UPDATED 5:31 P.M.

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The superintendent search for District 186 ended right where it started: 3063 Fiat Avenue.

Springfield Public Schools Friday named Terrance Jordan as the successor to the retiring Jennifer Gill. A District 186 news release quotes school board vice president Buffy Lael-Wolf, who was involved in the search, as saying, “We are confident that the best candidate rose to the top after a competitive search that included surveys, interviews and focus groups involving staff, families, students and community members.”

The Terrence Jordan who started with the district as a kindergarten teaching assistant in 2003 wouldn’t have thought about becoming a superintendent back then, and probably wouldn’t have wanted the job.

“That was not my plan. Maybe back then, it was ‘I don’t want to be a superintendent,'” said Jordan, to reporters Friday afternoon. “I saw how hard it is. But, over the years, I saw the impact that the superintendent can make on students. Every position I’ve taken, it was so I can impact more students. I know in this role I will be able to impact almost 13,000 students. So, I am excited about that.

Jordan has on his resume teaching stints at Dubois, Feitshans, and Enos schools. He has also been a guidance dean at Washington Middle School and principal at Black Hawk Elementary School. He joined the administration in 2021, most recently as assistant superintendent of family, community, and school leadership.

“I am so happy and proud, but a better word, I would say, would be honored that [Jordan is] going to be able to follow in my footsteps, and that he’s going to take the things that we’ve built and make them even better,” said Gill, to reporters.

While the search for a new superintendent was national and involved the Illinois Association of School Boards, board members and Jordan justified the search. For Jordan, he said it allowed him to put on his best face throughout a total of six interviews he said he had. The district says he was one of three finalists.

The appointment is subject to board approval. While the board meets Tuesday night, the contract will not be ready then, according to district officials, so it won’t be voted on.

Gill’s retirement is effective June 30.