It wasn’t all that long ago that Nikki Mazza was working full time at a bank with a side gig as a waitress. But she had this desire – to become a teacher.
So she went back to school and got her teaching certificate from Lewis University, before teaching stints in Blue Island and Central Elementary School in Riverside.
Now she’s the new principal of Ames Elementary School, starting July 1 and replacing the retiring Todd Gierman.
The Riverside School District 96 board of education recently approved her hiring as Ames principal, along with Steve Wilder as the district’s new director of finance and operations, replacing Dr. Mark Kuzniewski, who filled that role as an interim.
Mazza is currently an intervention and support coordinator for District 96, working in all four elementary schools, though she is based at Ames School.
“From the very first second I walked through the door at Ames, I found this warm positivity from the parents and students and staff,” Mazza said. “Mr. Gierman has really built such a strong foundation, and the staff has done incredible work bringing that to life.”
Mazza was chosen from among more than 30 applicants for the position, which included interviews with Kuzniewski, superintendent Dr. Martha Ryan-Toye and a panel of staffers, teachers, a social worker and parents as she became one of the final four candidates.
“They asked a lot of questions,” she said of the panel. “One of the first questions was what’s my vision for Ames. They asked how would you support teachers and students, how do you engage families?”
Mazza, who acquired her master’s degree from North Central College last summer, said her objective come July 1 is to continue to build strong relationships with staff, students and their families, “listening closely to understand what’s working well and where we can grow.
“Ultimately, I want every student and staff member and family member to feel supported and able to reach their full potential,” she said.
Wilder, who grew up in downstate Bloomington, is currently director of business services at Rochester Community Unit School District 3A near Springfield.
Like Mazza, he’s excited and ready to roll July 1.
“One of my goals is to make sure we are responsible with the resources provided to the district,” Wilder said. “One of the things is living within our means, and the other is short- and long-term planning.
“I love the diverse environment in Riverside. The more I talked to people in Riverside (during) the interview process, I was impressed with the quality of people in the district.”
He’s already had some transition-focused conversations with Kuzniewski and will have others to make sure that transition is as smooth as possible.
As for Kuzniewski, the former longtime superintendent of Brookfield-La Grange Park School District 95, had advice for both Wilder and Mazza as he himself heads into retirement, which will include international travel and fishing.
“My advice to Steve is, master the learning curve of Cook County, so routine tasks don’t bog him down,” he said, “so he can focus his time and energy on the goals and opportunities in the district. Those are things he just has to learn.”
Mazza, he added, is in a good position because of the foundational work Gierman has done.
“I’m sure there will be instructional desires out of strategic planning going on right now,” he said, adding she should “understand how Ames culture works and start laying out a plan to implement change in a period of time, as opposed to rapid change in process or procedures.”
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