Dr. Diane B. Scricca Chosen as St. John's University L.E.A.D. Honoree

(January 2008) “Leadership requires passion, intelligence and commitment. It demands the ability to teach, to identify people’s strengths while tempering their weaknesses, and a burning desire for excellence. Lastly, leadership expects courage!” (Quote from Dr. Scricca in the L.E.A.D. program booklet.)

St. John’s University, one of America’s leading Catholic Universities, is proud of its School of Education, which is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary. A large gathering of St. John’s alumni, friends and faculty came together recently to celebrate five distinguished individuals, who were presented with the University’s 2007 Leaders in Education Award. One of those five outstanding educational leaders was Riverhead Central School District’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Diane B. Scricca.

“The contributions by these awardees to improving the quality of education are among the highest in the nation,” states Jerrold Ross, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Education (in the picture above with Dr. Scricca). “Their influence in policymaking and service to teachers and children has been evident for many years.”

Dr. Diane B. Scricca, the Superintendent of the Riverhead Central School District, has been an educator for the past 35 years. She has served as a Deputy Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in two Nassau County School Districts. For nearly 13 years she served as the Principal of Elmont Memorial High School, a National School of Excellence and Redbook’s Best School in New York State. Widely recognized for extraordinary leadership, she has been honored by NASSP and SAANYS as the NY State Principal of the Year and was a National Principal of the Year Finalist.

Larry Burke, a 2006 L.E.A.D. Honoree, who distributed the awards, notes, “Dr. Scricca is a staunch supporter of St. John’s mission. A St. John’s graduate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PD, and Ed.D. and Adjunct Professor, she has been awarded the prestigious University Council for Educational Administrations Excellence in Education Leadership Award as well as the University’s School Partnership Award and Outstanding School Supervisor. She has worked closely with the School of Education and has collaborated with St. John’s on several important initiatives, including a student teacher placement program and a doctoral cohort. A co-author of Supportive Supervision: Becoming a Teacher of Teachers, she frequently consults with districts providing workshops on supervision and administration and she recently served on the St. John’s chapter of Phi Delta Kappa panel.”

“It’s a wonderful award,” noted Dr. Scricca. “I am very proud to be named among such a prestigious group of alumni. It was also very gratifying that so many of the administrators and Board of Education members from Riverhead (and my sister) were present to share this honor with me.”

Congratulations, Dr. Scricca!