IESA Headlines

Taunya Jenkins Joins IESA Board of Directors

Peoria Roosevelt Magnet School Principal Taunya L. Jenkins has been seated to represent Division E on the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Board of Directors. Jenkins was seated in accordance with Section 1.038 of the IESA Constitution to fill a vacancy from the division and will serve until the next regular scheduled election in Division E, which is scheduled for the spring of 2007. The IESA is made up of 14 geographical board divisions.

Jenkins is the first principal from a Peoria public school to serve on the IESA Board of Directors.

She earned her bachelor's degree from Texas Women's University with a double major in special education and dance. She received her master's degree in educational administration from Illinois State University and is a doctoral candidate in educational administration at Illinois State University.

Jenkins was on the faculty at North Lake Junior College and Bryan Adams High School in Dallas before starting her career in education in Peoria Dist. 150. She started in Peoria as a special education teacher at Roosevelt Magnet School. She then taught at Trewyn Elementary School, Woodruff High School, and Manual High School. In 1994 Jenkins returned to Roosevelt Magnet School as assistant principal and became principal in 1998.

A member of the Illinois Principals Association, Jenkins is very active in Peoria civic affairs. She is on the Board of Directors for Arts Partners and Junior Achievement, and is a member of several professional education organizations. In addition, Jenkins serves Peoria Players Theatre as its president, as a choreographer and director, an actress and dancer. At North Lake Junior College in Dallas she began its dance instructional program, which led to its first performing group.