Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 20, 2012

A new face around the community and in the elementary school many of you may not notice is the elementary principal, Chris Elwood. Chris, along with his wife, Callie Elwood, who is a financial analyst for Hewlett-Packward, and their children recently moved here this summer to become a part of the Mount Ayr Community school district.

Chris and Callie have two children who attend school at the elementary. Dalton is in fifth grade and Karly is in first grade.

This is Chris' first year in administration as he was a second-grade teacher for four years in Exira, a fifth-grade teacher for one year in CAM, a fourth-grade teacher for nine years in Griswold and most recently a middle school math instructor for three years in Griswold.

"I have had my master's degree for many years but really enjoyed being in the classroom. I decided last spring that if I wanted to move into administration, it needed to be done before Dalton was any older," stated Mr. Elwood.

Along with education, Chris has spent his time teaching driver's education and coaching high school baseball, high school girls basketball, middle school football, middle school basketball and middle school track.

Mr. Elwood graduated from Griswold high school in 1990, received his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University, (where he states,"Go Cyclones!") and received his master's degree from Creighton University.

The elementary principal states that the best part of his job is getting to watch the caring elementary staff work with the young students each and every day.

"Our goal is not only to help them become successful students, but also to help them become successful citizens," explains Mr. Elwood.

The advice Mr. Elwood would want to give his students is, "Your character is your most important asset. Anyone can say they have integrity, but your actions are the real indicator of character."

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2013