During a special meeting last night, the Unit 4 Board of Education approved three administrative appointments.
Ms. Eliza Brooks was appointed as the Principal of South Side Elementary School.
She began her career in education in August 1992 as a Head Start Teacher at the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency. In the 2000-2001 school year, she joined Danville Public Schools and served there for 23 years. During that time, she served as an Elementary Teacher (for 8 years) and Principal (for 15 years). In July 2023, Ms. Brooks joined Peoria Public Schools as Executive Director of Middle Schools. She will leave this position to become the next Principal at South Side Elementary School.
Ms. Brooks earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (2000) and a Master of Education in Educational Administration (2005), both from Eastern Illinois University. She is currently enrolled at Aurora University in the Leadership in Educational Administration: Superintendent Endorsement doctoral program and anticipates completion of her Superintendent Endorsement in 2026, and her doctorate in 2028.
This appointment is effective July 1, 2025.
Ms. Albulena (Abby) Emroski was appointed as the RISE Center Program Administrator.
She began her career in education when she joined Decatur Public Schools in August 2017, where she served for five years. During this time, she worked as a 5th Grade Teacher at Hope Academy, 3rd Grade Teacher at Dennis Lab Elementary, and 5th Grade Teacher at Johns Hill Magnet. In August 2022, Ms. Emroski joined Unit 4 when she accepted her first school administrator role as Dean of Students at International Prep Academy, and then transitioned to Assistant Principal there for the 2023-2024 school year. In July 2024, Ms. Emroski joined Booker T. Washington STEM Academy as an Assistant Principal & Summer School Principal. She will leave this position to become the RISE Center Program Administrator.
Ms. Emroski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics from North Central College (2016) and Master of Education in Educational Administration from Illinois State University (2023).
The effective date of Ms. Emroski’s appointment is July 1, 2025.
Mr. Enrique (Rick) Loy was appointed as the Director of Transportation.
Mr. Loy served in the United States Army from May 2004-August 2019. He began his service as a Firing Platoon Leader. He served in a variety of capacities after this, including major leadership positions. From August 2019-July 2023, Mr. Loy worked as a Professor of Military Science with the Eastern Illinois University ROTC Program. In November 2023, he joined Unit 4 Schools as the Transportation Operations Supervisor, and was then promoted to an Assistant Director position in April 2024. Mr. Loy will now become the next Director of Transportation.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing (2003) from New Mexico State University and a Master of Science in Administration (2015) from Central Michigan University.
This appointment is effective July 1, 2025.