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Tzouanakis assistant principal post a homecoming for Covert
In accepting the assistant principal job at Tzouanakis Intermediate School, Chris Covert is coming home to a corporation where he has never previously worked.
A Greencastle native and 1990 graduate of Greencastle High School, Covert was hired as the new assistant principal on Monday following 20-plus years at West Vigo High School.
“The chance to come back and be an administrator here is kind of a lifelong dream, just to be home,” Covert said. “It’s nice because I’m kind of an outsider because I’ve never been in the corporation before. I have experience in Vigo County Schools, which is a great corporation where I was able to learn a lot.”
Covert replaces Katherine Asbell, who announced her resignation in late August.
On the recommendation of Supt. Jeff Gibboney, the Greencastle School Board formally approved the hire of Covert on Monday.
“Chris really impressed the committee,” Gibboney said. “We had a good pool of candidates, but Chris easily rose to the top. We believe he has a lot of the skills and talents and strengths that help Mrs. Eldridge and working alongside the teachers to take TZ to new heights.”
Covert spent a half day as a visitor at the intermediate school on Tuesday before formally taking over for interim Assistant Principal Brad Phillips on Wednesday.
Gibboney and the board also praised veteran physical education teacher Phillips, who is completing his second stint as interim assistant principal, this time assistant a brand new principal, as Lisa Eldridge was hired just this summer.
“Mr. Phillips has been great for us, just with knowing the procedures and protocols at TZ, but also his familiarity with the students and staff,” Gibboney said. “He’s going to continue to be a great resource for Mrs. Eldridge and Chris as we begin the transition. It’s always nice when you have teacher leaders ready to step up and step in when called upon, and that’s definitely Mr. Phillips.”
Covert got into education indirectly, starting out as a police officer. He moved to Evansville to pursue law enforcement in 1995, and later to Lafayette.
While in Tippecanoe County, Cover began coaching a freshman girls’ basketball team at Harrison High School, and everything changed.
“I got the bug for education — loved it,” Covert said. “I woke up one day and said, ‘I want to get into education.’”
After that, he pursued a teaching degree from Indiana State University, after which he didn’t have to go far to begin teaching history at West Vigo.
His experiences also include Advanced Placement programs, College Challenge programs and sponsoring clubs. After getting a master’s degree in administration, Covert became part-time dean at West Vigo before taking the position full time last year. As dean, he handled areas such as attendance, discipline and mentoring.
“I have a lot of experiences that an assistant principal in other corporations would have,” Covert said.
Having moved back to his hometown in 2010, though, Covert is pleased with his new position.
“Greencastle has always been my home, really,” Covert said. “I looked forward to coming back here. My son went through school here from fifth grade on, and the schools were very good.”
Covert and wife Shirley live here. Covert has three children — Sydnie, Skylar and Tyler. His best friend is a retired Greencastle Police officer and he has friends on the fire department and elsewhere in the community.
“Now that I’m home, I’m an outsider but I’m from here and know the community. I think that helps me a lot,” Covert said. “It really does bring to fruition a dream come true because I can give back to my community.”
While switching from high-schoolers to third- through fifth-graders will be a switch, Covert said multiple people told him he would love the age group.
“Parents are parents, teachers are teachers. The students are a little younger so their development is a little bit different, but it’s still education,” Covert said. “Ultimately, it is education and the goal is the same: To educate our children and help them become the best citizens that they can be.”
Outside of education, Covert also works as a part-time security officer for Hendricks Regional Health, describing it as an escape from education and a chance to also help people in the real world.
He’s a certified safety specialist, which provides training that also helps him as an educator.
Ultimately, he said he looks forward to building relationships with students and parents to help them get the most out of resources the school and community have to offer.
Other personnel items approved by the board included:
Resignations: Ashley Kuhne as Deer Meadow long-term subsitute home-school liaison, Vickey Petrey as bus monitor, Julie Hartman as Deer Meadow instructional assistant, Kathleen Barger as Tzouanakis instructional assistant, Genevieve Smith as Deer Meadow custodian, Amie Bailey as GHS stage director.
Hires: Joshua Akens as GHS English language arts teacher, Nichole Hawkins as Deer Meadow guidance counselor, Matthe McFadden as GHS custodian, Colin Frost and Genevieve Smith as Deer Meadow custodians, Christopher Wolfe as GMS instructional assistant, Emmalee Monnett and Kathleen Barger as Tzouanakis instructional assistants and Karen Hayes as Deer Meadow preschool instructional assistant.
Transfer: Derek Lehr from Deer Meadow custodian to GHS head custodian.
Leaves of absence: Jessica Draper and Kayla Mahoy as Tzouanakis Intermediate instructional assistants and Ellen Ellerman as bus driver.
Substitutes: Dara McMains, Alicia Shamel, Madison Voorhis and Amanda Highsmith as subsitute teachers and Shianna Parker as substitute custodians.
Extracurricular activities: Jalyn Duff and Joseph Lenihan hired as GHS assistant basketball coaches; Andrew Tirotta approved as GHS winter athletic event coordinator, Kaleb Camacho approved as GHS spring athletic event coordinator, Kate Velazquez approved as GMS volunteer assistant volleyball coach and Robert Hedge hired as GHS stage director.