The Board of Education will have a regular meeting on August 10 at 6pm at the Unit Office. The agenda can by found here - https://aptg.co/jlPmpL
Video #3 - As the Board of Education continues its public discussion regarding Teutopolis Grade School facilities, we remain committed to providing families and community members with access to the information being reviewed throughout the process.
In Clear View: Understanding Financial Information and the Debt Book, our Superintendent provides a closer look at financial information connected to the Board’s ongoing discussion. Review where to find district financial records, how to navigate the Clear View Debt Book, and how to understand the illustrative borrowing scenarios being considered.
Watch Video #3: https://youtu.be/fxLliCcOsuc
Clear View Website: https://www.journeytwelve.com/clearview
We encourage members of our Wooden Shoe community to review the materials, stay informed, and remain engaged as this conversation continues.
Video #2 - As the Board of Education continues its public discussion regarding Teutopolis Grade School facilities, we remain committed to providing families and community members with access to the information being reviewed throughout the process.
In Clear View: Understanding the Teutopolis Grade School Facility Documents, our Superintendent provides a closer look at key documents within the Clear View Document Library. Review facility assessments, recently completed projects, Grade School renovation options, renderings, and consider additional ways to provide feedback and ask questions.
Watch Video #2: https://youtu.be/tfbcqsJcqSw
Clear View Website: https://www.journeytwelve.com/clearview
We encourage members of our Wooden Shoe community to review the materials, stay informed and engaged as this conversation continues.
Video #1 - As the Board of Education continues its public discussion regarding Teutopolis Grade School facilities, we remain committed to providing families and community members with clear, accessible information.
In Clear View: A Tour of the Teutopolis Grade School Facilities Website, our Superintendent provides a brief tour of the Clear View website and shows where community members can find facility reports, planning documents, project options, financial information, updates, and opportunities to ask questions or share feedback.
Watch the Video #1: https://youtu.be/GjxYnoYNeGU
Check the Clear View Website: https://www.journeytwelve.com/clearview
We encourage members of our Wooden Shoe community to stay informed and engaged as this conversation continues.
RESTORING A TRADITION | PART 5
READY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOODEN SHOES
Dennis Koester Court inside J.H. Griffin Gym has been renewed and is nearly ready to welcome students, athletes, staff, families, and fans once again.
What began as routine summer maintenance became a complete restoration after underlying finish problems were discovered. Through careful sanding, preparation, painting, sealing, and refinishing, the court now has a strong foundation for years of daily instruction, practices, competition, and community use.
We appreciate the work of Luebbert Hardwood Floors and the many employees who helped coordinate this unexpected project.
The floor may look new, but what makes this place special has not changed. J.H. Griffin Gym remains the home of the Wooden Shoes and a lasting reminder of the leader who helped establish our identity. Dennis Koester Court reflects the hard work, teamwork, humility, excellence, and generations of memories built by those who have played, coached, taught, and gathered here.
Together, these names tell an important part of the Teutopolis story. With this restoration complete, that tradition is ready to continue with the next generation of Wooden Shoes.
READY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOODEN SHOES
Dennis Koester Court inside J.H. Griffin Gym has been renewed and is nearly ready to welcome students, athletes, staff, families, and fans once again.
What began as routine summer maintenance became a complete restoration after underlying finish problems were discovered. Through careful sanding, preparation, painting, sealing, and refinishing, the court now has a strong foundation for years of daily instruction, practices, competition, and community use.
We appreciate the work of Luebbert Hardwood Floors and the many employees who helped coordinate this unexpected project.
The floor may look new, but what makes this place special has not changed. J.H. Griffin Gym remains the home of the Wooden Shoes and a lasting reminder of the leader who helped establish our identity. Dennis Koester Court reflects the hard work, teamwork, humility, excellence, and generations of memories built by those who have played, coached, taught, and gathered here.
Together, these names tell an important part of the Teutopolis story. With this restoration complete, that tradition is ready to continue with the next generation of Wooden Shoes.
