Jonathan Ellwanger
“Make today a great day. The power is yours!” According to students, this is just one of Jonathan Ellwanger’s intercom sign offs every morning at Beye Elementary. It is an inspirational call, very much like his email signature which reads “Scholarship, Artisanship, Citizenship, Leadership, and Fellowship.” For the past 33 years, using these touchstones, Mr. E has, with great passion, humor and humility, inspired generations of Beye families and educators.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jonathan was indoctrinated in the ideals of social justice, equity and activism by his minister father and teaching/community organizing mother. His parents were both privileged to know and work with Dr. Martin Luther King, and from them, Jonathan learned a strong work ethic, community involvement, a desire to live and work cross-culturally and to have a genuine concern for all people.
Following his graduation from Northwestern University in 1987, he started at Beye as general music educator and has been there ever since. By 1989, he had also become Beye's instrumental music teacher growing its enrollment from 30 to 100! It was during his time as teacher that he established the Beye Chorus and the Beye Jazz Band. With former teacher Paulette Lyons, he created the Beye Gospel Choir. All three programs are still going strong today.
Becoming Beye's Principal in 2002, Jonathan continued his distinguished career of leadership and collaboration. He has been quoted as saying, "I've been lucky enough to have people with great ideas come to me and allow me to say yes." It is during his tenure that many Beye organizations have taken root including Cats and Dogs Homework Club, Beye Discovery Child Care, and the Green Team. He has also supported countless PTO and D97 initiatives that have improved the grounds and curriculum of the school. Who can ever forget when in 2008, as a reward to the school for collectively showing positive behavior, Jonathan slept on Beye's roof? Or when in 2013, as part of the school's Million Minutes Reading goal he had a reading specialist shave his head?
Mr. E has not only served the Beye community, but the entire D97 one as well. Prior to becoming principal, he served as a teacher leader and Vice President and President of the Oak Park Teacher's Association. From 2007-2017, he worked with other districts on the Minority Student Achievement Network. Mr. E has won two Those Who Excel Awards from the Illinois Board of Education: as a teacher in 1997 and as an administrator in 2019. He is currently on the board of the Oak Park Education Foundation and will be receiving their distinguished Staszak Award this year. He also won WGN's MVPP (Most Valuable Person on the Planet) Award of 2019. Never one to rest on his laurels, he is taking Lake Michigan's "Polar Plunge" this February to raise money for Special Olympics.
Whether you remember him subbing for a sick crossing guard, leading the Halloween parade as the Man in the Yellow Hat, walking a reluctant student to school, greeting families by name, playing the piano for the Talent Show, or tying a kindergartner's shoe, you can't help but marvel at how much Jonathan Ellwanger has contributed to our community. Encouraging, energizing, and ebullient, Mr. E has made an everlasting impression on our hearts and is nothing less than extraordinary. The William Beye School Elementary community, past and present, can honestly say that Jonathan Ellwanger has captured our imaginations and inspired us to live lives that are rich with music, service, compassion and, above all, love.
Thank you, Mr. E. We will miss you!
Born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jonathan was indoctrinated in the ideals of social justice, equity and activism by his minister father and teaching/community organizing mother. His parents were both privileged to know and work with Dr. Martin Luther King, and from them, Jonathan learned a strong work ethic, community involvement, a desire to live and work cross-culturally and to have a genuine concern for all people.
Following his graduation from Northwestern University in 1987, he started at Beye as general music educator and has been there ever since. By 1989, he had also become Beye's instrumental music teacher growing its enrollment from 30 to 100! It was during his time as teacher that he established the Beye Chorus and the Beye Jazz Band. With former teacher Paulette Lyons, he created the Beye Gospel Choir. All three programs are still going strong today.
Becoming Beye's Principal in 2002, Jonathan continued his distinguished career of leadership and collaboration. He has been quoted as saying, "I've been lucky enough to have people with great ideas come to me and allow me to say yes." It is during his tenure that many Beye organizations have taken root including Cats and Dogs Homework Club, Beye Discovery Child Care, and the Green Team. He has also supported countless PTO and D97 initiatives that have improved the grounds and curriculum of the school. Who can ever forget when in 2008, as a reward to the school for collectively showing positive behavior, Jonathan slept on Beye's roof? Or when in 2013, as part of the school's Million Minutes Reading goal he had a reading specialist shave his head?
Mr. E has not only served the Beye community, but the entire D97 one as well. Prior to becoming principal, he served as a teacher leader and Vice President and President of the Oak Park Teacher's Association. From 2007-2017, he worked with other districts on the Minority Student Achievement Network. Mr. E has won two Those Who Excel Awards from the Illinois Board of Education: as a teacher in 1997 and as an administrator in 2019. He is currently on the board of the Oak Park Education Foundation and will be receiving their distinguished Staszak Award this year. He also won WGN's MVPP (Most Valuable Person on the Planet) Award of 2019. Never one to rest on his laurels, he is taking Lake Michigan's "Polar Plunge" this February to raise money for Special Olympics.
Whether you remember him subbing for a sick crossing guard, leading the Halloween parade as the Man in the Yellow Hat, walking a reluctant student to school, greeting families by name, playing the piano for the Talent Show, or tying a kindergartner's shoe, you can't help but marvel at how much Jonathan Ellwanger has contributed to our community. Encouraging, energizing, and ebullient, Mr. E has made an everlasting impression on our hearts and is nothing less than extraordinary. The William Beye School Elementary community, past and present, can honestly say that Jonathan Ellwanger has captured our imaginations and inspired us to live lives that are rich with music, service, compassion and, above all, love.
Thank you, Mr. E. We will miss you!