MMABSE President

 Biography for Dr. Patricia A. Ellis

 Patricia A. Ellis, Ed.D, is a proud graduate of the Milwaukee Public Schools.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and communication from Carroll College in Waukesha, WI; her Master of Education in Professional Development and Master of Educational Leadership degrees from Cardinal Stritch College; and her Doctorate in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University.

Dr. Ellis’s career experiences include serving as an elementary and middle school teacher and district-level administrator with the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), administrative roles at Cardinal Stritch University in the areas of Professional Development and Community Engagement, and Community Outreach and Enrollment Services, Director of the Milwaukee Summer Reading Project at Marquette University Institute for the Transformation of Learning, and AARP Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Marquette University.

Since returning to MPS in March 2018, Dr. Ellis has served in various roles ranging from Coordinator II: Arts Program Support to Advanced Academics Manager.  As of February 2022, she is the Director of the Department of Equity, Access, and Inclusion.

Dr. Ellis is the recipient of numerous awards, grants, and recognitions, including a Metropolitan Opera Guild Creating Original Opera Grant, TAP Arts Grant, Ameritech/Wisconsin Bell Teacher Award, Sr. Joanne Marie Kliebhan, O.S.F. Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators Sarah Scott Administrator of the Year Award, Empire Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, Milwaukee Times Black Excellence Award, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Women’s Day Outstanding Service Award, Marquette University College of Education Educational Policy and Leadership Outstanding Faculty Lecturer Award, Spirit of RUACH Award, and Milwaukee Urban League Equity and Education Project Service Recognition.

Dr. Ellis has always engaged in the community and served on various boards and committees.  Some of her past community engagements have included the Bread for Books Board, RUACH Board, SHARP Literacy Board, Literacy Services of Wisconsin Board, Milwaukee Succeeds In and Out-of-School Network, La Causa Board, and Academic Leadership Committee, NEA Closing the Achievement Gaps Grant Professional Development Planning Committee, St. A Community Partner Fund Development Committee, Wisconsin Education Innovation Board, Cardinal Stritch University Leadership Center Advisory Board, Education Deans of Greater Milwaukee’s Celebrating Teachers and Teaching Planning Committee, and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Trustee Board.  She serves on the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) Board, Festival City Symphony (FCS) Board, Piano Arts Board, and Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators Executive Board.

In her leisure time, Dr. Ellis enjoys reading, floral design, interior decorating, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Ellis believes that she stands on the legacy, hopes, and dreams of educators that include her great-great-aunt, great aunt, mother, cousins, and a host of others too numerous to name who include current and past members of MMABSE, members of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, staff and leaders within MPS and other school districts, and faculty and staff at colleges/universities.  Dr. Ellis presses onward with faith, hope, and charity because of their prayers, wisdom, grace, encouragement, guidance, and so much more.    

 “I don’t feel no ways tired,
I’ve come too far from where I started from.
Nobody told me that the road would be easy,
I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”

James Cleveland