For Dave and Tina Pruemer, the road has taken them many places, but every turn seemed to point back to Teutopolis. It’s where they grew up, where they walked the halls as students, and where they chose to raise their own children. Today, with all three of their kids now proud graduates of Teutopolis High School, the Pruemers look back on their decision to come home with gratitude—and forward with a conviction that the next generation deserves the same opportunities their family received.

Both Dave and Tina graduated from Teutopolis themselves, carrying with them the lessons and values instilled in a town where neighbors knew each other and school events were community events. “You don’t realize how special it is until you’ve lived somewhere else,” Tina reflected. “There’s something about the way people here support each other that’s different.”

After college and early career paths that took them away from Effingham County, the Pruemers knew that if they were going to raise a family, they wanted it to be here. “When you’re young, you sometimes think about what’s out there,” Dave said. “But when you start a family, you think about where you want your kids to grow roots. For us, there was no question—it was T-Town.”

That choice shaped their children’s lives. The Pruemer kids thrived in classrooms filled with teachers who cared not just about academics, but about character and community. They built friendships on sports fields, in band rooms, and through church and civic life—friendships that endure today. “Looking back, we couldn’t have asked for a better environment for them to grow up in,” Tina said. “It was everything we hoped for when we moved back.”

But Dave and Tina are also clear-eyed about what it takes to keep that promise alive for future families. They know that excellent schools don’t just happen by tradition—they require ongoing investment in facilities and resources to meet the needs of today’s students. “The teachers here are second to none,” Tina said. “But they also need the spaces and tools that allow them to keep doing their jobs well. Kids notice when their schools are modern and cared for—it sends a message that their education matters.”

Dave has seen that truth play out firsthand. “You can have great people—and we do—but at some point, you have to give them the facilities to match,” he said. “It’s not about building for the sake of it. It’s about making sure our kids are safe, supported, and prepared for what comes next.”

For the Pruemers, the case for investment isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about stewardship. They believe strongly that Teutopolis can remain the kind of place families want to return to, but only if it continues to prioritize its schools. “It’s not about keeping up with anyone else,” Tina explained. “It’s about living up to our own standards—making sure every child here has what they need to succeed.”

Now, with their own children graduated, Dave and Tina see themselves as part of the chain that links one generation to the next. “We’ve all benefited from the sacrifices of those who came before us,” Dave said. “Now it’s our turn to make sure the kids in those classrooms today—and tomorrow—have the same opportunities we had, if not better.”

Their story is personal, but it’s also emblematic of Teutopolis itself—a town defined by faith, family, and a deep commitment to education. Coming back wasn’t about going backward, they insist. It was about moving forward in the best way possible: giving their kids the same foundation they once received, and ensuring the community remains strong for years to come.

“When our kids graduated, we felt so proud—not just of them, but of the community that helped raise them,” Tina said. “That’s what Teutopolis does. It surrounds you, it supports you, and it gives you roots you can count on.”

For Dave and Tina, that’s the story of T-Town. It’s why they came back, why they stayed, and why they now advocate for investing in the schools that make this community thrive. Because in the end, the true measure of home isn’t just where you’re from—it’s what you’re willing to build for the future.