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Ms. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages with Spanish Teacher Licensure (2006) and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership (2022), both from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL.
The effective date of Ms. Thomas’s appointment as Principal of Booker T. Washington STEM Academy is July 1, 2025.
Dr. Cynthia Watson was appointed as the principal of Edison Middle School.
Dr. Watson began her career in education in August 2011 when she joined Teach for America as a Second Grade Teacher and later a High School Social Studies Teacher at Fall Creek Academy in Indianapolis, IN. After two years, she joined Distinctive Schools in Chicago, IL when she accepted a position as a Social Studies and Language Arts Teacher. In August 2014, she became a Language Arts Teacher at Amandla Charter School in Chicago. In January 2018, she joined Butler College Prep in Chicago as a Gifted Coordinator and Teacher. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, Dr. Watson joined Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and served there for four years. During that time, she served as an Assistant Principal, Resident Principal, and an MTSS Instructional Support Lead. In January 2024, Dr. Watson joined Unit 4 Schools as Director of School Improvement. She will leave this position to become the next Principal of Edison Middle School beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Dr. Watson holds a Bachelor of Science in History, with a minor in Secondary Education, from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2011) and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marian University (2013). She also earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from University of Illinois, Chicago (2024).
The effective date of Dr. Watson’s appointment is July 1, 2025.
Mr. Benjamin Truong was appointed as the Dean of Students at Franklin STEAM Academy.
Mr. Truong began his career in education in August 2017 when he became a Social Studies Teacher at Waukegan CUSD #60 in Waukegan, IL. In August 2019, he accepted a position as a Social Science Teacher with Decatur Public Schools in Decatur, IL, and has served in this role for the last six years. He will leave this position to begin his first role as a school administrator when he joins Unit 4 as Dean of Students at Franklin STEAM Academy in July 2025.
Mr. Truong holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education in Social Sciences (2016) from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL. He will begin work toward administrative licensure in June 2025.
The effective date of this appointment is July 25, 2025.
Ms. Janelle Wright was appointed as the Dean of Students at Centennial High School.
Ms. Wright began her career in education in August 2014 when she accepted a position as a Social Studies Teacher with St. Louis Public Schools in St. Louis, MO. In August 2020, she joined East St. Louis District 189 as an Academic Interventionist, where she has served for the last five years. Ms. Wright will leave this position to begin her first role as a school administrator when she joins Unit 4 as Dean of Students at Centennial High.
Ms. Wright also served in the United States Air Force from July 1988-July 2012. During her time in active duty, she served in multiple roles including:
Medical Tech (1988-1995)
USAF Military Training Instructor (1995-1999)
Airman Leadership School Senior Instructor (1999-2002)
USAF Detachment 1, Ft. Jackson – Commander (2002-2005)
USAF, Headquarters Air Force ROTC – Regional Director of Admissions (2005-2009)
USAF, Defense Contract Management Agency – Program Manager (2009-2011)
United States Air Force (USAF) – Flight Commander (2011-2012)
Ms. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University (2001) a Masters of Arts in Human Resources Management from Webster University (2004). She also earned a Masters of Education in Educational Studies (2016), as well as her principal licensure (2024), from McKendree University.
The effective date of this appointment is July 25, 2025.
Congratulations everyone!