Harborfields Honors Superintendent for Distinguished Career

Harborfields Central School District Superintendent Diana Todaro is saying goodbye to the district at the end of December.

Todaro was recognized for her distinguished career and for Harborfields High School being named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School under her leadership at a Nov. 22 general district meeting.

“Diana is passionate and she cares greatly about our students," Legislator William Spencer said in a press release. "She has had a notable career and in my opinion is leaving behind a legacy that is hard to find anywhere else in the country. Under her tenure, every school in the district that has been eligible to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award has achieved that status."

Her retirement is effective Saturday, Dec. 31. Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources Dr. Francesco Ianni will serve as her successor starting Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.

Todaro began her teaching career as a student teacher at Harborfield’s Oldfield Middle School and has come full circle, having spent the last 14 years as an impactful figure in the Harborfields central administration. In her role as superintendent, the district has received exceptional recognitions on the county, state and national levels. Although the Board of Education extended her contract to June 2017, Todaro decided to accelerate the timeline, in the effort to mentor and provide a smooth transition for her successor and colleague, Ianni.

“Never before has Harborfields had a superintendent so dedicated to the district, and to every child and family in it, as we have had with Diana,” said 13-year Board member Nicholas P. Giuliano. “She has every reason to be proud of her achievements and we, as a district, are lucky that so many of her achievements were accomplished for our children.”

“On behalf of the entire Harborfields community and the residents in the 18th Legislative District, we thank you Diana, and wish you many years of happiness and health in retirement," Spencer said.

Familiar to the district, Ianni brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of education. He began his teaching career at the University High School in New York as a math teacher for grades 9 and 10. In 2005, Ianni assumed the role of Assistant Principal at Wellington C. Mepham High School in the Bellmore Merrick School Central District then spent four years as an Assistant Principal at Harborfields High School. For three years, he worked as the Division Avenue High School principal in the Levittown Public School District then returned to the Harborfields School District in 2013, at which time, was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources.

Ianni holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematic education and a Master of Arts in mathematic education from New York University. In 2004, he received his professional diploma in administration and supervision from Long Island University C.W. Post and his doctorate in administration and leadership from St. John’s University in 2010. Since 2004, Ianni has worked as an adjunct professor in three New York universities, currently teaching statistics and data analysis at St. John’s University.

“I am humbled by the Board of Education’s confidence in my ability to lead our prestigious district, especially during this time of educational evolution,” said Ianni. “We are fortunate, at Harborfields, to have benefited from the successive leadership of our exemplary Superintendent, and I hope that, in collaboration with the Board of Education a strong administrative team, superior teaching staff, knowledgeable parents, and of course, outstanding students, our tradition of excellence will continue.”

Syntax contributed to this story, Photo courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District: Harborfields Central School District Superintendent of Schools Diana Todaro with Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources and successor of the position as Harborfields Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Francesco Ianni