25-02-2025
Champaign Central High School hires first African American principal in school history
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign School Board has approved a new high school principal who is making history.
Montia Gardner was officially appointed at Monday's night meeting. The vote for Gardner's appointment was unanimous. District officials told WCIA they believe she is the first African-American principal at the school.
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Gardner started teaching at Huth Middle School in the Chicago area in 2003, where she taught Theatre/Communication Arts, English, and Social Studies. She also taught English and Social Studies at two high schools in Gary, Indiana.
She then taught in Baltimore, MD in 2016 as an adjunct professor in Education at University of Maryland-Baltimore County and also taught at Community Colleges of Baltimore County starting in 2020.
Three years ago, Gardner started as an Assistant Principal at Central High School, before later becoming the Summer School Principal and the Associate Principal at the school.
Gardner attained her Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from DePaul University in 2003, and her Masters in School Leadership from Concordia University in 2009. Dr. Gardner also earned a PhD in Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
Gardner will start on July 1.
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