Rhoades officially named principal at Tzouanakis

Jennifer Rhoades’ title got shorter Monday evening with the idea that her tenure at Tzouanakis Intermediate School will be longer.

The Greencastle School Board voted unanimously to appoint Rhoades the principal of the school, removing the interim tag under which she had been operating since November.

Having served as Tzouanakis assistant principal since 2014, Rhoades was thrust into the interim role in November when former Principal Jon Strube was suddenly reassigned to a post at Central Office.

In the immediate aftermath, morale became a problem for teachers, as they were unclear on what had happened and why.

Rhoades’ goal, following the initial shock, has been to steady the ship, rebuild trust and keep things consistent for the students.

“We have gotten over the initial shock,” Rhoades said, “and we’ve made great gains in building the morale back up and just doing school for the kids.”

She said the idea was for students and parents to “notice no change,” regardless of who was in charge.

Superintendent Jeff Hubble and the school board apparently took notice.

Hubble said he recently approached Rhoades with a simple question.

“You got the test drive,” Hubble said. “Are you going to buy the car?”

Rhoades’ answer was a definitive “yes.”

“This was our chance to say, ‘You’re doing a great job,’” Hubble said.

With the interim tag now gone, Rhoades is looking to implement some of her own ideas.

“I want to make TZ more of my vision,” Rhoades said, noting there would be “no change just for the sake of change.”

Overall, she said she wants to make things better for the kids without getting rid of things that already give Tzouanakis its character, such as its wide range of extracurricular activities.

“There may be some changes to how things are organized, but the extracurriculars will remain in place,” she said.

Part of her vision is to go further in promoting kindness among the kids in the school.

With this in mind, Rhoades, some staff members and representatives of a DePauw University sorority gathered on a recent weekend to paint “kindness quotes” in bathrooms around the school.

Likewise, a fifth-grade student and her mother are in the process of painting a kindness mural at Tzouanakis.

“It’s still TZ but we’re going to make it a better TZ,” Rhoades said. “I’m looking forward to a fresh start and not everything being new to me.”

Prior to her time in administration at Greencastle, Rhoades taught at Danville and Avon as well as running a daycare.

With Rhoades now officially in the principal’s chair, the next task is to find her permanent replacement as assistant principal.

Physical education teacher Brad Phillips has been serving as interim assistant principal, but is not licensed to continue permanently.

“Brad Phillips has done a wonderful job as assistant principal,” Hubble said. “I wish he had his license so we could make him permanent.”

Hubble and the board should be able to have their pick of replacements, though, as Hubble reported that the corporation has received 41 applications for the position.

Along with this, 14 have applied for the new curriculum director position, 25 for Deer Meadow kindergarten, 16 for Title I reading, eight for Deer Meadow special needs, seven for high school English and theater, eight for middle school and high school choir and 10 for middle school and high school physical education.

Hubble noted that as teacher shortages are reported around the state, he’s proud that Greencastle still gets plenty of applications.

“GCSC is a great place to work,” he said.

Following his reassignment to Central Office, Strube has applied for, and received, Family Medical Leave on three occasions, the most recent approved on Monday, which will carry him through the end of the year.

The board also approved his resignation, effective June 30.

The board approved a number of other personnel matters, including:

Resignations: Jake Gadomski as GHS choir teacher, Jill Nichols as 21st Center Community Learning Center instructor at GMS, Angela Modglin as finance director, Matthew Cavaness as GHS custodian, Jamie Smith as special education services secretary and Diana Myers as GMS assistant swim coach.

Leaves of absence: Pam Bacon at Greencastle High School and Tamora Bacon-FMLA at Deer Meadow and Ridpath, Jenna Roderick-FMLA at Ridpath

Hires: Wesly Stone and Debra Robinson as GHS custodians, Melinda Neeley as Tzouanakis custodian, Ashley Beeson and Joshua McCown as GMS 21st Century Community Learning Center instructor, Debra Sabin as special education services secretary and Amanda Marshall as substitute teacher.

Transfers: Kellie Romer from deputy treasurer to finance director and Joseph Moslander from McAnally Center custodian to Deer Meadow head custodian.

Extracurricular activities: Renee Marsteller as GHS cheer coach, Katie Downing GHS assistant cheer coach, and Erin Rowings as GHS volunteer assistant cheer coach, J.D. Sims as GHS boys’ soccer coach, Steve Paquin as GHS girls’ golf coach, Christian Arvin as GHS girls’ cross country coach, Rob Worman as GMS golf coach and Heidi Menzel ad GMS assistant swim coach.