The Urbana City School District announces the upcoming retirement of Superintendent Charles Thiel, effective July 31, 2026. After 29 years of dedicated service to the district and the community, Thiel will step down from the role, marking the end of a distinguished career in educational leadership. His 17-year tenure as superintendent is the 4th longest in the district's 176-year history.
“I have enjoyed serving this community and school district for the past 29 years. The opportunity to work with the community on building new school facilities has been a highly fulfilling professional experience. I would like to thank the many board members over the years for the support provided to our administrative team and me during my tenure as Superintendent,” said Thiel.
Board of Education leadership also reflected on Thiel’s impact. “Having served on the Board of Education for the past 9 years as President and Vice President, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Charles Thiel as he has led this District to build new schools and navigated complex decisions during COVID-19. He attended many school events with a camera in hand to capture some of our students’ most memorable moments. In his tenure, Thiel has facilitated the passage of many school levies, ensuring the district’s continued future,” said Darrell Thomas, Vice President of the Urbana City Schools Board of Education.
“One of the major accomplishments of his superintendency was the development of our new school buildings. From the passage of the bond issue through design, construction, and the transition into the new facilities, Mr. Thiel demonstrated clear vision and leadership focused on what was best for our community. I wish Mr. Thiel the very best in his retirement and sincerely thank him for his many years of service,” said Amy Paul, President of the Urbana City Schools Board of Education.
“I have enjoyed my years working with Charles Thiel. As a board member, I have witnessed his leadership guiding our district to numerous levies being passed, which stabilized our district and led to the construction of our two new school buildings. Charles spends an inordinate amount of hours above and beyond what most see, attending numerous events and being part of our school community. I wish Charles and his wife, Denise, a well-deserved long and relaxing retirement together,” said Jim Arter, member of the Urbana City School Board.
During his tenure, Thiel led numerous initiatives to improve academic outcomes, strengthen community engagement, and modernize district operations. He leaves behind a legacy of commitment to student success and educational excellence.
The Board of Education will begin the search for a new superintendent in the coming weeks and will provide updates as the process unfolds.