School News

She’ll be there for you

New Mandalay principal looks to support teachers, students, parents

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Marie Pisicchio is a numbers kind of a person. She spent 10 years in the classroom as a math teacher, and the past seven supervising the math department in the Wantagh School District.

She is also a people person, and that is why she is excited about her new job as principal of Mandalay Elementary School. In that role, she will interact daily with students, teachers and parents.

When the position opened with the retirement of Dr. Lynne D’Agostino, Pisicchio jumped at the opportunity to stay within Wantagh. Late last school, the Mandalay faculty gathered for an announcement by Superintendent Maureen Goldberg and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maureen Appiarius, and it was revealed Pisicchio would be their new leader.

The applause she received was touching. “It was probably the most humbling experience I’ve ever had in my life,” she said.

Pisicchio, who grew up in Hicksville, earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s in education, both from St. John’s University. She received her administrative certificate from LIU Post.

She began her teaching career in Astoria, Queens, where she spent two years before moving on to South Side High School in Rockville Centre. After eight years, she came to Wantagh as the supervisor of mathematics for the entire district.

This will be her first time focusing specifically on elementary education.

Some of her responsibilities will be the same, such as evaluating teachers, but managing a building will be a new experience. Pisicchio is already putting her own touches on the school in having the hallways repainted and an empty classroom turned into a science room.

Mandalay is the district’s smallest elementary school with about 270 students. Pisicchio said that her goal will be to know each child by name.

As principal, she will emphasize character education. She has already purchased a copy of a book, “The Golden Rule,” for every teacher. Pisicchio also plans to have each student write their golden rule on a card, which will all be affixed to a large banner and hung in the lobby.

Pisicchio said every child has a right to feel comfortable and safe in school, so a strong character education is important. “That’s crucial at this age,” she said, “that we teach the students to respect each other.”

She is also looking to create a sense of school spirit and will bring back morning announcements. Overall, she wants Mandalay to be a warm and inviting place.

Goldberg said Pisicchio was the right person for the job. “After working with Marie Pisicchio for the past seven years,” she said, “I am confident that she possesses the skills required to meet the needs of the students, families and staff and to effectively manage the school facility.”

Pisicchio describes herself as approachable and visible, and doesn’t expect to spend much time in her office. Every morning, she wants to be in front of the school, greeting children as they arrive. She wants to start a breakfast club, where every few weeks she buys bagels and meets with a different class in the school.

To support teachers, Pisicchio said she wants to help them continue to get adjusted to the Common Core standards, as well as a new English language arts series the district is unveiling this year.

As a mother of two, Pisicchio said she understands the perspective of parents. They want school to be a place where their children can learn, have fun and feel good about themselves, and that is the kind of atmosphere she wants at Mandalay.

Outside of the school, family is her life. She has a son going into pre-K and a daughter entering third-grade. Much of her free time is spent watching her daughter play softball. Occasionally, she finds time to exercise or read a James Patterson book.

Pisicchio got to know Mandalay very well during her time as math supervisor, and being there full-time has been a welcome change. She said she envisions herself in the job for a long time to come, but right now, Pisicchio is eager for that first day of school. “I’m really excited,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a great year.”