Our people

Meet the people involved with P2D2

Paul Ritter

Ecology Teacher – Pontiac Township High School

When you look up the definition of “teacher” in Webster’s Dictionary, you will find a picture of Mr. Paul Ritter.   Paul Ritter is a teacher who always puts his students first.  To him, teaching is his life, not just a job.  His passion for education and the environment goes well beyond the classroom, but touches every aspect of his life, as well as his students.

Paul graduated high school in Mendota, Illinois, in 1988 and has a B.S. in Zoology, 1992, and a M.S. in Secondary Science Education, 2000, from Eastern Illinois University.  After undergraduate college Paul worked briefly as a Wildlife Interpreter for the Illinois Department of conservation.  Sensing a strong desire in him to make a difference in people’s lives, he then decided to make a career change and enter into the field of education.  Eleanor Ritter, Paul’s grandmother, who taught for over fifty years as a regular and a substitute educator, was one of his major sources of inspiration.  With the help of many friends and family, Paul went back to school to obtain additional course work that would allow him to follow his dream.  In the fall of 1994, Diane Duke, an Assistant Principle in Clearwater, Florida, took a chance and hired Paul as a Biology and Earth Science teacher at East Lake High School.  Florida was a wonderful stepping stone for the Ritters, but due to missing their family and the change of seasons, Paul and his wife, Jodee, decided to move back to Illinois.  After a long search he was able to obtain a position at Effingham High School, in Effingham, Illinois.  The move back to Illinois required Paul to go back to school once again to meet the science requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education.  After two years at Effingham, Paul, his wife Jodee, and daughters Baylee and Taylor chose to move back to their home town of Pontiac, Illinois, where Paul became a valued instructor at Pontiac Township High School.

Paul has received many awards and honors for his interdisciplinary projects including 11 major awards from three different Governors of the State of Illinois.  A few of Paul’s exemplary projects are:  The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program, the Pontiac Township High School Crayon Recycling Program, the PTHS Cell Phone Recycling Program, the Pontiac Billboard Project, the PTHS Ecology Class “Adopt A Highway” Project, and the PTHS Ecology Student Weather Radio Program and the Storm Sewer Stenciling Program, a community project between Pontiac Township High School students and Pontiac Grade School students.  His most recognized projects are the Pontiac Prescription Drug Disposal Program aka Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program, and the PTHS Bio-diesel Program.  These joint projects combine the efforts of his students with other classes, communities, businesses, and state governments.

Honors that standout:

.       2007-2008 Illinois State Board of Education Teacher of the Year — runner-up

.       2009 – 2010 NSDAR Illinois Conservation Award — winner

.       2009 – 2010 NSDAR National Conservation Award — runner-up

.        2009 – 2010 Illinois Conservation Teacher of the Year

His passion for teaching is contagious to all that meet and work with him.  When Paul undertakes a project, one can rest assured it will done to perfection!  His tireless work ethic is second to none.  His enthusiastic attitude is so contagious that his students, as well as his colleagues, cannot but help get excited about learning and teaching.

Paul Ritter can be described as a visionary teacher.  His passion for teaching is shown everyday in the classroom, community, and in the state.  Teachers like Paul are hard to find in today’s world.  Paul could pursue other professions; private industry or even politics, but has dedicated his life to teaching others the importance of finding a passion and sharing that passion with others.