Brad Weedman didn’t set out to become an educator. For the better part of two decades, he worked in transportation logistics—keeping shipments and schedules on track, managing details from behind the scenes. But when the company restructured and his future became uncertain, he went back to something he’d always quietly wanted.

“I was kind of at that point in life—asking myself what I was going to do next,” Brad says. “My wife said, ‘Finish that teaching certificate.’ So I did.”

Now in his second year as Knoxville High School’s assistant principal and athletic director, Brad brings every corner of his past into his present role: precision from logistics, perspective from parenting, and a grounded sense of leadership earned through a second career that began in his late thirties.

“I started as a teaching assistant, then taught social studies at Avon and Abingdon-Avon,” he explains. “Later I became principal there, and when this role opened up in Knoxville, I knew it was a fit.”

That instinct proved right.

Brad and his wife have deep roots in Knoxville. She’s a KHS alum. Their two daughters graduated from here as student-athletes. “We raised our family here,” Brad says. “This is home.”

His schedule now reflects the complexity of both his roles. As assistant principal, Brad helps oversee student services, course scheduling, and career and technical education (CTE) programs. As athletic director, he juggles dozens of team logistics across the seasons—scheduling officials, managing transportation, coordinating game-day prep, ensuring student safety, and communicating with booster clubs and fans.

“A track meet might look simple when you’re in the stands,” he says, “but behind the scenes it’s a whole machine—timers, scorers, event workers, field setup. And that’s just one night.”

And yet, he thrives on the challenge. “It’s not a 9-to-5 job,” he laughs. “My wife and I just celebrated our anniversary with breakfast—because I had a meet that night.”

The long hours are a reflection of his passion—especially for high school athletics. “Sports teach more than just skills,” Brad says. “They teach accountability, teamwork, communication, how to handle stress under pressure. That stuff doesn’t go away after graduation. It shows up on the job, in relationships, in life.”

As an administrator, he also plays a major role in shaping academic opportunity for Knoxville students. Through partnerships with Carl Sandburg College and the Galesburg Area Vocational Center (GAVC), students can access dual credit courses, trades programs, and hands-on pathways that meet a range of postsecondary goals.

“We’re preparing kids for all kinds of futures,” he says. “Not everyone’s going to a four-year college—and that’s okay. Some kids want to go straight into healthcare, welding, ag. We support that.”

Brad’s work in Career and Technical Education stems from his time as principal in Abingdon-Avon. “I already had relationships with people at GAVC and Sandburg,” he says. “So coming here, it was just a natural continuation.”

He believes the key is helping students explore early. “What are your interests? What gets you excited?” he asks. “We help them start figuring that out—not just in high school, but earlier.”

At the heart of everything is a community Brad deeply admires.

“Knoxville is small enough that you know people, but big enough to offer a lot,” he says. “We’ve got great fan support. People show up for our kids—rain or shine. Win or lose.”

He’s seen what that support means. He’s lived it—on the sidelines as a parent, in the stands as a neighbor, and now behind the scenes as a leader.

“It’s not just about the wins,” he says. “It’s about pride in your team, your school, your hometown.”

For Brad, who once thought he might leave this corner of Illinois, the return was more than geographical. It was personal. And now, day by day, game by game, student by student—he’s helping write Knoxville’s next chapter.