Veteran Educator from Honduras Named Next Champaign Unit 4 Superintendent

Geovanny Ponce to take over district under three-year contract starting July 1.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Geovanny Ponce, a longtime public-school educator and administrator, has been selected as the next superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 schools. Ponce, who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras in his 20s, is currently the chief of schools for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia and will succeed Shelia Boozer, whose contract was terminated by the Unit 4 school board.

Why it matters

Ponce's selection as the new superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 schools is significant as he brings a diverse background and experience leading large, diverse school districts. As an immigrant himself, he may be able to better connect with and support the needs of Champaign's growing immigrant and multilingual student population.

The details

Ponce was chosen from a pool of 31 applicants and will begin his new role on July 1 under a three-year contract with an annual salary of $375,000. Prior to his current role in Fairfax County, Ponce spent 23 years with the Houston Independent School District, where he served as a bilingual teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent overseeing 52 high schools. In Fairfax County, Ponce helped lead initiatives that boosted academic performance and expanded access to advanced courses and programs for multilingual learners.

  • Ponce will begin his new role as Champaign Unit 4 superintendent on July 1, 2026.
  • Ponce has served as chief of schools for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia since 2023.

The players

Geovanny Ponce

An experienced public-school educator and administrator who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras in his 20s. He will be the next superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 schools, succeeding Shelia Boozer.

Shelia Boozer

The previous superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 schools whose contract was terminated by the school board with one year remaining.

Dan Casillas

The interim superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 schools who stepped into the role after Boozer's contract was terminated.

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What’s next

The Unit 4 school board is expected to formally approve Ponce's hiring at its meeting on Monday night.

The takeaway

Ponce's appointment as the new superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 schools represents a shift towards more diverse and inclusive leadership in the district, which could benefit the growing immigrant and multilingual student population. His experience leading large, diverse school systems in Texas and Virginia suggests he may be well-equipped to address the unique challenges and needs of the Champaign community.