As Superintendent Nathaniel Wilson begins his fifth year leading Herrin Unit 4 Schools, he speaks with the calm assurance of someone who has found both his rhythm and his community. “I feel like I’ve settled in, and I really know the district well,” he said. “They know me. We’ve been able to work through challenges and overcome some things, and we’re in a really good place.”

That stability is evident in the district’s low turnover. Out of roughly 300 employees, only three or four certified staff left at the end of the 2024–25 school year. “When you’re able to start a new year without having to rebuild, it feels like you never left,” Wilson explained. “Teachers know what to do, and new hires step right in. It makes everything positive and exciting.”

Herrin’s academic results reflect that consistency. Last year, every school in the district earned a “commendable” rating on the state’s accountability designations, with several at the high end of that category. Wilson believes the district is edging toward “exemplary” status. “We know where we need to focus,” he said. “We have the right people in place, and we expect to see the benefit of that work.”

Still, the superintendent is candid about the challenges ahead. Funding is tightening as federal support shrinks and state dollars stretch further. At the same time, enrollment is gradually declining. Herrin’s current kindergarten class has 151 students, compared with 210 just five years ago. “It’s a declining birth rate,” Wilson said plainly. “It’s not just Herrin—it’s the county, the state, the nation. Fewer students eventually means less revenue, and we have to be mindful of that in staffing and budgeting.”

Another looming shift is generational. Over the next three years, multiple veteran teachers and administrators will retire, including at least two building leaders. Wilson is determined to make the transition smooth by encouraging mid-career teachers to step into leadership roles now. “We don’t want a gap when people retire,” he explained. “We’re pairing younger teachers with experienced leaders so they can learn and be ready. That way we’re not starting from scratch.”

Even as he plans for retirements and enrollment shifts, Wilson is focused on preparing students for the world beyond graduation. One of his priorities this year is tackling artificial intelligence in the classroom. “AI is going to change the job market more in the next five to ten years than anything else,” he said. “We want to be sure our students know how to use it responsibly, and that our teachers feel equipped to teach with it, not against it.”

The district has begun drafting policies and will form committees of teachers across grade levels to shape a collective approach. Wilson compares AI to the arrival of the internet a generation ago. “People once worried computers would replace teachers,” he said. “They didn’t. They enhanced instruction. That’s how I see AI—an opportunity to improve learning, not replace it.”

Communication with families is another area Wilson wants to strengthen. Herrin recently added a communications coordinator to help share news, but Wilson hopes to create more meaningful two-way conversations. “We don’t just want to push information out,” he explained. “We want to hear from parents and community members too, and do it in a way that’s constructive, not just social media noise. When we plan for changes—whether that’s enrollment, AI, or leadership—we want their voices at the table.”

For Wilson, that commitment is personal as well as professional. He and his wife are raising two daughters in the district, now in seventh and fourth grade, alongside nephews in the same grades. “This isn’t just me talking as superintendent,” he said. “It’s me as a dad. I want what’s best for my own kids and everyone else’s.”

To that end, the district has invested heavily in student support. More social workers and outreach staff have been added so children always have an adult to turn to. “Teachers do so much, but sometimes they can’t get to everyone the way they’d like,” Wilson said. “We want kids to know they’re cared for, that someone is in their corner. If they’re happy and healthy, both physically and mentally, then they’re ready to learn.”

Ultimately, Wilson measures success by the choices Herrin students have when they graduate. “We want them prepared for whatever comes next,” he said. “Some will go to college, some to a trade, some straight into the workforce or their own business. They’ll leave with skills and opportunities, whether it’s a CNA license, experience in business classes, or something else. That’s our bottom line: making sure every student is ready to succeed.”

As Wilson looks to the future, he balances optimism with realism. There will be fewer students, less money, and new leadership faces. But he believes Herrin’s foundation is strong. “We have the best teachers, great leaders, and a supportive community,” he said. “As long as we keep our focus on students—making sure they feel safe, cared for, and challenged—we’ll be ready for whatever comes next.”