FPS Superintendent To Resign After This Year
By Gordon Hopkins
In a year that has been marked with staffing upheaval, the Fairbury Public Schools will now have to find a new superintendent.
FPS Superintendent Dr. David Embray has announced his resignation at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Embray was first hired as an interim superintendent in 2024 before being hired on a permanent basis. The FPS Board of Education met on September 9, 2024. During an executive session, the finance and negotiations committee presented the idea of extending the contract by one year, transitioning from interim to full-time status. The board agreed and also approved a two-year contract for 2024-2026, with the option for further one-year extensions.
Embray’s departure makes the third superintendent in four years for FPS. The prior superintendent, Sean Molloy, left in 2024, to accept an assistant superintendent position at Norris School District. Molloy had been with the school district since 2019, when he became the principal at Jefferson Intermediate in Fairbury. In 2021 he became the secondary principal at Fairbury High School.
Molloy, in turn, replaced Superintendent Stephen Grizzle in 2023, when Grizzle left to take a job as interim superintendent position for one year at South Central Unified District #5 (Sandy Creek/ Lawrence-Nelson).
This is just the latest staffing upheaval at FPS. A record number of staff, 26, have departed in 2025, although Embray emphasizes all those positions have been filled.
In an email announcing his resignation, Embray wrote, “When I first came to Fairbury as an interim superintendent, I didn’t expect to fall in love so quickly with this district, its people, and the vision our Board of Education has for the future. But over the past year, that’s exactly what happened.”
Citing the need to be closer to home, Embray wrote, “While my heart is very much here, the reality of the distance I travel each week has taken a toll on my personal life and I have recently found out that my mother is in need of additional care. For these reasons, this will be my final year as superintendent of Fairbury Public Schools. This decision was not made lightly, it comes from a personal need, not from any lack of belief in the incredible work happening here. I believe strongly that the Board of Education will hire a transformational leader to continue the great work that all of you are engaged in as Fairbury truly is a destination district.”
Regarding the recent staff changes, Embray noted, “While this past year brought some staff changes, it has also brought fresh energy and new colleagues who, I believe, are committed to the important work we are doing for our students. We now have a team that is eager to move forward together, and Fairbury is positioned with the right people in the right places. I will always be proud to have been part of its journey.”
According to Board of Education President Angie Judd, “Since joining FPS as an interim and later accepting the permanent role, Embray has led significant initiatives, including the adoption of the Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI) model, the launch of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) culture, a districtwide strategic plan with SMART goals, a revised Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) guidebook, facilitated the creation of a special education service delivery plan, a new evaluation system focused on growth, the creation of SuperBoard meetings to strengthen partnerships between the City, County, and School, and the continuation into a second year of Gallup’s Q12 engagement survey to further develop a strong and connected district culture. He also oversaw the expansion of art and guidance services at the elementary level, helped redefine positions to create a part time communications director role, and helped facilitate the adoption of a master facility plan study.”
Board President Judd shared, “While I was saddened to receive Dr. Embray’s resignation, I am grateful for the leadership, dedication and positive impact he has had on Fairbury Public Schools. I am confident Dr. Embray will continue with this same dedication throughout his final year in the district. The Board of Education looks forward to continuing to build on the strong foundation established in 2024-2025. Together with staff, families and the community, we remain committed to developing and strengthening the initiatives in place, keeping student success at the forefront of every decision.”
