CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The Champaign Unit 4 School District voted to approve Dr. Geovanny Ponce as its new superintendent Monday night.
Ponce has spent more than two decades in public education.
The District said Ponce grew up in poverty in Honduras. Most recently, he served as chief of schools in Fairfax County Public Schools, where he oversaw over 200 campuses and centers that served approximately 182,000 students in the largest school district in Virginia.
The District said Ponce provided support to manage a $3.8 billion budget.
Prior to Fairfax, Ponce served as assistant superintendent of high schools for the Houston Independent School District, one of the nation's largest public school systems.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Honduras, a master’s degree in public education from the University of Houston and a doctorate in education from Texas A&M University.
“The Board, on behalf of a grateful community, extends its profound thanks to Acting Superintendent Dan Casillas for his steady, selfless leadership over the past nine months. When called upon to step into the breach, Mr. Casillas did so without fanfare and righted our ship. Dr. Ponce will lead our district into its next chapter with a focus on academic excellence for all students. His talents and temperament reflect what the community demanded of our next superintendent,” said Champaign Unit 4 School District Board President Tony Bruno.
“If you knew me probably 50 years ago, you wouldn't recognize me — living in poverty and education changed my life. Because of a good teacher, I am here today. This is exactly what I'm going to give every single one, more than 10,000 children that we have here,” Ponce said.
Ponce will begin his role on July 1.
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