The Sewanhaka Board of Education has chosen Elmont Memorial High School principal John Capozzi to succeed Denise Nystrom as the district’s assistant superintendent for personnel and business.
Nystrom is retiring at the year.
Capozzi, who became Elmont’s principal in 2005, has worked at Sewanhaka Central High School District for 21 years. He started as a social studies teacher, for which he won Sewanhaka Teacher of the Year in 1999, and became the Elmont’s assistant principal in 2002.
A release from the district said Capozzi was the unanimous choice of the board.
District Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ferris said in the release that Capozzi is a proven leader and will be a welcomed addition to the central administrative team.
Board of Education President David Fowler said Capozzi has proven his commitment to upholding the academic mission of Sewanhaka Central High School District.
Efforts to reach Capozzi, Ferris and members of the Sewanhaka Board of Education were unavailing.
Capozzi has had a number of prominent achievements throughout his career, according to his biography included in an award from BOCES a couple of years ago.
The award says Capozzi is “the embodiment of educational leadership.”
“Anyone wanting evidence of this fact needn’t look any further than the level of student performance during his eight-year tenure of Elmont Memorial High School,” it says.
Capozzi was one of five educators invited to speak before the U.S. Senate about the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the award says, and St. John’s University named him Outstanding Principal in 2009 and Outstanding Administrator in 2010.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta and a master’s degree from Long Island University.
The release from Sewanhaka said Capozzi looks forward to his work as an assistant superintendent and that he looks forward to the challenges that await him.
He will assume the post on Aug. 1.
Sewanhaka comprises five high schools: New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Floral Park Memorial High School, H. Frank Carey High School, Sewanhaka High School and Elmont.
