Interim Principal Appointed To Lead Parkside Elementary

An assistant principal at Solon High School has been appointed to serve as interim principal at Parkside Elementary after the death of Martha Keeney.

Erica Kosiorek was appointed to that role at Monday's Solon School Board meeting.

"I know she’ll do an outstanding job," said Superintendent Joe Regano, who informed the staff at Parkside on Monday that Kosiorek would be taking over. "I think it's going to be an excellent fit."

Kosiorek will be at Parkside full time after winter break, and will use the time until then to prepare herself, Regano said.

The school board also approved a supplemental contract for Patricia Petrie for administrative assistant duties at Parkside. Regano said Petrie has done an outstanding job helping out at Parkside while Keeney dealt with her illness during the last year.

Regano said they are working on finding someone to fill in for Kosiorek at the high school.

In a letter to Parkside Parents on Tuesday, Regano explained the move:

At last night’s meeting, the Solon Board of Education approved the appointment of Mrs. Erica Kosiorek as the interim principal for Parkside. Mrs. Kosiorek, who is an assistant principal at Solon High School, is an excellent and caring administrator. She is a Solon High School graduate with strong ties to our community. She and Mrs. Petrie will make a tremendous team.

In the time between now and winter break, Mrs. Kosiorek will spend some time at the building forging relationships with Parkside students and staff. She will begin working full-time at Parkside when we return from winter break. Although it is a difficult task to step into the void created by Mrs. Keeney’s passing, we are confident that Mrs. Kosiorek will do so successfully. Also as the Board did last night, I want to take this opportunity to share what an amazing job Mrs. Petrie has done under the most challenging of circumstances. Although she has been dealing with her own feelings of loss, she has put the best interests of your children first at every turn.

Thank you again for your support. We are working to ensure the daily routine for Parkside students remains as normal as possible despite this overwhelming loss.