EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education meeting drew a crowd of Edwardsville Education Association (EEA) members, who called for the termination of an unnamed elementary school principal.
On Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the room was full for the Board of Education’s regular meeting, and seven EEA members spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. All seven educators spoke about an unnamed administrator who, they say, displays “abusive” language and behavior, including “intimidation,” “humiliation,” and “inappropriate comments.”
“Reports include intimidation, abusive and profane language, public humiliation, retaliation, inappropriate comments, and behavior towards students and staff that create a hostile environment, behavior that violates your very own Board policies,” said Carla Kinsey, EEA co-president. “Yet the district is considering a path that would allow this administrator to remain in the building and continue supervising the very employees who came forward. This decision would fundamentally lower the bar on what behavior is acceptable for all employees in our district. We will not stand for this because this not only affects our members, but it will ultimately affect our students — the students that should be at the center of all of our decisions.”
According to a press release from the Illinois Education Association, “several verified and well-documented incidents of inappropriate behavior” by this administrator were “substantiated” after the district investigated this summer.
On Aug. 7, 2026, EEA was informed that this administrator would be issued a notice to remedy. EEA is advocating for the principal’s termination. The organization encouraged its members and members of the community to attend the Board of Education meeting on Aug. 10.
“What we have now is a group of educators who have demonstrated significant courage by coming forward to report corroborated, unethical, and inexcusable behavior,” said EEA co-president Mollie Rice. “This is not a situation where someone had a bad day and crossed a line. This is a pattern of aggression, intimidation, and mistreatment of students, their parents, and staff. No professional should have to work in a hostile educational environment created by these behaviors, and no student should have to learn in an atmosphere where staff operates under hostility and intimidation.”
Laura Wilkinson spoke on behalf of Megan Wilson, who could not attend the meeting. In these comments, Wilkinson and Wilson referred to the principal of Leclaire Elementary School but did not explicitly name the administrator. Another educator who identified herself as a Leclaire Elementary School employee addressed the “possible toxic environment that could therefore occur” within the school.
The Board of Education cannot respond to public comments during the meeting, but they may direct the superintendent to reach out or further investigate information shared during the public comment section.
