Dear Parents and Students,

I am excited and honored to be your new principal at Thomas L. Reeves Elementary. I would like to share a little about myself with you and your family. I moved to Long Beach in my seventh-grade year. We lived in the Pitcher Point/Pirate Avenue area; my younger brother attended Reeves Elementary at the time. We enjoyed riding bikes around the Green Acres neighborhood, playing sports and games in the fields behind the school, and I attended several of Fall Festivals at Reeves. So, it is fair to say, Reeves Elementary has always had a special place in my heart. I later graduated from Long Beach High School in the class of 1991.

As an educator I have spent the last 22 years in the Long Beach School District preparing to be your new principal. I began my career as a high school teacher and coach. After thirteen years I transitioned into administration. I have gained valuable experience at each level of my career, beginning at the high school as an assistant principal, followed as the principal at Harper McCaughan, continued as the transportation director, Athletic director, and the Director of the Alternative School. It is without doubt that each of these positions have given me a unique perspective on education and the students in the Long Beach School District.

I am excited to work with kindergarten through third grade students. I believe the students of Reeves Elementary have a wonderful opportunity to gain lifelong skills, knowledge, and experiences that will carry them into the future. As educators we have the greatest opportunity to contribute to their lives during this special time. I pledge as your principal to work diligently with our parents, students, staff, and community to provide the best education for our kids. I look forward to working with our PTO and challenge our parents to get involved. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any ideas, questions, or concerns on how we can improve the educational experience for our students at Thomas L. Reeves Elementary. You can call at (228)864-9764 or email at Russ.Badeaux@LBSDK12.com