New Staff Spotlight: Nathaniel Meiss, START/PE Teacher & Head Boys Basketball Coach
“I spent time in different towns growing up because my dad was a basketball coach but we moved to Eureka in 4th grade and I graduated from Eureka High School. I continued my basketball career at Eureka College where I earned my degree in Math & Secondary Education. I also received my Master’s degree in Sport Management. I started coaching at Lexington and then went to El Paso-Gridley High School where I spent the last 16 years as head basketball coach.”
“My wife, Karmelle, is the school nurse at El-Paso Gridley Middle & High School. My oldest son, Micah (19), is a freshman at Illinois Wesleyan. He plans on majoring in Finance and is a member of the basketball team. Eliza (17) is a senior at El-Paso Gridley who is thinking of majoring in Special Education. Brier (11) is a 6th-grader who likes volleyball and Ander (8) is a 3rd-grader. Ander enjoys playing soccer and other sports.”
“I was inspired to go into education and coaching by my dad, Tim Meiss. Growing up around basketball, I was able to go in the gym whenever I wanted. I knew I liked working with kids and Dad always enjoyed it so I decided as a senior that I might try going down that path. My sister graduated with a degree in Sociology but went back to get her degree in Education. My brother is in Elementary Education so it just runs in the family.”
“Seneca has been great because everyone has been helpful and welcoming. I never felt like an outsider when I got here and it was nice getting a head start in the summer. Everyone has gone above and beyond and I couldn’t be happier with the way the transition is going.”
“In my first year I really want to get to know the kids, the faculty and staff. Eventually we’d like to move up here and I’d like to get to know the community better. It is going to be fun letting my younger two kids really be a part of it. I’m also really looking forward to basketball. I think it’s going to be a new challenge that I’m excited about. It’s been rejuvenating just getting to know a whole new group of kids with a blank slate and I look forward to seeing what we can build.”