Kavich takes the reigns as principal
By Jeanne Millsap
SPECIAL TO SOUTHWEST WEEKLY
CHANNAHON - For years, Susan Kavich loved seeing that light in a student's eyes when he or she grasped a mathematical concept.
Her years as a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher in Channahon District 17 gave her plenty of opportunities to see students "get it."
But now, as new principal of Three Rivers School in the Channahon Grade School District, Kavich plays a more general role in the education of her students.
"My influence here is a little broader," she said. "I can reach a greater number of students as principal, although it's more of an indirect influence that it was when I was a teacher."
Kavich said she's loving the job of principal. She took over retiring Principal Tom Lesniak's role Aug. 1.
"The kids are great, and the teachers and staff are very supportive and very professional," she said.
But Kavich said she expected nothing less from the district.
"Without gushing too much, the teachers in this district are wonderful," she said. "Districtwide, I can't say enough about the staff. I could go on and on. It's across the board in District 17."
Kavich already knew the district well, coming into the administration position. She got her first job in education there in 1994, hired by Lesniak as an at-risk aid. The following year, she was placed as a sixth-grade math teacher in the same building in which she now serves as principal.
It was called Channahon Junior High then.
After a couple of years teaching sixth-graders, she moved up to teaching eighth-grade math and some seventh-grade high math.
Kavich wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a little girl, growing up in Lockport and living across the street from her school. Her family moved to Channahon when she was in eighth grade.
After graduation, Kavich married her high school sweetheart, Jerald, and the two began raising their family.
When her youngest was in kindergarten, Kavich began taking classes at Joliet Junior College. She earned double associate's degrees there in arts and science, then went on to get her bachelor's degree in education at the University of St. Francis.
She later went on to get her master's of education in curriculum and instruction at St. Francis.
Kavich said she was glad to get her first teaching job in her own community. And the students, teachers and staff at Three Rivers have been wonderful to work with, she said.
Two areas on which Kavich plans on paying special attention this year are bullying and reading strategies.
In her free time, she enjoys reading - she read five books this summer - gardening, and going out to dinner with her husband.
10/21/05
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