The Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education has approved six new administrative appointments that will help lead the District’s work in supporting incoming Superintendent Dr. Geovanny Ponce.
Chief of Schools – Dr. Alecia Bell
Dr. Alecia Bell joins Unit 4 as Chief of Schools, bringing more than 20 years of educational leadership experience from the Houston Independent School District, the largest school district in Texas.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bell has served as a dean of instruction, elementary and middle school principal, and Executive Director of School Improvement and Support. Most recently, she served as Vice President of School Improvement for IDEA Public Schools.
Dr. Bell has led large-scale turnaround efforts, coached executive leaders and principals, and developed systems designed to drive measurable student outcomes. Her work has consistently focused on building leadership capacity, strengthening instructional practices, and supporting continuous improvement across schools.
Chief Academic Officer – Dr. Jake Flowers
Dr. Jake Flowers has been named Chief Academic Officer after serving for more than five years as superintendent of Norwood School District in Peoria County.
Dr. Flowers brings a diverse educational background that includes experience as a special education teacher, dean of students, athletic director, principal, and superintendent. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving instructional practices, supporting educators, and ensuring students have access to high-quality learning opportunities.
Currently serving as a superintendent, Dr. Flowers has demonstrated success in improving student outcomes through a strong focus on literacy, numeracy, and aligned instructional systems. His leadership approach emphasizes building trust, maintaining clear communication, and ensuring resources are strategically aligned to support student achievement.
Chief Human Resources Officer – Dr. Alejandro Gomez
Dr. Alejandro Gomez has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer.
A University of Illinois graduate and longtime Champaign County resident, Dr. Gomez most recently served as Associate Director of Human Resources for the University of Illinois System. Before that role, he spent more than a decade as Senior Assistant Director at the University of Illinois Counseling Center.
Gomez is also active in the community through his service with the Champaign County Mental Health Board and the Stephens Family YMCA. He brings extensive experience in talent development, employee relations, organizational leadership, and workforce engagement.
Chief Student Support Officer – Dr. Christinia Wehde-Roddiger
Dr. Christinia Wehde-Roddiger joins Unit 4 with more than 25 years of experience designing and leading student support systems at Houston ISD, one of the nation’s largest urban school districts.
Throughout her career, she has focused on improving outcomes for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, gifted students, and other historically underserved populations. She has led districtwide initiatives involving Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), special populations programming, advanced academic access, accountability systems, and postsecondary readiness.
Most recently, Dr. Wehde-Roddiger served as Executive Director of Postsecondary Programming for Houston ISD, where she helped expand access to Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and Early College opportunities while improving outcomes for vulnerable student populations.
She is recognized for her ability to design equitable systems, use data to inform decision-making, and ensure all students receive the supports necessary for success.
Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer – Carla Phelan-Erdey, APR
Carla Phelan-Erdey, APR, brings 30 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, and community engagement to her role as Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer.
An award-winning communications leader, Phelan-Erdey has supported school districts ranging from single-school systems to large, diverse districts serving more than 24,000 students. Her expertise includes strategic planning, crisis communication, stakeholder engagement, media relations, and community outreach.
She has received numerous honors from the National School Public Relations Association, including the Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award, recognizing her commitment to mentoring and developing future communications professionals. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association and teaches in the College of Media at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Phelan-Erdey holds a master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also holds Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
Chief Business Officer – Ray Toliver Jr.
Ray Toliver Jr. has been appointed Chief Business Officer, bringing extensive experience in school finance, operations, and strategic planning.
Toliver currently serves as Chief School Business Official for Carbondale Community High School District 165, where he oversees business services, financial planning, facilities, transportation, food services, and operational systems.
Known for his commitment to fiscal stewardship, transparency, and operational excellence, Toliver has helped school districts strengthen financial stability while maximizing resources to support student success. His expertise includes school finance, compliance, strategic planning, and aligning operational systems with organizational goals.
Toliver holds a Master of Business Administration from Missouri Baptist University, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Greenville University, and is a Licensed Chief School Business Official in the State of Illinois.