Rhonda Thornton

Rhonda Thornton has a diverse work experience spanning across different educational institutions and roles. Rhonda started their career as a History Teacher at Amelia Earhart Middle School from 1996 to 2001. Rhonda then moved on to work as an Educational Specialist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2002 to 2005. Following this, Rhonda served as the Executive Director/Principal at Campus Middle School for Girls from 2005 to 2007. Rhonda then joined Decatur Public Schools as a Program Coordinator from 2007 to 2009 before transitioning to the role of Grants Administrator at Decatur Public School District from 2009 to 2019. Rhonda'smost recent positions include Director of Assessment, Digital Learning, and Title programs at Champaign Unit 4 Schools from 2019 to 2020, and currently as the Executive Director of Data and Accountability at the same institution, starting in 2020. In their current role, Rhonda oversees all aspects of the District's Student Information System and ensures effective use of data for decision-making and instructional planning.

Rhonda Thornton's education history includes several degrees and certifications in the field of education. Rhonda obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Teaching Certification in History from the University of California, Riverside in 1995. In 2001, they completed a Master's degree in Education from California State University-San Bernardino. Rhonda then pursued a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, General from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which they earned in 2008. Rhonda'seducation journey continued with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Chief School Business Official and Superintendent from the University of Illinois Springfield, which they completed in 2017.