Ellen M. Austin

Paul Elementary School
Minidoka School District
Paul, Idaho
[email protected]

As principal of Paul Elementary School for the last seven years, Ellen Austin has built a reputation as a dedicated instructional leader who partners with teachers to innovate their teaching practices to create conditions of success for all students. Building on two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, Austin understands that even the best instructional tools fail when students’ foundational needs are left unmet. This is why Austin has worked tirelessly to ensure that Paul Elementary is a place where all students feel respected, valued, and ready to learn. For example, recognizing the unique linguistic and cultural needs of immigrant students who have recently arrived to the U.S., Austin launched a Newcomer Program to provide specialized services that allow for the integration of diverse students and families into the Paul community. This is just one of the ways that Austin promotes empathy, resilience, and inclusion. These values extend as well to Austin’s empowered approach to professional development, working alongside teachers to collaboratively leverage data to improve teaching and learning at the school. Austin is known for her curious, open-minded, and inclusive leadership style, which encourages collective ownership of student success. She holds a B.S. in Education from Idaho State University, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University, and an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University.