O’Fallon community holds renaming dedication for the Dawn Elser Elementary School
Dawn Elser’s legacy will carry on for many generations, speakers noted during the O’Fallon elementary school’s renaming dedication in her honor. She is retiring as superintendent of Central 104 School District on June 30 after spending her 34-year career there.
“The building will continue to rise to the high standards for which she embodies,” said Tron Young, principal of Joseph Arthur Middle School. “The Dawn Elser Elementary School will remain a building that has her fingerprints on it. The love, passion and energy will be carried on for generations to come.”
Young was one of the speakers at the June 17 ceremony. More than 100 family, friends, staff, students, former students, and community members attended.
Elser started out in the district as a summer custodian and paraprofessional. Prior to being named superintendent in 2017, she was principal of Central Elementary School for nine years and taught first grade for 17 years.
“Leadership will be held to the standard of love kids, engaging the community, and support their staff. Parents will have an expectation when coming into Dawn Elser Elementary of feeling welcomed, valued, and heard,” Young said.
Young has been the middle school principal for seven years. He was previously at Centralia City Schools District 135.
In 2019, the Illinois Principals Association, the Southwest Region, honored Elser as Superintendent of the Year and Young as Middle School Principal of the Year. The IPA’s Southwest Region includes Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, and Randolph Counties.
During his remarks, O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach talked about Elser’s focus on excellence and community.
“Education sets a standard for who wants to move to your community, what type of residential developments are developed, what type of businesses want to locate there. But most important, it sets the basis for the future development and growth of our children,” he said.
“Without the best education that we can offer, we limit the abilities of our children to grow and develop. The overall educational offering in our city is part of the reason that O’Fallon is nationally rated in the top 8% of communities to raise a family,” he said.
“That is why I applaud Dawn on her dedication to education for the last 30+ years and the last five as superintendent,” the mayor said. “Since I knew Joe Arthur very well, I will be proud to say that I knew both the educators that the District 104 buildings are named after – and they loved this district.”
The school board approved the renaming decision in 2019, but Elser said she asked them to wait until she retired. She said she has loved being in the district for her entire career.
“It is such a special place. This district is like a family, and I have built so many relationships, so many mentors and colleagues,” she said. “The students, the staff, the community – we all have the best interests of others in our heart. We want to see children grow. It has made me want to come here every day.”
Elser now plans to spend more time with friends and family, play golf and travel.
Gabrielle Rodriguez will become the new superintendent on July 1. She previously was superintendent at Sparta Community Unit School District 140. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary school at McKendree University, then a master’s in education leadership and administration from Lindenwood University, and a doctorate in education from Saint Louis University.
The Central School District’s total enrollment is about 615 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with a preschool of about 50. Staff numbers around 80.
