• Matt Donahoe, Principal

    River Eves Parents, 

    My name is Matthew Donahoe, and I am currently in my fifth year in the principal’s role for the 2022-2023 school year.  What amazing things we continue to accomplish in serving our students and families in the most effective means possible!  Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has brought our way since March of 2020, we have remained consistent and resilient as an eagle community for the betterment of our students, staff, and families.  

    River Eves is exceptionally close to my heart and is my home away from home.  I have an affinity for the community and our composition!  When one walks through the front doors, it is highly evident that you are entering a special place for students, staff & parents to work collaboratively for the greater good of our eagles; our positive and supportive educational environment is second to none.  You can readily feel the positive energy and visualize what it means to be a River Eves Eagle when viewing the two beautifully crafted murals housed in our school’s atrium (main entrance).

    A large set of expanded wings showcasing the title, “Spread Your Wings and Fly.” 
    A forest scene at the entrance to our school’s media center with the heading, “The Nest.”
    A true sense of eagle pride!

    I am very proud to have been an active participant in the development of our positive and inviting culture, since my arrival in the summer of 2014 as the assistant principal and am committed to further solidifying the elements that make our school a superior location to work, play, feel valued, appreciated, and experience a true sense of community and belonging.  We are remarkably grateful for our collective achievements and will build on the great work and outcomes that were attained during the 2021-2022 school year.  Our growth and evolution are constantly in motion.    

    We acknowledge and embrace that our “hold tights” are and will continue to be an integral element in our daily actions and “speak”: 

    • Focusing on providing all students with learning environments that have quality instructional practices at the core.
    • Emphasizing quantitative & qualitative student and staff growth measures from academic and social/emotional standpoints.
    • Being in the business of people!  Therefore, we will continue to focus on establishing and developing positive working relationships with students, families, colleagues, and our at-large community.  A strong, inviting, and collaborative culture continues to be a key component in our success!   

    To provide you with some background on my educational career, I served as an assistant principal (in Fulton County Schools) at River Eves Elementary & Hillside Elementary from 2014-2018 before taking over the principal’s reigns at the start of the 2018-2019 school year.  I have completed thirteen total years of leadership experience in three separate Atlanta area school districts.  Prior to that, I taught at the elementary level for a total of 12 years.  My first ten years were spent teaching 4th & 5th grade-aged students in my home state of Indiana.  After moving to the state of Georgia, fifteen years ago (in 2007), I served as an Early Intervention Program teacher for two years before transitioning into my current administrative career.  I am currently in my 26th year as a professional educator.       

    I was born and raised in Southern Indiana about 20 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky (in the small town of Henryville, Indiana) and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education (1995) from Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana. Master of Education (2002) and Leadership Certification (2007) status were accomplished via Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.  I live in Decatur, Georgia; my daughter is a 7th grader attending “City Schools of Decatur.”

    I look forward to continuing our outstanding school-wide cultural gains by closely working alongside our families, staff, and community to care for and guard the academic & social/emotional well-being and development of our students.  Our eagle students are the number one priority that drives what we do every day.  They are our “why!”

    We are one!  We are River Eves!  Rise up, eagles!  

    Eagle Family!  Eagle Community!  Eagle Commitment!  

    Matthew Donahoe

    Principal

    River Eves Elementary School