The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education has selected Richard Faccio, principal of Canandaigua Academy in Canandaigua, NY, as the new principal of New Hyde Park Memorial High School.
Faccio succeeds Michael DeMartino, who retired from the principal’s office last Friday after 39 years of service at the high school. Faccio officially takes the position on Aug. 6.
Faccio served as principal of Canandaigua Academy for the past three years. He worked as assistant principal of the school for seven years prior to his appointment as principal.
“I’m very excited,” he said of the appointment. “I really looked for school districts of high quality.”
Faccio grew up in Bethpage and said he and his wife, Jeanette, wanted to “come back home” with their four children.
Faccio started teaching high school business courses in computers and accounting the Bloomfield Central School District in 1996 after switching to the education field from accounting. He also coached soccer, basketball and baseball at Bloomfield.
He also worked as an adjunct teacher at Finger Lakes Community College.
Faccio earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Fredonia and worked for nearly three years as an accountant before deciding to change fields.
“I didn’t see myself doing that forever,” he said.
Faccio said his move into education was influenced by his wife, who has worked as a special education teacher.
He went back to school and earned a master of science in computer education and a certificate in business and distributive education at Nazareth College. He also holds a doctorate degree in educational administration from the University of Rochester.
“I love being around the kids and watching them mature,” Faccio said. “It really is the best part of any job.”
Faccio was one of three candidates who was interviewed by the personnel committee headed by Douglas Monaghan, assistant superintendent for personnel and administration. Sewanhaka Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ferrie initially screened 25 candidates to come with the three people who were interviewed. The Sewanhaka School Board approved Faccio for the job after receiving the administrators’ recommendation.
“He’s highly qualified and I think he’s going to be good fit at New Hyde Park Memorial,” Monaghan said.
“He comes highly recommended and we’re looking forward to him joining our administrative team,” added Jean Fichtl, Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education president.
