Tessa Elliott (1890-1976) is the namesake of Holt's Elliott Elementary School. She originally taught in Holt's three-room schoolhouse in 1918. Over the decades she saw the district grow from one school building to six, including a new elementary building on Bond Ave. which was named in her honor. Miss Elliott ultimately moved her classroom into the new Elliott Elementary in 1953 and taught there for three years until her retirement in 1956. Her portrait hung in the school for many years before being lost, the Holt-Delhi Historical Society had her portrait restored in 2017 and returned it to the school.

Elliot is one of Holt's veteran teachers. She began teaching in Holt in the east room of the 3-room school, where she taught the first 4 grades. The total enrollment was 70 pupils and 3 teachers at the time. A teacher for 42 years, she is completing her 34th year in the Holt Schools.

The school at Bond and Harding Streets was named Elliot Elementary School in her honor.

Miss Elliot has commuted daily from Lansing for the past 34 years, beginning in 1919. She taught 8 years before coming to Holt and expects to teach again next fall, in the schoolhouse that bears her name. She is also a charter member of the Holt P.T.A.

Miss Elliot graduated from the Lansing High School and received her college education at the Clinton County Normal at St. Johns, Michigan State College, Michigan State Normal at Ypsilanti, and Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo. It is estimated that Miss Elliot has taught more than 1,200 past and present citizens of Holt.

Twin elementary schools Sycamore and Elliott were constructed in 1952-1953. The original seven-room buildings opened in the Fall of 1953. In the beginning, Sycamore was led by principal Alton Stine and Elliott was led by principal Josie Watrous. The schools were built as part of a $360,000 construction and alteration program, which also resulted in additions to Holt High School.