During his nearly 30-year career in education, Dustin Gill has served in administrative leadership roles at just about every level. Now, entering his fourth year at Ionia Public Schools, he’s ready for his next role.
Previously assistant principal at Ionia High School, Gill becomes principal of Emerson Elementary School this summer.
Gill spent about a decade in the Lansing Public School District before coming to Ionia in August 2022. He’s replacing Kara Cotton Moore, who retired in the spring, as principal at Emerson. Gill continues to run the elementary summer school program for the district, as well.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Gill told The Sentinel-Standard. “(The new position) will give me a different perspective or point of view, but it’s still about supporting our students.”
Gill, who’s been an elementary school principal before, looks forward to serving as a resource for parents, especially those sending a child through IPS for the first time.
“I’ve come to appreciate the support and involvement of parents throughout (IPS),” he said.
Gill visited Emerson toward the end of the year and spoke with some of the school’s teachers. He acknowledged the importance of attracting preschool and kindergarten students to Emerson as a way of keeping enrollment levels up, and said Ionia has a process in place to support those efforts.
The school’s enrollment last year, around 200, was on the low side for IPS; but the number has remained fairly consistent in recent years. The district’s total enrollment in 2024-2025 was more than 2,800 students across eight schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.
IPS held public discussions about closing Emerson in 2021, but the school board rejected plans that would’ve shuttered the doors.
“The district has done a good job of maintaining its facilities, so hopefully we will maintain our (enrollment) levels,” Gill said.
One of his primary goals, Gill said, will be to reduce the truancy rate at Emerson Elementary. The rate has been an issue statewide since the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to operate remotely in 2020.
The impact on missing classes in elementary school can be drastic, officials said, with basic skills in reading, writing and math at stake.
Gill looks forward to Emerson’s back-to-school event for families in late August.
“We have a great team in place,” he said. “I’m humbled to be a part of it.”
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Sentinel-Standard. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@sentinel-standard.com.
This article originally appeared on Ionia Sentinel-Standard: IPS’ Emerson Elementary has a new principal. Here’s what he’ll focus on this year
Reporting by M. Alan Scott / Ionia Sentinel-Standard
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