Devonshire Elementary

One of Mr. Ritz’s most notable honors is serving as principal of Devonshire, where he believes every child has unique talents that grow best in an inclusive, supportive learning environment. For the past 15 years, he has devoted his career to ensuring every student has both opportunity and a champion who believes in them.

Before joining Skokie 68 as a district administrator in 2019 and now as principal, Mr. Ritz worked as a consultant for a non-profit organization where he supported school improvement initiatives in various districts, both locally and nationally. He began his career as a secondary math teacher and instructional math coach in Central Illinois before returning home to Chicagoland to continue his leadership journey. 

Mr. Ritz earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later completed a master’s in educational leadership, a master’s in applied mathematics, and is currently pursuing his doctorate at National Louis University.  As a child, he leaned on caring teachers who guided him through his life’s biggest challenges. Their belief in him inspired his life’s work to create schools where every child feels safe, known, and capable of success. At Devonshire, he is grateful to partner with dedicated staff, supportive families, and incredible students to build a community that nurtures academic growth, social-emotional learning, and a lifelong love of discovery. For Mr. Ritz, Devonshire is more than a school; it’s a family. When away from Devonshire, Mr. Ritz enjoys traveling and creating memorable moments with his family at home.