The TJHS expansion and renovation project continues to make great progress, and the new spaces are truly beginning to take shape.
With the first day of school now just two+ weeks away, crews will be working hard to complete as much interior work as possible before students return. We do anticipate that a few finishing items will extend beyond opening day. Student lockers and some cabinetry have been delayed, but temporary hooks and tables will be in place so the spaces can function as intended. Any remaining work will be scheduled after school hours whenever possible until the project is complete.
Exterior brick veneer work is now underway, while final dirt work and sidewalks will follow later this fall after the interior spaces are finished.
There is still plenty of work ahead, but nothing will diminish the excitement of welcoming our Wooden Shoes back to TJHS. We are grateful to everyone helping push this project toward the finish line.
With the first day of school now just two+ weeks away, crews will be working hard to complete as much interior work as possible before students return. We do anticipate that a few finishing items will extend beyond opening day. Student lockers and some cabinetry have been delayed, but temporary hooks and tables will be in place so the spaces can function as intended. Any remaining work will be scheduled after school hours whenever possible until the project is complete.
Exterior brick veneer work is now underway, while final dirt work and sidewalks will follow later this fall after the interior spaces are finished.
There is still plenty of work ahead, but nothing will diminish the excitement of welcoming our Wooden Shoes back to TJHS. We are grateful to everyone helping push this project toward the finish line.
Welcome to the newest head coaches in Shoe Country: Kevin McKenna and Jon Lee!
Almost all of our Frequently Asked Questions can be answered in the Wooden Shoe HQ! https://view.gogipper.com/page/4248732
Use the link to find the answers to questions like, "How do I access schedules?" "How do I download ParentSquare?" "How do I register my child for sports?" "How did our teams do last season?" and many many more.
Use the link to find the answers to questions like, "How do I access schedules?" "How do I download ParentSquare?" "How do I register my child for sports?" "How did our teams do last season?" and many many more.
RESTORING A TRADITION | PART 4
A LEGACY STILL GROWING
Dennis Koester Court is home to one of the most successful girls basketball programs in Illinois history.
Coach Dennis Koester spent 24 seasons leading the Lady Shoes varsity program. His teams recorded 652 victories, made 13 state finals appearances, and earned 5 state championships. His accomplishments earned him induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame alongside fellow Teutopolis coaches Lawrence Carie and Ken Crawford.
Coach Koester consistently credited his players, assistant coaches, families, school leaders, and the Wooden Shoe community. He believed that winning involved more than the final score. It required shared effort, high expectations, strong relationships, and learning to find joy in hard work.
That foundation has been carried forward by generations of Lady Shoes players and coaches. Laurie Thompson experienced the program as a player, assistant coach under Coach Koester, and head coach for 20 seasons, helping preserve and strengthen the culture established by those who came before her.
At the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the Lady Shoes stood at 1,231 all-time victories, tied for the most wins in Illinois girls basketball history. That milestone reflects the contributions of every player, coach, family, fan, and community member who has helped carry the program forward.
J.H. Griffin Gym provides the home. Dennis Koester Court carries the name of a coach who helped establish the standard. Together, they remain part of a Lady Shoes tradition that continues to grow.
A LEGACY STILL GROWING
Dennis Koester Court is home to one of the most successful girls basketball programs in Illinois history.
Coach Dennis Koester spent 24 seasons leading the Lady Shoes varsity program. His teams recorded 652 victories, made 13 state finals appearances, and earned 5 state championships. His accomplishments earned him induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame alongside fellow Teutopolis coaches Lawrence Carie and Ken Crawford.
Coach Koester consistently credited his players, assistant coaches, families, school leaders, and the Wooden Shoe community. He believed that winning involved more than the final score. It required shared effort, high expectations, strong relationships, and learning to find joy in hard work.
That foundation has been carried forward by generations of Lady Shoes players and coaches. Laurie Thompson experienced the program as a player, assistant coach under Coach Koester, and head coach for 20 seasons, helping preserve and strengthen the culture established by those who came before her.
