When students return to the classroom at Tzouanakis Intermediate in a few weeks, they will be greeted by a new face that is familiar with the Greencastle community.
Lisa Eldridge comes to Putnam County after serving as principal at Owen Valley Middle School. She has 25 years experience in education with the last six coming at the elementary and middle school administration level.
Eldridge said when she was a student at the University of Evansville, she debated between a path in education or accounting and settled on business administration, while receiving an Associate's degree in psychology.
"After a few years in human resources, I married and started my family. When I was home with my two young children, I began substitute teaching and fell in love with being in the classroom," Eldridge told The Putnam County Post.
She would use those opportunities, as well as the Transition to Teach program at Indiana University to help push her towards a Master's degree in Elementary Education.
"My business skills and my teaching skills combined to lead me into teacher leadership positions and, ultimately, going back to IU to complete the coursework needed to obtain my administrative license. Before I secured an administrative position, I had the opportunity to transfer into a special education classroom support position," Eldridge said.
The special education classroom support position required that Eldridge complete additional classes to qualify for a special education Mild Intervention license.
"I have found serving my school community in administration rewarding because of the number of student lives that are affected in a positive manner. Having students' needs as the lens through which we make all other decisions, makes it easier to do what's right for the school and the families we serve," she said.
While she will be new to Tzouanakis Intermediate, Eldridge is no stranger when it comes to Greencastle and Putnam County.
"I was familiar with the Greencastle community from one of my earlier positions as the hiring manager at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center to be constructed. I knew the schools had a positive reputation with the families of Wal-Mart's employees. More recently, I have known a few teachers who have gone between Greencastle and Owen Valley schools. Each reported positively on the school environments. I was also familiar with Mr. Gibboney's positive leadership skills from his time at Bloomfield and also at Greencastle," Eldridge said.
Eldridge said her goals are simple -- to continue to help each TZ student make progress in academic areas, as well as meet their social and emotional needs.
"Parents can be assured that all students will be learning in a safe and caring environment that allows them to grow in all areas. Faculty and staff will have my full support as they work toward this goal. We are one school, one team, one family," Eldridge said.
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