(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Six months after Dan Cox was ousted, the Rochester school district has found a replacement.

And they did not have to travel far to find her.

Pawnee superintendent Molly Edmonds will begin her new job July 1, 2026, according to a district news release. Her resume includes time as a principal at North Mac High School as well as in Washington, Ill. She has been a principal at Capital Area Career Center and has worked for the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The news release quotes Rochester board president Amy Reynolds as saying Edmonds’ “proven track record of improving student outcomes and her collaborative leadership style align perfectly with our district’s vision and goals. We are confident that under her leadership, our schools will not only continue to thrive but also make even greater strides towards preparing our students for success.”

Edmonds grew up in Pittsfield. She holds degrees from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Sam Houston State University, and the University of Illinois Springfield.