If you ask Serina Nelson about her connection to Cairo, Illinois, she’ll tell you it runs deep. Though she wasn’t born there, Cairo is home. “My grandmother lived here, and my mother was born here,” Serina explains. “I wasn’t born here, but I’ve lived here most of my life.” After leaving only for college, she returned to give back to the place that shaped her.

Serina’s life has been one of cyclical growth, beginning in Cairo, leaving to pursue education, and returning to guide the next generation. “I always planned to come back eventually,” she says, “but it happened sooner than expected.” Despite some initial hesitation, she believes everything happened just as it was meant to. “Things happen as they should, and I came back when I needed to.”

Graduating from Cairo High School in 1988, Serina had her eyes set on college. With academic excellence and a promising ACT score, she earned a full scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She had originally planned to pursue mathematics, but after encountering the formidable challenge of college-level calculus, she adjusted course. “I love math,” she recalls, “but calculus almost defeated me.”

Despite the academic hurdles, she persevered, eventually earning a degree in history—a shift that marked the beginning of an unexpected journey toward teaching. Though she had resisted the idea of becoming a teacher for much of her life, fate had other plans. Serina shares a funny memory: “My mom never pushed me to be a teacher, but I always felt like I was being called. My aunt once said I’d make a great teacher after I taught my brother and cousin their phone numbers during choir practice. But I still refused to believe it.”

When she returned to Cairo after college, Serina initially took on a series of roles, including working as an assistant manager in fast food, but it wasn’t long before teaching found her. “Some teachers at my church said the district always needed substitutes. I thought, ‘Why not?’” Little by little, she found herself drawn in. After some long-term substitute teaching positions, she recognized the impact she could have on students, and there was no turning back. “When I could see the students get it, that was cool,” she says, a twinkle in her eye. “That’s when I knew.”

Serina’s journey in education took her from the classroom to administration, but along the way, her commitment to Cairo never wavered. “I went into education because I wanted to help the kids here in Cairo,” she says. “I knew if I could inspire them, they could go far.”

She worked her way through various teaching roles—kindergarten, second grade, pre-k, fifth, and sixth grades—before eventually becoming the principal of Cairo Elementary. Throughout it all, Serina’s love for her students and dedication to her community remained constant.

Now, as the principal, Serina is determined to make a difference. “I want everyone to succeed,” she says. “I want the children to have a solid family life and access to education. It’s not enough just to hand them a phone or tablet. We need to invest in their growth.”

Despite Cairo’s challenges—economic hardship and a shrinking population—Serina sees hope. “There are good people here,” she says. “There are people working to rebuild this community. And I want to be part of that.”

Serina’s leadership style is hands-on and heart-centered. “I tell the kids, ‘If you invite me, I’ll come to your events.’” And she means it. “I may not come to every game of the season, but I’ll be there for one.”

She laughs as she recalls a former student who now attends Cairo High School. “He used to be so quiet. But every time he sees me now, he runs across the gym to give me a big hug. It means the world to me.”

When asked what drives her, Serina’s answer is simple: “I know my assignment in life is to help.” She smiles. “I try to inspire, encourage, and support. That’s my mission.”

Through her dedication to education, Serina Nelson embodies the spirit of Cairo—resilient, compassionate, and ever-committed to helping the next generation succeed. As she continues to lead Cairo Elementary, the future looks bright under her guidance.