Administration
Hello Parents/Guardians,
This is my second year here at Ellis Elementary and District 175 and I couldn’t be more proud to call myself a Roadrunner. A little bit about me, my wife is a 2nd grade teacher at Illini Elementary School in Fairview Heights and we are the proud parents of two incredible boys. When the duties of my job are not enough, they keep me plenty busy! I knew early in life that education would be my career and calling. I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Following graduation, I was hired at EA Fulton Jr. High in O’Fallon, IL where I taught 7th Grade World Geography and 8th Grade US History for five years.
In May of 2007, I earned my Master’s degree in Educational Administration from McKendree College. In 2008, I was hired as Elementary Principal at Marissa Elementary School in southeastern St. Clair County. I was at Marissa for 2 years and was proud to lead the building in being recognized as a 2009 Illinois Spotlight School. In the summer of 2010, I was hired here at Ellis. Since I began, we have started a major push towards Differentiated Instruction and a renewed emphasis on Character Education. I’m also proud to have helped oversee the first major building addition to Ellis since the 1960′s. It was a major undertaking and despite the delays, I am very excited about the finished product.
It is an honor to serve the community of west Belleville and the Harmony-Emge School District. I will give you all that I am in order to give every child the best opportunity to reach his/her fullest potential.
If I may leave you with two pieces of advice that will help your child have success here at Ellis, they are:
READ WITH YOUR CHILD NIGHTLY! I can not begin to tell you how important it is for you to read to your child or listen to your child read to you every day. I realize that there are times when you are tired from work or may get frustrated, but the positive impact it will have on your child is well worth it.
STAY INVOLVED! Please know what your child is learning about and how they are doing in school. Ask questions of both them and their teacher. Get involved with the PTO if your schedule allows. Education is NOT a one-way street. It requires cooperation and coordination from both the school and home. Even as your child gets older and it’s “not cool” in their eyes, you must stay involved.
Sincerely, Mr. Dave Deets
Please feel free to contact me with your comments or concerns.