Principal’s Welcome Message

Dear Allen Elementary School Community,

For over 75 years, Allen Elementary has been serving the community in Bonita with pride!  Although we are a small school, we have a big heart.  We continue to provide a small school setting within the largest elementary school district in California.  Students at Allen Elementary receive a high-quality education that includes the visual arts and music, as well as physical education.  Every effort has been made to ensure that your child will thrive in a safe and nurturing environment this year. In 2022, Ella B. Allen Elementary School celebrated its 75th anniversary! The school was founded in 1947.

Ella B. Allen Elementary School is a special place because of its people:  I am proud to be a part of the school’s amazing team.  With over twenty years of experience in education, I am committed to bringing out the best in everyone at Allen Elementary.  Our school provides a safe and supportive learning environment where all students reach their optimum academic, social, emotional, and artistic potential.

The school promotes a strong partnership between home, school, and community:  Each child is an individual of great worth and the staff strives to instill in each child a life-long love of learning.  I take pride in creating and sustaining school-community partnerships and strengthening students’ social-emotional well-being. My commitment is to ensure all students can achieve to their fullest potential. My vision for the school includes empowering students, staff, and parents to become active members of our learning community.

In fact, family involvement has always been highly valued and encouraged at Ella B. Allen Elementary School.  Aside from volunteering in classrooms, parents and family members can be seen monitoring traffic at the school entrance so that all children enter the campus safely.  I invite you to our monthly Family First Friday Meetings for a free cup of coffee or tea, information, and conversation.  Allen Elementary School has an active Parent-Teacher Club (PTC):  The PTC organizes several fun events during the school year that truly bring the school’s community together. In addition, the school needs your support for our School Site Council (SSC), English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC), and other school groups.

I am looking forward to meeting and building a professional relationship on a foundation of mutual trust and respect with every student, parent, and staff member in the coming weeks and months.  Feel free to introduce yourself in person or leave a note for me in the school office.  I have an open door policy, meaning if my door is open, I am usually available to speak to you.  Although I am often busy supporting staff and students on campus during the school day, I will make every effort to return messages within a reasonable time frame.

Every member of our school community knows that Together, We Soar!

Sincerely,

Mr. John E. Greenwell, M.S.Ed

Principal

Ella B. Allen Elementary School

4300 Allen School Lane

Bonita, CA  91902

P: (619) 479-3662 Ext. 200100

E: john.greenwell@cvesd.org

Meet our Principal

John Greenwell is proud to serve another year as the School Principal at Ella B. Allen Elementary School.  He attended Fordham University in New York City where he received his Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy and French Literature and a Masters of Science in Education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.  Prior to serving as the Principal at Allen, he was a classroom teacher with experience across K-12 education in private schools, charter schools, boarding schools, and public schools.

An avid reader and fitness enthusiast, Mr. Greenwell enjoys all that Southern California has to offer!  He spends his free time with his family and friends, and also is currently finishing his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at SDSU.

He is proud to lead this school and the Ella B. Allen Elementary School Community as Principal.