Moran and Parker Farms Schools Welcome New Principals

As the new school year kicks off, students won’t be the only new faces at Parker Farms Elementary and Moran Middle schools. Both schools have new principals this year.

Richard Napoli, former assistant principal at Moran, steps into the top leadership role at Parker Farms. He takes over for Michael O’Neill, who moved out of state after three years in the post.

Meanwhile at Moran, Joseph Piacentini leads the staff and students into a new academic year. Piacentini comes from Wolcott High School, where he served as assistant principal for two years. He replaces Jan Wright, now assistant principal at Conard High School in West Hartford, her hometown.

Both men describe their leadership style as “collaborative,” involving staff in decisions whenever possible. They also share something else in common. They are both changing levels this year — one from high school to middle school, the other from middle to elementary.

Piacentini Brings Plenty of Middle School Experience to Moran

Piacentini may have moved to Moran from a high school position, but he has a lot of middle school experience under his belt. Before Wolcott High, he worked as an assistant principal at Windham Middle School in Willimantic for three years. Prior to that, he taught middle school social studies for eight years in both Waterbury and Prospect.

"Joe has a great background in middle school education," says School Superintendent Dr. Salvatore Menzo. "You have to have a passion for that level of students — the many challenges and the many opportunities that brings."

Piacentini told Patch that he came to Moran because he was ready to take on a larger leadership role.

“I was in a good position. I had a job, so I could take the time to look for the right fit,” he says. “Wallingford was a good fit for me.”

Piacentini was drawn to Wallingford because it is a larger district with more going on. He says he also heard good things about Dr. Menzo.

After graduating from UConn with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Piacentini worked as a substitute teacher while trying to figure out what to do next.

“I really discovered that’s where I wanted to be — in the classroom,” he says.

He went back to earn his master’s degree in education from Quinnipiac, and then his administration degree from the University of Bridgeport’s Waterbury branch.

Piacentini lives in Wolcott with his wife and three children. He has two daughters, ages 13 and 10, and a six-year-old son.

“We have kids at all levels next year,” he jokes, “high school, middle school and elementary school.”

When asked about his hobbies and interests, he responds, “I have three kids. Their hobbies are my hobbies.”

He coaches all of their soccer teams, and was a coach during his teaching years as well.

As a leader, Piacentini says, “I believe in trying not to make too many top-down decisions. I like to hear as many opinions and get as many points of view as possible — especially of the people who are affected by the decision.”

Napoli Comes from a Family of Educators

Napoli brings a similar leadership style to Parker Farms.

“I’m a listener,” he says. “I like to empower the staff and involve them in decisions.”

Menzo describes him as "a strong leader who is a strong educator himself."

Napoli didn’t start out in education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Connecticut State University and worked in sales and marketing for a while. He soon found, however, that it “wasn’t meaningful work.”

Napoli, who comes from a family of educators, decided to join the “family business” and become one himself. His sister, brother and brother-in-law are all teachers, and his mother is a classroom paraprofessional.

“We always laugh that we could start a school of our own,” Napoli says.

He got his master’s in education from Southern Connecticut State University and taught fifth grade at Orange Avenue School in Milford for six years. He was a teacher leader there, eventually becoming second in command at the school.

After earning his six-year diploma in educational leadership, Napoli became assistant principal of Chapel Street Elementary School in Stratford. He eventually found his way to the assistant principal job at Moran because he grew up in Cheshire and “wanted to come home,” he says.

“I had a great year at Moran. It’s a great school, great kids,” he says. Then the opportunity came up at Parker Farms.

“I’m happy that I was chosen. I’m excited. I really enjoy working with kids,” he says.

Napoli is still involved in the Moran family, he explains, because his fifth graders at Parker Farms will be going there next year. With his experience at the middle school, he is in a unique position to help them make that transition, he says.

Besides enjoying working with kids, Napoli is an avid golfer, plays softball in Cheshire, and runs in road races. He lives in Naugatuck and hopes to have a family one day, but for the moment is single. His students are his kids. Last year, when people would ask how many kids he had, he would answer: 755.