James Ellingson

After teaching in the Moorhead Public School district for 35 years and serving as an adjunct instructor at Concordia from 1991 to 1997, James Ellingson became an assistant professor of education in 1998.

While working as an elementary school teacher at Probstfield Elementary, Ellingson was named Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1989.

In the late 1990s, Ellingson served in China as a Global Language Village teacher, dean of the teaching team, and curriculum writer and coordinator for Global Language Villages.

Ellingson is interested in experiential education methods, performance and other assessment types in education and educational standards. He was the Concordia education department’s representative at the Minnesota graduation standards meetings of the Minnesota Department of Education in 1999-2000 and 2001-02.

Ellingson published “Standards Count: NAEP Frameworks Released Items and Scoring Guides as Resources for Educators,” and presented it to select members and staff of the US House of Representatives in 1998.

In their retirement years, Ellingson and his wife, Judy, plan to travel, spend time with their eight grandchildren, research their family genealogy and continue their work relating to social justice issues. They will also volunteer with organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, local schools, the Regional Science Center, and other agencies.