New Principal Mary Rykowski is excited about Evening Street Elementary School.

"Evening Street has a history of excellence," she said. "At least five people called me when they heard a position was open and told me, 'This is your school.' "

Rykowski, 51, officially will become the school's new principal Aug. 1, to replace Chris Collaros, who will leave for a principal position with Upper Arlington schools.

Rykowski has been principal at Horizon Elementary School in Hilliard since 2004.

She said she knows several Worthington administrators, including Collaros.

"I've worked with Worthington administrators and they are amazing people," she said. "I would call them the 'A-Team.' Chris Collaros did some early-education experience in my classroom, and I think we both have similar philosophies.

"A friend of mine who does artist in the schools said Evening Street is the kind of building you walk into and the teachers care about the kids and the kids are well-behaved, and the school is 'an art impact' kind of school," she said.

Before her Hilliard position, Rykowski was principal at Cedarwood Project Adventure Elementary School and Indianola Alternative Elementary School.

Rykowski earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Ohio State University in 1979 and a master's degree in educational administration from OSU in 1997.

She began her career as a teacher at Notre Dame Elementary School, a parochial school in the Diocese of Columbus, and held teaching positions for Columbus City Schools at Fifth Avenue School of International Studies, Huy Elementary School and Hubbard Elementary School.

From 2004-07, Rykowski was an adjunct professor at Dayton University, teaching a reading methods course.

Rykowski said a principal sets the tone for the culture of a school.

"I think an open and welcoming environment is important and it is also important to project myself as a learner," she said. "I see myself as the lead learner in the school, to help teachers and students learn new things. I'm excited about expanding all the good things that are happening at Evening Street.

"I want parents to know I am very child-centered and believe school should be a place children want to come to," she said. "I am very much into the school as a community and a family. When I was at Evening Street recently, there were families on the playground with their children, just like at a park. I thought it was great that families feel so comfortable at Evening Street."

Rykowski said she's looking forward to meeting all the staff members and will meet more parents and students at the ice cream social before school starts.

"I can see that Evening Street is very much a neighborhood school," she said. "There were a few children in the building when I was there, and I walked up to them to say hi, and they put out their hands and said 'It is lovely to meet you.' "

Today's elementary students will face 21st-century challenges, Rykowski said.

"These kids are going to graduate in 2020," she said. "We have to educate children who will could be traveling to Europe and other areas of the world as part of their jobs. It is an exciting time in education."

Rykowski has one child, Joseph, 24, who graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design as an illustrator.

"I'm excited about expanding all the good things that are happening at Evening Street."

--Mary Rykowski