New Meadowbrook Principal Named

The School Committee approved the appointment of Neil Marcaccio to be the new principal of Meadowbrook Farms Elementary School at their meeting Tuesday night in a 6-0 vote. Paul Martin was absent.

Marcaccio comes to the district from the Warwick public schools, first as a special education teacher and then as interim head of both Wyman and Lippitt elementary schools this past year.

A North Kingstown native, Marcaccio spent the past seven years in Warwick. He doubled up at Wyman and Lippitt, providing much-needed leadership at both schools, according to Supt. Victor Mercurio.

"One of the striking things about Neil – they were without leadership for a time and he was successful in both places," said Mercurio.

In addition, as a school administrator in Warwick, Marcaccio had to administer the full implementation of the state's new teacher-assessment protocol. East Greenwich is on the gradual implementation track, making Marcaccio's experience especially valuable, Mercurio said.

Marcaccio, 36, has a BS in aquaculture and fisheries from URI, an MA in teaching from Rhode Island College and an MA in administration from Providence College. He and his wife have two children and live in Newport.

There were 40 applicants for the principal position, from across the country and even the globe. Mercurio said two applications, from Americans living abroad, were from Egypt and Bolivia.

The search committee first selected two candidates but Mercurio said he wasn't satisfied and asked the committee to review all the applications.

"Using the same master list, they came to consensus on one candidate," Mercurio said. That candidate was Marcaccio.

In brief remarks Tuesday, Marcaccio said he was "truly excited" to be the new principal.

There will be a meet-and-greet on Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. for families. Because Meadowbrook is under construction, it will be held at Cole Middle School.