As Amsrc=p2anda Congdon begins her new post as acting principal of Illini West High School, some things are very familiar for her.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
As Amsrc=p2anda Congdon begins her new post as acting principal of Illini West High School, some things are very familiar for her.
She worked many years in Hamilton schools and knows Hancock County. Her roots are in small town life and farming. She is comfortable in the school setting and managing people.
But there are some new parts to the job, and that is what she is setting out to learn.
“The first thing to do is get the lay of the land,” Congdon said, in her office at the school in Carthage.
“I wanted to learn the procedures that are already in place. I need to get to know the staff, what they need and how I can help, and then develop a relationship with the students.”
Congdon grew up in a small town in Green County, Illinois, and graduated from North Green High School. ?“I am a farm girl. Agriculture is a big part of my life,” Congdon said.
She attended Western Illinois University for a while, majoring in law enforcement, and then joined the Army, where she was with the Military Police.
Two years later, she returned to Western where she shifted her major and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a special interest in middle school science.
She substitute taught for several years, and then took a position as Hamilton Junior-Senior High School administrative assistant.
Their family moved to southern Illinois for several years, and then returned to Hamilton where she was hired as high school biology teacher. Still teaching in 2020, she began her masters degree in principalship through Eastern Illinois University. She is on track to complete that degree next spring, at which time she will have the title of Illini West principal.
“I feel like I’ve had a well-rounded experience in education, with the administrative side, teaching, and managing people,” she said. “It was always my goal to move into school administration.”
She is excited about working at Illini West High School.
“I like that it is a small district. I like that the community is supportive. I like that the community is involved,” she said.
“When you have that close, one-on-one contact, you get to know the kids, know their stories. It is an agricultural community, and that is my roots. It fulfills all those aspects for me.”
She said she is in no hurry to make changes.
“One thing I’ll work on is the behavior matrix, to establish that chain of command. If there is a problem, did they go first to the teacher? I am a combination of old school with new school. I want to merge that as best as I can.”
She likes the mentorship program at Illini West that pairs a new teacher with a veteran teacher.
“It gives that new teacher someone to go to with questions, and a friendly face for advice,” she said.
When she is not working at school, Congdon is involved with the state portion of the American Legion. She loves hiking and anything out doors.
Congdon is already meeting some parents and students, as school registration began July 17. Teachers will come for institute on Aug. 14, with the first student day on Aug. 16.
So far each day is full and varied as preparations for the new school year continue. Congdon is enjoying her days now, settling in at the principal’s office. She is even more excited for the days when the school building is filled with students.