Week 4:

Ethan Gruen

Ethan grew up in Abilene, Kansas. He attended the Abilene Schools.

A couple of his favorite childhood memories include… 

Farm related - I can remember climbing on the mountains of wheat when my grandpa would dump the combine into a small trailer. We also loved making hay forts in the hayloft of our barn and playing their until our dad was done milking the cows.

School related - I remember in 2nd grade that each morning we said the date and year. I vividly remember being surprised when we move from 1979 to 1980 for the year. I also remember making homemade butter in a baby food jar in 1st grade.

He went to college at and received his undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University, his Masters degree from Kansas State University, and his superintendent endorsement from Fort Hays State University.

Ethan decided to be a teacher because he enjoyed working with kids and seeing the “light bulb come on”. His move into administration first started while he was taught in Eastern Europe.  

Before he came to Abilene, the past 5 years he worked in Salina for the Special Education Cooperative, his title being School Coordinator. He worked with the school in Abilene, Chapman, and three in Salina. Prior to that position he was the K-12 principal at Hope which is part of USD 481.

His hobbies right now are all things technology, so he is always looking at the current gadgets. Ethan recently purchased a “drone” and has enjoyed flying that. Another hobby is running. He has done one marathon, and several half marathons, as he runs to stay in shape and it’s also a way of his to relieve stress.