Former Urbana High School principal dies

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Dr. Taren Nance, former principal of Urbana High School, has died. He was 41 years old.

In April of 2021, the Urbana School District announced Nance was selected as the high school’s next principal. But in February of 2023, WCIA reported that Urbana School Board members voted unanimously for a resolution that would authorize the district to not re-employ Nance the next year.

Following that, Nance joined Illinois Wesleyan University as the Director of the Office of Campus Culture. In a statement sent to WCIA, Karla Carney-Hall — the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the university — said Nance will be “deeply missed.”

“Dr. Taren Nance was a valuable, student-centered educator who championed belonging and inclusion throughout the Illinois Wesleyan University community. He will be deeply missed by our students, faculty and staff. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time,” Carney-Hall said.

A cause of death and further details about funeral arrangements were not immediately clear.