VERO BEACH — Citrus Elementary Principal Jon Teske is enjoying the last few days of his holiday break in Vero Beach before he leaves Jan. 4 for a year of active duty in the Army Reserve.
A captain who is soon up for promotion to major, 39-year-old Teske has been in Orlando for most of December preparing for his next assignment. Teske, who once attended Citrus Elementary as a student and later was Assistant Principal at Dodgertown Elementary, is the son of Dr. Julius “Butch” Teske, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel at the Indian River School District. Teske graduated from Vero Beach High with the Class of 1989, where he played football.
Teske is looking forward to serving his country next month, and helping out in a support role.
“My title is combat counterpart,” said Teske. “My job is to serve as a mentor to somebody of my equal rank who comes into a situation where they don’t have sufficient experience in a particular area. The army sends me in for support for that person until they are ready to get on a plane and go into the field.”
After serving eight months in Iraq and Kuwait in 2004, Teske’s field experience and leadership skills will serve his country well.
“As a principal I’m already in a leadership role,” said Teske. “I already evaluate people and mentor them. Educators do very well in the military because we train and work with people every day. I’m not working with children, but I’m working with adults who need assistance and training.”
He’ll start off in Mississippi, but within the first month, Teske will move on to Louisiana.
“It’s a phenomenal job,” said Teske. “I serve as an advisor and a mentor to leadership personnel. You feel good knowing that what you taught people, somewhere along the way, could save lives.”
Teske has not only used the last leave to finish his Christmas shopping, but to make sure his affairs were in order here in Vero Beach. He’s leaving behind his wife, Becky, and his four kids: Addison, Audra, Avery, and Carter.
“Everything has to be in order,” said Teske. “From your insurance paperwork, to your family life, to your job – things have to be straight. If you have that stuff hanging over your head while you are on military duty it affects your performance.”
As for a holiday gift from his students, Teske only asked that they stay out of the principal’s office while he’s gone on duty.
“I see some of my students out around town while I’m doing my Christmas shopping,” said Teske. “They say, ‘Mr. Teske! I thought you were gone!’ I say, ‘I am gone, but I’ve got to get my shopping done first!'”
Teske leaves Vero Beach with some advice to all of his students at Citrus Elementary.
“Study hard, listen to your teachers, and make good choices,” said Teske. “Enjoy elementary school-you’re only going to be a kid for so long. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up.”
