District 186 Board Recommends Terrance Jordan as Next Superintendent

The Springfield Public Schools District 186 Board of Education is recommending Dr. Terrance Jordan as the district’s next superintendent. The Board is expected to vote on the recommendation at an upcoming meeting. If approved, Jordan would succeed Jennifer Gill, who is set to retire on June 30, 2026.

Jordan is a career educator with more than two decades of service in District 186. He began working in the district in 2003 as a kindergarten teaching assistant and later served as a library technology specialist and parent educator. He went on to teach at Dubois, Feitshans and Enos elementary schools while earning his administrative license. Jordan later served as a guidance dean at Washington Middle School and was named principal of Black Hawk Elementary in 2014.

In 2021, Jordan joined district administration and currently serves as assistant superintendent of family, community, and school leadership. In that role, he has worked with schools and community partners to strengthen family engagement, improve school experiences and expand programs and opportunities for students across the district.

Board representative Buffy Lael-Wolf said Jordan emerged from a competitive field of both internal and external candidates.

“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,” Lael-Wolf said. She noted that Jordan consistently demonstrated the priorities identified by the Board, including community connection, strategic leadership and a focus on student achievement.

“Dr. Jordan brings both vision and heart to this role,” Lael-Wolf added. “He understands our district because he has lived our work. He knows our students, our families and our schools, and he has earned trust through years of service. We are confident he will lead District 186 with integrity, purpose and unwavering commitment to student success.”

Pending Board approval, Jordan would begin his role as superintendent on July 1, 2026.