The Center for Education in Small Urban Communities and the College of Education hosted a reception on Tuesday, February 28, to recognize alumna Dr. Judy Wiegand for her recent appointment as the new Superintendent of Schools for the Champaign Unit 4 school district.

The Center and the College welcomed college and community members, including Preston Williams, Urbana District 116 Superintendent, and Don Owens, Urbana District 116 Assistant Superintendent. Campus colleagues, including Provost Richard Wheeler, Vice Provost Barbara Wilson, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Peter Mortenson, and Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Kristi Kuntz, also congratulated Dr. Wiegand on her new post.

Dr. Wiegand has served in the Champaign Unit 4 School District since 1987, beginning as a special education teacher. Since that time she has also served as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal and Principal of Centennial High School, and Director of Secondary Education, Assessment, and Professional Development. She currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Achievement and Pupil Services. Dr. Wiegand earned her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership from the College of Education in 2003.

Established in the spring of 2007, the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities, directed by Associate Professor Lisa Monda-Amaya, is a research, service, and outreach unit that focuses on enhancing teaching and learning. The Center houses a number of professional development and outreach activities. The Center plays an active role in fulfilling the University of Illinois’ strategic service directions and helps guide the establishment of ongoing, research-based professional development partnerships with area schools.

"Seeing so many people on hand to congratulate our alumna was heartwarming. We are thrilled that the University shares with us a strong commitment to the robust University-School Partnerships established through the work of the Center and the College of Education," said Dean Mary Kalantzis. "Expanding and deepening our relationship now with Dr. Wiegand as she assumes her new role as the Champaign District School superintendent really matters to us all."

Also building on that relationship, the College's Office of School University Research Relations, headed by Director Anne Robertson, coordinates and monitors the placement of research in preK-12 schools. With the goals of maintaining relationships with district and school administrators and advising faculty and graduate student researchers on appropriate research placements, Robertson and her staff work to connect school administrators with university faculty for the development of mutually beneficial research projects.