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Sharing The Pride And Purpose of Teutopolis Schools
From the First to the Last: A Principal Focus
"We are family.”
“If the families can teach that, we can teach the rest.”
"If you put in 10%, you're going to get out a thousand percent."
In Teutopolis, two people who show up for their own children have discovered something even better: showing up for everyone else's.
"The community isn't just in Teutopolis. It's wherever."
"I don't feel like people sometimes understand how wonderful it is until they've lived somewhere else or seen something else."
"God gives you challenges, and you have to rise up to those challenges, and you will succeed."
For Roch Westendorf, driving a Teutopolis school bus is about more than transportation—it's about making sure every student starts the day feeling seen.
"He was always approachable... that always stuck with me."
For the Wernsing family, the performing arts at Teutopolis aren't a luxury—they're a legacy.
"You’d like to play flute? How convenient, because I have one right here in the closet." — Amanda Wernsing
At Teutopolis Junior High, Amber Rose serves more than lunch—she helps nourish the spirit of a school.
"I fell in love with the kids." — Amber Rose
"If my mom can help us raise our children, that’s a hard thing to pass up." — Ashley Willman
For the Brummer family, Teutopolis schools help seven children discover their own paths—whether that leads to the farm, the hospital, or somewhere entirely new.
"If you have teachers that care and parents that care, that generally turns out to having good kids." — Eric Brummer
"There's no faking it. You've got to put the effort in." — Allen Konkel
“We wanted our kids to grow up with the same experience we had—because it was such a great place to raise a family.”
“Everybody wants the same thing—we all want our kids and grandkids to have better than we did.” — Chris Mette
“We came back because Teutopolis is where you want your kids to grow up. It’s home, and home means more when the schools are strong.” – Dave Pruemer
“There’s always such a strong showing of support. No matter what our kids do, this community shows up.” — Maranda Martin
“Everything you’ve ever wanted or needed is here. Family, friends, community—this is home.” – Chris Zerrusen
The Stories of Us.
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From the First to the Last: A Principal Focus
Diversified Occupations Opens Doors
There's a Place for Everybody
Staging the Scaffolding
Wherever You Go, You Find Your People
Two Doors From Childhood
Designed to Solve, Built to Last
The First Smile of the Day
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Finding Their Voice
The Heart of the Kitchen
Coming Home to Teach
Rooted in Possibility
A Head Start That Matters
Coming Home: The Donsbachs’ Story of Family, Community, and Commitment
A Lifetime of Service: Chris Mette’s Commitment to Teutopolis
A Return to the Wellspring: Dave and Tina Pruemer’s Story
Drawn by Tradition not Nostalgia: The Martin Family’s Teutopolis Story
Rooted in T-Town: Chris Zerrusen’s Commitment to Community and Kids
Planning for the future begins with understanding the present. Over the past year, Teutopolis CUSD #50 has partnered with the Upchurch Group, a professional architectural and engineering firm, to conduct an in-depth review of each district building. Their assessment considered everything from structural integrity and mechanical systems to space utilization, accessibility, and projected enrollment growth.
The result is a clear picture of where our facilities stand today — and what it will take to meet the educational and safety standards our community expects in the years ahead. These findings, along with detailed cost models and early timeline projections, are helping district leaders evaluate possible next steps.
No final plan or proposal has been approved. The purpose of this process is to gather facts, explore options, and keep the community informed at every stage.
Future decisions will depend on ongoing board discussions, community feedback, and a careful balance between educational need, fiscal responsibility, and long-term sustainability.
As updates occur, this section will continue to grow — with summaries of next-phase studies, visual concepts from Upchurch Group, and any related board actions. Our goal is to ensure that when the time comes to make decisions about facilities, every resident understands the “why,” the “what,” and the “how” behind those discussions.