Retiring Cossitt Principal Gets Fond Farewell

On the 200 block of south Stone Avenue on Thursday evening a small crowd was gathered at the home of Courtney Menna to enjoy the warm evening air and say a fond farewell to a staple—Principal Mary Tavegia.

About 150 parents of Cossitt students, both past and present, showed up at the farewell party to say thanks to Tavegia for her 33-year commitment to students at Cossitt School in La Grange. Tavegia will retire in June after 33 years at Cossitt, first as a teacher, and for the last 16 years as the school's principal.

"We felt it was important to give people an opportunity to say thank you," said Sharon Volz, president of the Cossitt's Parent Teacher Club (PTC). "She's really built a community at the school between the kids, the parents and the teachers—they all love her."

Tavegia grew up in Iowa and knew education was something she wanted to pursue in her life at an early age. Always fond of school and a voracious reader, Tavegia decided in college that teaching was her calling. She attended Clarke College in Iowa before receiving a Master's Degree at the University of Iowa and moving to La Grange to teach at Cossitt.

"I wanted to do something that was going to make a difference in the world," Tavegia said. "Teaching is that. There's nothing like the joy of working with kids and seeing that light go on when they learn something."

As a teacher, Tavegia said she liked to focus on hands-on, active learning. Working with parents in La Grange, she said, made this easy.

"The community here is so supportive," Tavegia said. "When you do, you learn, and kids enjoy getting their hands dirty."

She cited parent support for as an example of parents pitching in regularly to help the school and enhance their children's education there.

"We have so much in La Grange—access to so much—like the Science Center [located at in La Grange Park]," Tavegia said. "Parents care about education here, and they've been very supportive. That's something I've tried to foster at Cossitt."

Working with young students in particular has been a joy of teaching for her, Tavegia said.

"Teaching them how to interact and get along—these are basic skills that make good human beings," Tavegia said.

Becoming principal at Cossitt allowed her to spend seven years with each student instead of just one as a teacher, Tavegia said with a laugh.

Leaving Cossitt School, but not Cossitt Avenue

She's not going far, Tavegia reminded several parents at the Stone Avenue party.

"I'm looking forward to seeing [my students] when they come to trick-or-treat and around the neighborhood," she said of retirement.” My husband and I love La Grange and we have no plans to leave here."

Not being one to slow down, she said her biggest concern is going to be what to do with all the time this summer—besides digging deep into a stack of books she's been meaning to read. Parents will also likely see her walking around the neighborhood with a new puppy soon as well—another way to stay close to her students.

"Being here tonight is just remarkable," Tavegia said at the party on Thursday night. "Seeing all these parents, hearing about their kids [now grown up] and about their successes. It makes me very happy."