Julie Ellis couldn’t have asked for a better way to start her workday on April 9.

The language arts teacher from Montgomery County High School celebrated her biggest award in her 29-year tenure as educator of the R-II School District. She was named the R-II Teacher of the Year for the 2024-25 school year.

Ellis received her award with numerous members of her family in attendance.

“I was completely surprised,” Ellis said. “I thought we were going to an assembly to talk about schedule changes for next year. All of the sudden, one of my co-workers grabbed my arm and said, ‘Congratulations.’ Then, I saw my family walk in. I was not expecting this on a Wednesday morning at all. It was a great surprise.”

The other candidates for the teacher of the year award were Madelyn Woods of Montgomery County Middle School, Keri Rhodes of Jonesburg Elementary and Tara Polston of Montgomery City Elementary.

“Madelyn was actually one of my students,” Ellis said. “I was super excited that she’s having success as a teacher. I had the good fortune of working with absolutely amazing and wonderful educators and people during my whole career. Being honored like this is humbling and exciting.”

The R-II teacher of the year candidates were announced on April 1. R-II assistant superintendent Dr. Jocelyn Schluss said Ellis was selected as teacher of the year because of her strong support of students and staff members.

“Mrs. Julie Ellis is an exceptional teacher dedicated to providing high-quality learning experiences and mentoring students at Montgomery County High School,” Schluss said in a statement. “She consistently plans thoughtful and detailed lessons that encourage students to do their best and prepares them for life after high school. Beyond academics, she helps students with college preparation, including providing scholarship opportunities, writing recommendation letters, and offering ACT prep. Julie is also a leader in her department and our school, willing to share her knowledge and resources with others.”

Ellis has been living in Montgomery County all of her life. She graduated from MCHS in 1991. She was a member of the school’s Academic Hall of Fame.
After graduating with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Truman State University in the mid-1990s, Ellis was offered to return to the R-II School District to work as a teacher.

“It wasn’t necessarily my plan, but it worked out beautifully,” Ellis said. “I was substitute teaching for the elementary P.E. teacher and I got a call that I needed to call the middle school secretary, Lavon Colbert, who is the mom of one of my good friends, April (McCown). She said, ‘Come for an interview. We have a language arts position open.’ So I interviewed with my middle school principal, Brian Knowles, and got the job. I’ve been here ever since.”

Ellis taught at the middle school for three years before joining the high school staff in 1999. In 2019, she was named finalist of the Missouri Teacher of the Year. Ellis credits plenty of teachers for her successful teaching career.

“Linda Calhoun was my mentor when I started teaching seventh and eighth graders,” Ellis said. “She’s an absolutely fabulous individual. I was taught with great people who always had a high bar for student success and expectations of teachers and how it should be done. So I just try to continue in their footsteps.”

Ellis said her method of teaching is helping students enjoy success in the classroom and life.

“I just want my kids to find their thing and be successful at it,” she said. “That’s why it makes my heart so happy that Madelyn Woods, who was one of my students, knew that she wanted to be a teacher when she was in high school. Here she is, young in her career and in her early years of teaching and she was honored as the middle school teacher of the year. So that was like the baton being passed. That’s incredible. That’s how this profession has to continue.”