If you visit the Stanley Switlik campus in Marathon, you will notice a gentle giant who joined the staff three years ago with a row of children following him everywhere he goes. You will see him high-fiving, laughing, smiling and encouraging students. You cannot miss the energy coming off this man and radiating around him. This giant of a man is Bill Eller.
The administration of Switlik noticed a need for a guidance assistant who would encourage all students, especially those who have not yet found their voice or their personal drive. When Mr. Eller took a Zoom meeting with administration, it was clear they had found their perfect match.
With his background in football as a player and a coach, as well as his many years in the medical field, he had personal relationship skills and public speaking down to an art. With his huge presence and positive energy, he would be what Switlik needed to encourage all the students. Before too long, Mr. Eller began expanding his guidance to an array of clubs for the students. He saw a need to motivate the students outside the classroom walls and to get them out into our gorgeous natural environment. When he sent out his first permission slips, the responses were incredible – the students could not wait for his clubs. They were ready to be inspired, and to say he has done just that would be an understatement.
The students live for club days. Mr. Eller is now our health and wellness coordinator, and what an appropriate title for what he does. He is strengthening the emotional and mental health and wellness of our students and staff. It is hard to imagine Switlik without this man and his exuberant energy. He has certainly changed the dynamics of our school atmosphere for the better.
Mr. Eller offers his fishing club to all grades. Students who did not know how to fish are now skilled at fishing off our beautiful dock. Those who already fish with family members get to harness their talents and improve their skills under his guidance. He appoints fishing captains who are taught every skill needed to run a dock. All Switlik students are taught safety first and know how to handle themselves around rods, reels and equipment. Students who had no interest in grades or school are now doing all they can in the classroom to earn, or keep, their place in fishing club. Needless to say, it certainly helps the teachers.
An incredibly impressive club Mr. Eller offers the students is the chess club. There are very young students who are becoming masters at chess and excelling in tournaments, beating much older students. It is truly amazing to see the students concentrating so deeply on their moves, strategizing and contemplating. The way he teaches the students seems so easy, and they learn the game so quickly. He teaches the basics and then begins to teach them a strategy every few days and has them try it on their opponents.
Other clubs Mr. Eller offers are kickball, soccer, football, basketball tournaments, track and Explorers Club. The Explorers Club is phenomenal. He has his dock captains hide treasures for the students who participate. When the students show up, they are able to pick digging equipment, along with metal detectors. They search for these hidden treasures, many donated by teachers and parents, and are able to take home what they discover. The smiles on their faces when they dig up buried treasure is a sight to behold!
Mr. Eller is truly devoted to the children of Stanley Switlik. He is perhaps the most popular person on campus. He is positive, dedicated, optimistic, hardworking and honest. He cares for our students, and they know it. He is able to bring positive changes to the toughest child, the most withdrawn child, the most anxious child. I have seen these changes in my own students and I find him imperative to the emotional growth of our students.
If that is not enough, Mr. Eller purchases bikes for students in need. He offers weight loss competitions for the staff with prizes as incentives. He surprised the staff with an adults-only trip to the sandbar on the Marathon Mermaid for our end-of-year summer party. He and his equally giving wife, Shelly, are working on a grant for a scholarship for students that will follow the recipients through their educational career. He offers support to classroom teachers, helping them sort through issues with students and offering solutions.
When someone as wonderful, talented and nurturing is part of your staff, it only seems fair that he be given a spotlight for his achievements. Beyond the games and activities he teaches in his clubs, he is also teaching life skills. He is teaching these incredibly lucky students how to think, strategize, overcome difficulty, work for what they want, take care of their peers, and respect everything and everyone around them. Mr. Eller is an asset, not only to Switlik and our students, but to Marathon and our community. He is helping to form a generation of caring citizens for our world.
Sincerely,
Krista Dennington
