Eddie Ellis announces candidacy for Jackson County Schools Superintendent

I, Eddie Ellis, am a candidate for Superintendent of Schools in Jackson County. I am married to Linda Edwards-Ellis, who is formerly from Greenwood. We have two children, Jessica and Rashad, and four grandchildren, Jeremiah, Alexis, Noah and Israel. I have resided in Jackson County all my life.

After 40 years of various assignments and responsibilities in the public schools of Jackson County, I have worked with all groups and ages of students in several professional assignments: teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. In addition, I have voluntarily served on many committees and groups, technical assistance, planning, and staff improvement sessions. That being said, I hold degrees in education and have many experiences; I understand the challenges to be met while working with and for children of all ages. While not suggesting that I know everything about the local schools, I know much about working with and helping youths learn and grow toward adulthood. I was born and reared here and graduated from Marianna High School (1977), Chipola with an A.A. (1979), Athens State College with a B.S. in Physical Education (1981), and earned my M.S. in Educational Leadership at the University of West Florida (2002). Education, practical experience, and the influence of some outstanding leaders on my career path have prepared me well for this next step.

My teaching career began at Sneads Elementary School (1981-1984), where I was the elementary physical education teacher. In my second year, I was named Teacher of the Year. As a physical education teacher, I transferred to F. M. Golson Elementary (1984-1999). I was again named teacher of the year twice. Those familiar with schools realize that I must have been doing things right for the rest of the teachers to choose me for this honor. This experience was followed by a brief stint at Sunland School (1999-2001) as a teacher. While at Sunland, I was also named Teacher of the Year. Next, I served at Marianna Middle School (2001-2020), where I was named Assistant Principal. A few years later, I was promoted to Principal at Marianna Middle and continued in that role at the new Marianna K-8(2020-2021), where I was further honored as Principal of the Year and by having a wing named in my honor, I supervised the interns at Chipola College for the Education Department under the guidance of Dr. Gina McAllister and Dr. JuJuan Clark (2023-2024).

My commitment to each child, each teacher, and each school staff member is unwavering. I am deeply thankful for the interpersonal skills I have developed over the years and for the values instilled in me by my home and my teachers. As I humbly offer myself as a candidate for superintendent of schools, I bring with me a wealth of experiences and skills to help elevate Jackson County Schools. Challenges are inevitable, but my experience as a high school basketball player at MHS taught me that challenges can be overcome, and those who are willing to 'give their all' will find unique solutions to any problem or situation.

My desire to serve is grounded in my desire to provide every child with a vital education while helping each one to build a strong character. My life has been spent working with children. As your superintendent, I will put children first when making decisions. Children's lives are changed by what happens at school and how teachers teach and care. At every age, students' lives are affected by what and whom they encounter at school. The curriculum is essential; athletics and other clubs and organizations make going to school fun and exciting. At MMS, we worked hard to provide the coaches and team experiences, the band, which sometimes had 300 students, and various clubs and activities. These are extremely important for students' social, emotional, and physical development. Schools that do this will realize the benefit of their academic programs and positive student behavior.

As your superintendent, I will strive to be a man of integrity and process, never using the office to manipulate or intimidate system employees or promote a personal agenda. Professionalism will characterize my actions, and I will expect the same from those who work with me. I will conduct school business with civility in all meetings.

I have shown myself to be a hard worker, a compassionate supervisor, and a team player. To meet the challenges of the next few years, we must come together to benefit our children. The time is now to save our children. I can work with anyone or any group toward making our schools the BEST. Where policy exists, we will use it. Where it does not or where existing policy needs amending, we will address it to create or change it.

It is with the utmost humility and a deep sense of commitment that I present myself as a candidate for the Office of School Superintendent for Jackson County.

My dedication to serving the community and its students is unwavering, and I earnestly hope to earn your trust and support in this endeavor.

As you consider this announcement, I urge you to reflect on your interactions with me or those I had with your child/children. If you believe in my commitment to children's education, I ask for your vote on November 5, 2024. With your vote of Confidence, I can continue to serve our students and the Schools of Jackson County. But as always, The Choice is yours.