I met with Jake and Christi Donsbach by phone, but as someone who grew up in a small town, their warmth, personability, and community pride felt familiar, and I knew I liked them immediately. They both project smiles when they talk about Teutopolis. For them, I quickly learn it isn’t just a hometown—it’s a place that shaped their character, anchored their values, and drew them back after years away. Now, as parents of four children in Teutopolis CUSD #50, they are deeply engaged in the life of the district, grateful for its strengths, and mindful of the ways facilities can shape opportunity for students today.

A Life Together That Came Full Circle

Jake and Christi are high school sweethearts who graduated from Teutopolis in 2000 and 2002, respectively. Their early lives took them beyond Effingham County—Jake through military service with the Army National Guard, including deployments to Germany and Iraq, and Christi through education and professional opportunities in St. Louis. Yet, when they started a family, the pull of home grew irresistible.

“It only took us a few months with our first child before we realized we wanted our kids to have what we had growing up here,” Christi recalls. That meant returning to Teutopolis, where family ties run deep. Jake transitioned into a financial advisor role with Country Financial, taking over his father’s long-standing book of business. Christi built a career in higher education, eventually joining Lakeland College in Development after a tenure with SIU Edwardsville.

In 2010, the Donsbachs built their home on family ground, cementing their return to a community they cherish. “Once you build that house, you’re committed,” I say, as Christi laughs in agreement.

Four Children, One Community

Today, their four children span three different district buildings: two in grade school, one in junior high, and their oldest in high school. The busy schedules that come with four active students keep Jake and Christi constantly on the go, yet they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Donsbach children are thriving in a district where teachers are both educators and family friends. “A lot of their teachers are our classmates now,” Jake says. “It’s crazy how the tradition continues—you know they’re looking out for the best interest of our kids.” That sense of connection underscores the trust and warmth the couple feels toward the educators who shape their children’s days.

Strengths of a District

Jake and Christi speak glowingly of the district’s academic and extracurricular strengths. They highlight recent upgrades at the high school—like improvements to the cafeteria and gym—as well as the vibrant atmosphere at the junior high, where camaraderie flourishes and concerts and events bring families together.

Perhaps most important, they appreciate the expanding opportunities available to students today. “The curriculum has definitely gotten better over the years,” Christi notes, pointing to the growth in agriculture classes, dual-credit offerings, and career pathways that allow students to explore trades and healthcare fields early on. Their sophomore, for instance, is already expressing interest in health occupations, while another child shows strong leanings toward the performing arts.

For the Donsbachs, this flexibility affirms that the T-Town district meets students where they are, rather than forcing them down a single path.

Facilities: A Place to Grow Stronger

Still, Jake and Christi acknowledge that facilities matter—and that they shape the fullness of opportunities available to young people. They are quick to stress their gratitude for what the district provides, from athletic facilities to classrooms, yet they also point to areas where growth could enrich the student experience.

The performing arts stand out as a need. Currently, all plays and productions—whether elementary, junior high, or high school—take place on the same aging grade school stage. “It’s the same stage, the same curtains from when we were kids,” Jake says. “Our youngest daughter is very theatrical, and I’d love to see improvements in that area. The arts are just as important as sports for building creativity, confidence, and teamwork.”

Christi adds that the elementary school itself, while steeped in nostalgia, has seen little change over decades. “Everything’s the same as from when we were there,” she says. “For us, that brings back memories. But if you’re new to the district, you probably wouldn’t see it through the same lens.”

Jake agrees: “Being more updated with technology and modern classrooms is never a bad thing. It only prepares kids better for the world they’re going into.”

Community, Citizenship, and Leadership

What stands out most in Jake and Christi’s reflections is their deep sense of gratitude and citizenship. They know that schools thrive when parents, teachers, administrators, and facilities work in harmony—and they see themselves as active partners in that balance.

They speak highly of district leadership, including Superintendent Matt Sturgeon and principals across all three buildings. “We have nothing but wonderful things to say,” Jake affirms, recalling personal examples of principals and teachers going above and beyond for their children. “You don’t see that from bigger schools. That’s what we love here.”

To them, leadership is not abstract—it’s personal, rooted in relationships, and committed to doing what’s best for families. They recognize the weight of decisions around facilities and programs but believe that decisions made in Teutopolis reflect a community-wide desire for excellence.

The Choice to Come Back

In many ways, the Donsbachs embody the best of Teutopolis: a family who left to grow, serve, and build careers, but who ultimately returned out of love for their community and a conviction that their children would flourish here.

Jake jokes that his wife, a “Green Creek girl,” and he, a “Bishop Creek boy,” had to navigate even where to build their home. But their return in 2010 wasn’t just about geography—it was about grounding their family in the soil of shared values, generational ties, and a commitment to place.

“We’re not complaining,” Jake says of the facilities conversation. “Whatever happens, there’s always room for improvement. And that’s the beautiful part about our leadership here—they’re looking out for the best interest of the community and the schools.”

Christi echoes the sentiment: “We appreciate you shedding some positive light on what’s happening here. We’re proud to share our story, because this is such a special place.”

An Investment in Care and a Legacy of Love

Jake and Christi’s story is, at its core, about legacy. They inherited much—Jake, his father’s book of business, Christi, the lessons and experiences from mentors and educators. They have built much together—a family, careers, a home on family ground. And they are giving much back, investing time, trust, and care into the district that raised them.

Their children are beneficiaries of these choices, living proof that when parents and community work hand in hand, opportunities multiply.

As Jake and Christi know well, schools are more than buildings, yet facilities matter in the marketplace of opportunity. They see the schools here as a living expression of the values of a community—its love for its children, its commitment to their futures, and its willingness to invest in what comes next.