Massapequa Names New Principals For Fairfield, Lockhart Schools

The Massapequa Board of Education appointed a pair of elementary principals for the 2019-20 school year.

Dr. Kristi Gerhard, the assistant principal at Fairfield Elementary School for the past four years, will become the building’s principal. She is replacing Lori Dano, who is retiring at the end of the school year. Before coming to Massapequa, Gerhard was a fifth grade teacher and a second and fourth grade English as a New Language teacher in the Long Beach School District, as well as pre-kindergarten teacher in Farmingdale.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and interdisciplinary studies from Hofstra University, a master’s degree in teaching English as a second language from St. John’s University, an advanced certificate in school building and school district leadership from St. John’s and a doctorate in instructional leadership from St. John’s.

The district will also welcome Dr. Michael Yannucci as the new principal of Lockhart Elementary School, replacing the retiring Stephen Scarallo. Yannucci has been an elementary assistant principal in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District for four years. Prior to that, he worked in the Rocky Point School District as an elementary reading teacher and a coordinator of English language arts, reading, library media and art.

Yannucci holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from SUNY Oneonta, a master’s degree in childhood education and literacy from C.W. Post, an advanced certificate in educational administration from the College of St. Rose and a doctorate in educational administration, leadership and technology from Dowling College. He has been an adjunct professor for educator graduate courses at Concordia College and an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College, and has presented at numerous conferences.