At the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the Lady Shoes stood at 1,231 all-time victories, tied for the most wins in Illinois girls basketball history. That milestone reflects the contributions of every player, coach, family, fan, and community member who has helped carry the program forward.
J.H. Griffin Gym provides the home. Dennis Koester Court carries the name of a coach who helped establish the standard. Together, they remain part of a Lady Shoes tradition that continues to grow.
Teutopolis Unit #50 invites community members to participate in our upcoming Clear View Community Conversations. These informal sessions provide an opportunity to meet with the Superintendent and a Board of Education member, ask questions, review publicly available information, and share feedback regarding Teutopolis Grade School facilities.
No RSVP is required. Residents are welcome to attend any session that fits their schedule.
No RSVP is required. Residents are welcome to attend any session that fits their schedule.
RESTORING A TRADITION | PART 3
A CENTURY OF WOODEN SHOE BASKETBALL
As work continues inside J.H. Griffin Gym, it is fitting to reflect on the remarkable basketball tradition built within these walls.
John Harold “J.H.” Griffin served Teutopolis as an educator, superintendent, and boys basketball coach. During his tenure, the Wooden Shoes nickname was adopted to honor the community’s German heritage and the craftsmanship of local shoemaker George Deymann. Griffin also helped establish the foundation of a program that would become one of the most successful in Illinois.
That tradition was carried forward by generations of players and coaches, including Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame coaches Lawrence Carie and Ken Crawford. Crawford led the Wooden Shoes to the 1986 Class A State Championship, while both men helped build decades of sustained excellence.
In 2024, Teutopolis celebrated 100 years of Wooden Shoe basketball. Then, on February 1, 2025, the boys program earned its 2,000th victory, becoming only the sixth Illinois boys basketball program to reach that milestone and the fastest to do so.
Only nine head coaches have led the Wooden Shoes throughout more than a century of basketball. Together, their teams have earned championships, trophies, and lasting memories, but the tradition has always belonged to the players, coaches, families, fans, and community members who have carried it forward.
J.H. Griffin Gym bears the name of the man who helped give Teutopolis its athletic identity. Those who play on its floor carry forward the standard of excellence built by generations of Wooden Shoes.
A CENTURY OF WOODEN SHOE BASKETBALL
As work continues inside J.H. Griffin Gym, it is fitting to reflect on the remarkable basketball tradition built within these walls.
John Harold “J.H.” Griffin served Teutopolis as an educator, superintendent, and boys basketball coach. During his tenure, the Wooden Shoes nickname was adopted to honor the community’s German heritage and the craftsmanship of local shoemaker George Deymann. Griffin also helped establish the foundation of a program that would become one of the most successful in Illinois.
That tradition was carried forward by generations of players and coaches, including Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame coaches Lawrence Carie and Ken Crawford. Crawford led the Wooden Shoes to the 1986 Class A State Championship, while both men helped build decades of sustained excellence.
In 2024, Teutopolis celebrated 100 years of Wooden Shoe basketball. Then, on February 1, 2025, the boys program earned its 2,000th victory, becoming only the sixth Illinois boys basketball program to reach that milestone and the fastest to do so.
Only nine head coaches have led the Wooden Shoes throughout more than a century of basketball. Together, their teams have earned championships, trophies, and lasting memories, but the tradition has always belonged to the players, coaches, families, fans, and community members who have carried it forward.
J.H. Griffin Gym bears the name of the man who helped give Teutopolis its athletic identity. Those who play on its floor carry forward the standard of excellence built by generations of Wooden Shoes.
RESTORING A TRADITION | Part 2
Back to Bare Wood
The transformation of Dennis Koester Court inside is becoming easier to see as crews continue sanding the floor to bare maple.
A complete sanding removes the previous layers of finish and creates a clean, consistent surface for the new sealer, paint, game lines, logos, and protective finish coats. Multiple sanding stages are required, moving from coarse to finer grits to properly prepare the wood.
This careful work is about more than appearance. Proper preparation is essential to the safety, durability, and long-term performance and to the continued use of J.H. Griffin Gym for physical education, practices, competitions, school activities, and community events.
