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Spring McDaniel-Churchill (left) and McKenna Churchill-Spangler (right) are both WIU alums, along with McKenna's great-grandmother Phyllis Palmer-McDaniel.
McKenna is a choir director at Keokuk Middle School.
Leatherneck Heritage: Three Generations of Educators
October 15, 2025
From the pages of the Summer 2025 ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois University Alumni Magazine—this story is part of our special series of feature articles. View the full issue at .
MACOMB, IL - - For McKenna Churchill-Spangler `24, attending ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois University wasn't just a choice—it was a continuation of a proud family legacy. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Spring McDaniel-Churchill, and her great-grandmother, Phyllis Palmer-McDaniel, McKenna represents the third generation of McDaniel-Churchill women to earn their teaching degrees from WIU.
The tradition began in 1947 when Palmer-McDaniel started coursework toward her teaching certificate from the ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois Teachers College, as the institution transitioned to ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois State College. Although Palmer-McDaniel was a private person who seldom spoke of her college days, she kept WIU close to her heart, often returning for campus and community events.
"Gram would set up at the Ag Mech Show with her appliquéd sweatshirts, and we'd drive through campus whenever we visited Macomb," remembers McDaniel-Churchill.
McDaniel-Churchill, the second generation in this educational lineage, earned her Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in Special Education in the 90s.
"I chose ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ because it felt like home," she reflected. "It was familiar, and I didn't want to be so far away that I couldn't get back if I needed to."
For McDaniel-Churchill, WIU offered both comfort and opportunity, fostering lifelong friendships and impactful learning experiences. During her time on campus, McDaniel-Churchill built her own memories and routines.
"Every morning before class, I'd grab a coffee and chocolate donut in the cafeteria and chat with Ginger, the cashier. Then I'd head upstairs and call my grandparents. My phone bill was sky-high the first month, so after that, Gram had me let the phone ring once so she could call me back," McDaniel-Churchill said.
Today, McDaniel-Churchill is a seasoned special education teacher in Canton Union School District #66, crediting WIU for providing a strong foundation for her career. "I'm not sure any college can fully prepare you for teaching," said, "but I left with a good base to build on."
The family legacy culminated most recently with Churchill-Spangler, who earned her Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education in May 2024. From a young age, Churchill-Spangler knew WIU was the right choice.
"I was always visiting WIU and Macomb with my parents," she shared. "When it was time to choose a college, ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ was the obvious choice. I'd seen the quality of music educators who came out of WIU's School of Music—I knew I wanted to be part of that."
Churchill-Spangler embraced every opportunity at WIU, participating in organizations like the National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association and Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity. She performed in ensembles including treble choir, percussion ensemble and the flagship University Singers.
"´ºÓêÖ±²¥ provided me with a top-notch education in music that prepared me for my first year as a middle school choir director," Churchill-Spangler said.
Now the choir director at Keokuk Middle School, Churchill-Spangler lives in Warsaw with her husband, Kyle Spangler. Both she and McDaniel- Churchill have simple but powerful advice for future generations:
"Choose a college that feels like home. And get involved—the connections you make will help you long after graduation."
Through three generations, the McDaniel-Churchill-Spangler family's story stands as a testament to the enduring impact of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois University, where education, community and tradition come together to shape lives.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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