The end of a school year is time for reflection on the previous year as well as planning for the future. There is no one better to reflect about this with than the principal, Dr. Faccio. However, this interview is a little different from past years, as this year marks Dr. Faccio’s last year as school principal.
What do you think the school’s biggest accomplishments were this year?
Dr. Faccio: I don’t know if there is just one accomplishment we have, as I think we have a lot of great things that go on in this building. Our Model UN program is amazing and the awards that they win are so impressive. We have four students that are going to the Junior Achievement National Convention on the last week of school. We do well academically, but we also had a lot of great athletic accomplishments throughout the year. We’ve had our unified program which has done excellent. Our publications contribute to our success as well. I’m a proud building principal that just can’t name one important achievement.
What were the biggest challenges the school faced this year?
Dr. Faccio: I think the biggest challenge the school experienced this year is student attendance. If you look at a past year’s attendance, we would have an average of maybe five or six days of school missed per student. Now, I think that’s gone up into the double digits. I also believe that student’s mental health is a major challenge that needs to be faced in education everywhere, not just in New Hyde Park. If you were to interview a principal of another building they’d probably say the same two things, student attendance and student mental health. There’s a lot of different stressors that kids face now, from social media stress to college applications. I give them a lot of credit for the success we have.
What do you feel is the best way to resolve the two problems you mentioned?
Dr. Faccio: The social emotional piece is something we always work on with our counselors, psychologists and social workers. We try to get to know students better and have teachers build relationships with students, which I think is one of the most important things. You’ll always hear me say it, but when I ask a teacher “What do you teach?” they shouldn’t tell me English, science, social studies or math. They should tell me “I’m a teacher of students and I teach them English, science, social studies, or math.” The attendance, I think, is something as a district and as a state we have to work on. We have to make attendance important again. How we do that is by making sure students understand that their grade is affected by it and that it’s an important piece of doing what you need to do to be successful. We’re preparing you for your future education, but you’re also preparing your future careers. After all, if I had poor attendance as a building principal, I wouldn’t be in my job.
What is the official name and duties of your new title for 2024-25?
Dr. Faccio: As of Tuesday night’s board meeting [May 28] I was appointed the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Sewanhaka Central High School District. I’m in charge of the curriculum and instruction that goes on in all five high schools. It’s a daunting task because curriculum is what drives us. It’s what runs this place and the other four buildings. I’m extremely excited about it and it’s going to be a big change for me as I’m not just going to be affecting change in New Hyde Park, but in all the schools.
How are you going to affect change in your new role?
Dr. Faccio: I think one of the main things that I need to do in a new position is follow the three L’s: look, learn and listen. I have to look at what’s going on and see how we can make some changes. I have to learn what’s going on in other schools because I know NHP really well, but I’m not too familiar with the other buildings. Then I have to listen, which is going to involve me having conversations with students, teachers and administrators throughout the district. I need to ask them what they think is working and what they think isn’t, and I can develop change from there. This change could possibly include new courses, or new partnerships with SUNY schools to allow students to gain credit.
Do you have any advice for the incoming principal?
Dr. Faccio: My advice to the new principal is that NHP is a great place and they should embrace it and love it. I’ve been here 12 years and I’ve loved watching families go through school. We did great things over the past 12 years, and it’s the new principal’s job to continue to make the school even better.
Will you still be seen around the school?
Dr. Faccio: The good thing about my new position is that even though I’m leaving NHP on a daily basis, I can always come back and visit. I’ll still be here to talk to the students I already know and to meet new ones.