There is still considerable work ahead, but the renewed character of this historic gymnasium and court is already beginning to show.
RESTORING A TRADITION | Part 1
An Unexpected Discovery
Work is underway on Dennis Koester Court inside J.H. Griffin Gym.
The floor was originally scheduled for its annual summer maintenance, which typically includes cleaning, screening, and applying a new finish coat. During that process, widespread delamination of earlier finish layers was discovered across the playing surface.
After consulting with athletic flooring professionals, the District determined that simply applying another coat would not provide a safe or lasting solution. Instead, the floor is being sanded to bare wood, repainted, sealed, and completely refinished.
Although this was an unexpected project, taking proactive action now will help protect our students and preserve the quality of a surface used each day for physical education, practices, activities, and the competitive play Teutopolis has come to love.
We look forward to sharing the progress over the coming days. Go Shoes!
An Unexpected Discovery
Work is underway on Dennis Koester Court inside J.H. Griffin Gym.
The floor was originally scheduled for its annual summer maintenance, which typically includes cleaning, screening, and applying a new finish coat. During that process, widespread delamination of earlier finish layers was discovered across the playing surface.
After consulting with athletic flooring professionals, the District determined that simply applying another coat would not provide a safe or lasting solution. Instead, the floor is being sanded to bare wood, repainted, sealed, and completely refinished.
Although this was an unexpected project, taking proactive action now will help protect our students and preserve the quality of a surface used each day for physical education, practices, activities, and the competitive play Teutopolis has come to love.
We look forward to sharing the progress over the coming days. Go Shoes!
Join the Wooden Shoe Tradition, or share with someone that might be interested! Full details can be viewed at www.teutopolisschools.org/documents/unit-office/employment/8234
Important Dates for the beginning of TJHS athletics!
The Board of Education will have a regular meeting on July 20 at 6pm at the Unit Office. The agenda can be found here - https://aptg.co/msbRfH
We are excited to share another update on the TJHS expansion and renovation project as work continues this summer.
Since our last update, crews have completed the exterior and interior masonry work, structural steel, and roof framing. The roofing system is nearing completion, rough-in plumbing and electrical are nearly finished, and bathroom tile work is well underway as we prepare for fixture installation.
Current work includes exterior air barrier application, preparation for brick installation, and upcoming work on gutters, fascia, and other exterior metal components.
This project remains an important step in preparing for the transition of sixth grade to TJHS in 2026-27 and creating future opportunities for improvements at TGS.
We are grateful for the continued work of the contractors and for the support of our Wooden Shoe community as this project continues to take shape.
Since our last update, crews have completed the exterior and interior masonry work, structural steel, and roof framing. The roofing system is nearing completion, rough-in plumbing and electrical are nearly finished, and bathroom tile work is well underway as we prepare for fixture installation.
Current work includes exterior air barrier application, preparation for brick installation, and upcoming work on gutters, fascia, and other exterior metal components.
This project remains an important step in preparing for the transition of sixth grade to TJHS in 2026-27 and creating future opportunities for improvements at TGS.
We are grateful for the continued work of the contractors and for the support of our Wooden Shoe community as this project continues to take shape.
Don't forget to complete online registration! Log into your TeacheEase parent portal to get started.
Teutopolis Grade School has served generations of Wooden Shoes for more than 70 years. As facility planning discussions continue, we invite you to take a closer look at current building conditions being reviewed by the Board of Education.
This virtual walk-through highlights areas related to accessibility, aging infrastructure, instructional space, and long-term building functionality.
Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/3M5R067lt1g
For additional updates and information, visit our Clear View website: www.journeytwelve.com/clearview
This virtual walk-through highlights areas related to accessibility, aging infrastructure, instructional space, and long-term building functionality.
Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/3M5R067lt1g
For additional updates and information, visit our Clear View website: www.journeytwelve.com/clearview
Wooden Shoes, online registration for the 2026-27 is July 13-17th!
