PEORIA A role once primarily held by men, high school principal, is now a job being done solely by women at Peoria Public Schools.
For the first time in the history of the district, all three high schools now have women leaders. Carly Emken took the lead role at Richwoods High School last fall, Devon Hawks became principal at Manual High School in 2020, and Annette Coleman has been principal at Peoria High School since 2016.
Women have always held roles at schools, but having so many in charge is something that s evolved over the past 20 years. The trend is not unique to PPS women are also serving as principals at both Peoria Notre Dame and Peoria Christian high schools in Peoria.
No arrests or significant injuries were reported.
A fight about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at a Glen Oak Park playground involved 10 or 12 teenagers, Peoria Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill said.
That incident preceded a fight about midnight behind Peoria High School, according to police spokeswoman Amy Dotson. Several dozen vehicles were reported to have been in the parking lot.
Gunshots were reported about 12:30 a.m. Monday near McClure Avenue and Sheridan Road, about a mile north of Peoria High. Numerous vehicles were seen leaving the area, according to Dotson. Gunfire damaged one vehicle.
The Glen Oak Park fight happened near the lagoon and amid warm, sunny weather. According to Cahill, at least 250 vehicles were parked at the park.
PEORIA A balanced calendar would give Peoria Public Schools District students and parents the same number of days off and the same number of days in the classroom as they have now. They would just be more spread out.
The first of four town hall meetings to explain the concept to the community was held Tuesday night. Another was held Wednesday night, and two more will be held next week at Manual and Peoria high schools.
PPS wants to change the way the school year has been structured. For decades, students have looked forward to a long summer break, but under the balanced calendar option, summer would be split into two shorter breaks. Students and teachers would get longer breaks during the year.
Melodi Green is a Peoria native who worked hard to make her dreams of becoming an attorney come true. She s now the first Black woman to head the Juvenile Division of the Peoria County State s Attorney s Office.
Green recently spoke to WCBU s Tim Shelley about her personal journey, how she approaches her job, and advice for those who might follow in her footsteps.
Melodi Green
Tim Shelley: Tell me a little bit about yourself. Are you a Peoria native?
Melodi Green: Yes, sir, I am. I m born and raised in Peoria, I went to Peoria Public Schools, my entire life, Peoria District 150. And this is my home, I don t know what else to say about that. My family is here, the vast majority of my family s here, and so Peoria is near and dear to my heart. It always has been and it will be. So those are some of the reasons that I want to work here, and live here, and help to better my community.
Q&A With Melodi Green, Chief of the Peoria County State s Attorney s Office Juvenile Division wglt.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wglt.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.