Ms. Diane B. Scricca is the new Superintendent of Schools at RCSD!

(May 2007) It's official! Ms. Diane B. Scricca is the new Superintendent of Schools at RCSD! The Board of Education's vote was both unanimous and enthusiastic!

Berezny: "With pleasure, yes!"
DeVito: "Absolutely, yes!"
Griffing: "Yes!"
Harkin: "With great excitement, yes!"
Prete: "I can't wait, yes!"
Stark: "Yes!"
Gassert: "Absolutely, positively, with great joy, yes!"

After the vote, Ms. Scricca spoke briefly to members of the community at the special meeting of the Board, and then greeted a long line of students, faculty, administrators, staff and members of the community at a reception in the cafeteria.

"I'm just overjoyed," shared Board of Education president Nancy Gassert. "The Board is so delighted. Ms. Scricca has a huge amount of knowledge. We can't wait for her to come here and get on board."

Mrs. Gassert's words were echoed over and over by every Board of Education member and reinforced by members of her current faculty from Malverne, who came to be with her on this occasion.

"She did great things for our District," stated Ann Ciccotelli, a second grade teacher in Malverne. "She's an expert in programs like Reading Recovery and Balanced Literacy. We were heartbroken when we heard she was leaving. She's very genuine, straightforward and honest. She's friendly and has a great attitude, and it's all about kids with her. She's totally child-centered. Riverhead is very lucky to get her."

Lucille McAssey, who is a principal in the Lynbrook School District, which is adjacent to Malverne, felt equally positive about Ms. Scricca. "You've hired someone who is passionate. She is a superlative choice," she stated. "We taught together in the New York City schools for 15 years. Her first job as a principal was at Elmont High School. She took Elmont, a failing school, and made it Redbook magazine's choice as the #1 high school in the State of New York. It became a Blue Ribbon School and was voted as one of the 10 best schools in the nation, and Diane was named New York State Principal of the Year. Diane's philosophy," continued Ms. McAssey " is that every child can EXCEL! She introduced honors courses and after school programs. The kids enrolled and succeeded. She believed in them! I've always thought of her as a tremendous role model as well as a good friend."

Ms. Scricca has 35 years of experience as an educator. In addition to being a social studies teacher, a dean and chairperson in a New York City school, an award winning Principal while at Elmont High School, an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Personnel and Facilities in Glen Cove, a Deputy Superintendent in Malverne, Ms. Scricca also co-authored a book with Albert Coppola and Gerard Connors entitled Supportive Supervision: Becoming a Teacher of Teachers.

"She was one of my professors during my doctoral studies at Hofstra," shared RCSD Academic Supervisor Shirley Cepero. "She was an excellent teacher, and I'm looking forward to working with her."

Ms. Scricca is also looking forward to starting her new assignment in Riverhead, which will begin on July 1, 2007.

"I feel very strongly that I've been led to this community. I wasn't recruited; I applied for this position. I drove through an ice storm for four hours for my first interview. This is a place where I feel I can make a difference in the lives of children," she noted. "The Board has been very supportive, and the care and kindness that has been shown to me has been overwhelming. Tonight's greeting was incredible. The first two years are a crucial time--the community has to know that I'm here to serve the Board, the teachers and the children, and to work together with them and the community to make this the very best school district. My first task will be to be in a serious listening mode. I want to hear what everybody has to say. I want to talk to everybody in the school and the community. Then we can begin to develop a focus together. I'm looking forward to getting started in July."

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