By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Say hello to Todd Flinn, the incoming principal of Ellis Washington Grade School for the 2025-2026 school year, returning to his roots to make a difference.
Flinn graduated from Ellis High School in 2008 before earning a history and secondary education degree from Fort Hays State University.
"My wife and I are both Ellis natives. We grew up there and went to school all the way through the system," he said.
Flinn has dedicated the last 12 years to USD 292 Wheatland as a history, government and social studies teacher.
He also served as principal of USD 292's high school and elementary school for four years before transitioning to solely being the elementary principal and serving as the high school career and college adviser.
Flinn's passion for education was sparked by his interest in history and by the encouragement of his high school teachers during challenging times.
"It was 2008, there was an economic recession, and a downturn was happening ... there weren't a lot of jobs in education," he said.
"All of my teachers and administrators who I visited with said it was an excellent career path, worthwhile, rewarding and encouraged me to pursue that," Flinn said.
Flinn said he is excited to bring strategies he learned to Washington Grade School, such as evaluating strengths and weaknesses, promoting collaboration with staff, encouraging school pride, and enhancing parents' engagement.
"We're really trying to mesh the school system and community as good as we can," he said.
John Befort, the current Washington Grade School principal who is set to retire, was Flinn's sixth-grade teacher when he was a student.
"I'm looking forward to getting things started and figuring out what they have in place to see how my experiences can blend into that," Flinn said.
The Ellis USD 388 school district announced Flinn as the new principal in a Facebook post Tuesday.