Fairview Park City Schools names Shanna Kovi new Gilles-Sweet Elementary School associate

FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio — Fairview Park City Schools has named North Ridgeville Academic Center Assistant Principal Shanna Kovi as the new Gilles-Sweet Elementary School associate principal.

The Rocky River resident begins her new role in August. The position has been vacant this past school year after longtime Gilles-Sweet Elementary School assistant principal Matt Krivak took over as the head of the West 220th Street building last summer.

“This past year was really challenging because, obviously, I was moving from the assistant position into the principal position,” Krivak said.

“Then, I was also doing it in the middle of a pandemic. The decision was made this year to fill the associate principal position, so it’s going to be very helpful.”

Going into the interview process, Krivak said the school was looking for somebody who could round out the school’s leadership team. After receiving 72 applications, the field was narrowed to 13 before six interviewees were selected.

“In her final interview, Shanna came through as the most knowledgeable,” Krivak said. “Each candidate had a presentation they shared at the final interview. She hit it out of the park. Shanna also brings with her an extensive knowledge of curriculum and early literacy.”

Prior to joining the North Ridgeville City Schools in 2018, Kovi spent 17 years with the Euclid City Schools as an instructional coach, first-grade teacher, substitute principal and reading recovery teacher.

In addition to earning a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Bowling Green State University, she earned her master’s degree in educational administration from Cleveland State University.

“Fairview is a great community,” Kovi said in a press release. “I’m honored to be a part of the Fairview family and work alongside Matt. I’m eager to meet the students and staff. I look forward to the great things ahead at Gilles-Sweet.”

Krivak said the school is so eager for her to join the ranks that they’re hosting a meet-and-greet breakfast with the new associate principal and existing staff on Thursday (April 1).

“The one thing I’m looking forward to is her establishing that relationship and rapport with staff, students and families, as well as getting involved with our multitiered system of support,” Krivak said.

“We’ve spent this past year kind of updating and revising our process, so I’m looking forward to Mrs. Kovi being able to kind of finish it off.”

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