The man who has served as principal of Westville Junior High School the past eight years has won a statewide award. Jared Ellison was presented the Horace Mann and Illinois Principals Association 2019 Illinois Middle School Principal of the Year award during an assembly at the school this (Wednesday) morning.
Ellison currently serves as Illini Region State Director and member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Principals Association.
As a principal, Ellison says he works to understand what a student is going through the best he can. ‘’So many things affect students at the middle school level,’’ said Ellison. He added, ‘’When students speak to me about issues they face at home and school, I have been supportive and let them see I am there for them no matter what.’’
Westville Unit 2 Superintendent Seth Miller says Ellison ‘’has a tremendous knack for seeing that student that needs that extra support, that boost, that extra bit of attention to say, ‘’Hey I notice you – and I think what you are doing is worthwhile and I think you are great.’’