By Mike Caputo
It takes time not only to transfer belongings from house to house, but also to adjust to the new setting. For Principal Angelo Siconolfi, his task was arguably more difficult. In the span of one summer, Siconolfi had to move a staff and student body to another school.
Siconolfi, the outgoing Number Six School principal who recently announced his retirement from the Lawrence Public School District, was principal of the Number One School when it was closed down in 2003. On short notice, Siconolfi was handed the reins to lead the consolidation process between the Number One and Number Six schools.
Throughout Siconolfi's long career in education, he had partaken in moves: when he worked for the New York City public school system, his special education office was moved from inside school to an office building. At the time, he also had to lead a staff to a new setting.
"I knew what it took to organize a move of that size," Siconolfi said.
However, he never had to make a move to this extent. When Siconolfi stood in front of the newly consolidated Number Six School staff for his opening speech, the principal made one simple request: point north while keeping eyes closed. After the teachers and staff members positioned themselves, they found each other pointing in different directions.
"You do realize there is only one north," Siconolfi recalled telling his staff. "I will not be able to move this building forward until I have all of you pointing in the same direction and I will."
Siconolfi takes great pride in his ability to get a staff to stick together for the future of the building. Factoring into the principal's method of cohesion and progression is his emphasis of prioritizing what is truly important.
"'Try not to get caught up in small stuff' and try to explain that the small stuff doesn't matter," Siconolfi often tells staff members. "How to move the building forward: 'Let's focus on that.'"
Siconlfi's work inside and outside of the Number Six School community earned him the honor of one of the Herald's 2006 People of the Year, along with Harvey Feldman, principal of the nearby Hebrew Academy of Long Beach-Davis Renov Stahler High School for Boys (HALB-DRS). The principals were both responsible for establishing a connection between the public and private schools.
After a series of flooding in 2005 along Peninsula Boulevard, Siconolfi originally approached Feldman to discuss emergency planning for the two Woodmere schools. Even though Lawrence High School served as Number Six's "safe school," Siconolfi felt it was too far down the road in case of a severe emergency. During those discussions, Siconolfi offered to take student volunteers from the private high school to help with Number Six's after school programs.
It turned out to be a link that Siconolfi thought was important for the district during the tumultuous times between the two communities.
"It was a partnership which was a help for the community," Siconolfi said. At first, "everybody was a little nervous about this."
Like most of Siconolfi's ideas, the program continues to grow. Originally, about 17 kids signed up. Now there is an overflow of interest, as the principals capped the volunteer list at 35..
"My kids look forward to the high school kids coming and his boys love it too," Siconolfi said.
Siconolfi would do virtually anything to get his children to succeed. In fact, the principal kissed a pig in front of the entire school as part of the Number Six School reading challenge. Along with his staff, Siconolfi has established unique programs such as theme-based reading programs, an extensive international day and a recess gardening program.
Because of the efforts of Siconolfi and his staff, the Number Six School now regularly succeeds 80 percent passing rates in the state English Language Achievement tests. For this achievement, the Number Six School was honored by State Department of Education Commissioner Richard Mills for being a "High Performing/Gap Closing School District. The school, which along with the former Number One School was averaging around a 60 percent passing rate, jumped to over 80 percent when the schools consolidated under Siconolfi's helm.
Siconolfi's retirement from the Lawrence School District comes after 30 years in the public school system: 20 with the City of New York and 10 with LPS District 15. In his time with District 15, he established a strong relationship with his staff, students and parents. Siconolfi found difficulty in explaining his decision to the students, and tried to translate it as best as he could.
"Last year you were in third grade you moved on to fourth grade - you moved on because you did all the things you had to do in third grade to move on and that is naturally what you do," Siconolfi recalled telling his students. "I did what I can do as a principal. Now it is my turn to move on."
Although Siconolfi is retiring from Lawrence schools, the 54-year-old will take his leadership skills to Brooklyn, where he will help area schools for Starting Point, a private educational company. The principal said he looks forward to working in Brooklyn, where he lived during his childhood.
For his staff back in Number Six however, his presence will be missed.
"It is a very big loss for the children always willing to dress up in a costume and act silly," said Dr. Karen Mackler, school psychologist. "But they really respect him and it was a great loss for us. He really brought us together when we came from Number one school to Number Six School."
Number Six School Secretary Evelyn Hattem expressed her appreciation for Siconolfi's work both inside and outside the school.
"He brought the community together by bringing in the yeshiva children to work with our kids," Hattem said. "That was a big thing."
Pat Pizzarelli, president of the Association of Lawrence Administrators, also vouched for Siconolfi's character.
"It is a big loss to the Lawrence Public Schools," Pizzarelli said. "Angelo has been an outstanding administrator - a real kid advocate. He has worked really hard in pulling this community together."
Patrice Fujimoto, an active member of the PTA both in the Number One School and now the Number Six School, expressed her appreciation for Siconolfi's efforts in making the transition a smooth one.
"He made an environment for everyone to be proud of," Fujimoto said. "I think he brought pride into the school and made it a place that really became a family. And it took a lot."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
