URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — For Megan Kirby, stepping into the principal's office at Thomas Paine Elementary is more than a career milestone; it is a homecoming.
The Urbana Board of Education has officially approved Kirby as the next principal of Thomas Paine Elementary. Kirby, a 2008 Urbana High School graduate, attended Thomas Paine as a child.
"It's like full circle," Kirby said. "I never thought this would happen, me being at Thomas Paine as the principal."
Kirby credited her mother for her strong passion for education. Her mother worked as a full-time substitute at the school, often encouraging her daughter toward special education because of her patience and love for helping others.
That early exposure sparked a passion that led to a 14-year career in education. Kirby spent nine years as a special education teacher before moving into administration, most recently serving as the associate principal at Jefferson Middle School.
Now, walking the hallways where she once learned to read and write brings back vivid memories. She recalled her mother teaching her the "Electric Slide" in the old gym, now the cafeteria. Kirby also said her father's masonry company helped build part of the school's renovations.
"I still feel those hallways when I was in kindergarten through fifth grade, and those teachers and I remember whose classroom was where," Kirby said.
Kirby says her top priority as principal will be fostering a strong school culture where students, teachers and families feel valued.
"My goal is to make this a place where everyone feels supported and knows they can succeed," Kirby said.
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