Southern Illinois superintendent selected for Unity's top job

Jeff D'Alessio, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
·1 min read

Dec. 19—TOLONO — The Unity school district has found a successor for retiring Superintendent Andy Larson.

When Larson wraps up his 14th year in charge at the end of June, Brian Brink will move into the superintendent's office in Tolono, the district announced.

Brink is in his fifth year as superintendent of the small southern Illinois district of Tamaroa, an elementary school district that earned an "exemplary" rating on last month's state-issued report cards.

Unity school board President Doug Rund said Brink's "proven leadership, vision for the future of education and deep commitment to student success" moved him to the top of "comprehensive" search.

Unity will be the fourth Illinois superintendent role on Brink's resume — he also headed up the Mt. Vernon McClellan (2016-18) and Venice (2018-19) districts.

Brink earned two bachelor's degrees and his doctorate in education from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. He also holds a master's in education from McKendree.

Brink and wife Jessica are parents to two future Rockets — Beckham, who'll be entering ninth grade next fall, and Blythe, a fifth-grader-to-be.