William B. Ward Elementary Gets New Principal

William B. Ward Elementary School, the largest of seven city elementary schools in New Rochelle, welcomes Franco Miele, a new principal who officially starts on Friday.

He replaces Ken Regan, who served as the school's principal for 22 years. 

Miele, 33, an Iona College graduate and an alumnus of The Remington Boys & Girls Club, is a longtime New Rochelle fan.

"I lived here, attended college here and have so many family members in this town. New Rochelle is like a second home to me," said the Mahopac resident, who is married to a fellow educator, Rosa, and is the proud father of a three-year-old daughter, Liana.

For the past seven years, Miele has been working first as an assistant principal and then as principal at Sheafe Road Elementary School in Wappingers Falls, where, he says he helped raise state assessment scores in Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. Miele also worked for three years as the assistant principal at the Roy C. Ketcham Senior High School in Wappinger Falls.

"I have loved working with the parents and children in Wappingers Falls, but this was just too good an opportunity to pass up," he said. Miele said it is the diversity of the student body at Ward and the enthusiastic parents that make the Ward principal role "one of the best jobs in Westchester."

With two master's degrees from Mercy College in Teaching Literacy and Administration and Supervision, Ward's athletic new principal also played baseball, basketball and football at Mahopac High School. He was team captain of the Iona College baseball team and coached the high school football and baseball teams in Mount Vernon, where he worked as an elementary school teacher from 2001 to 2003.

According to Board of Education President Sara M. Richmond, Miele's experience and enthusiasm made him stand out among the "stacks of candidates" and three finalists being considered for the role.

After a month-long three-step hiring process that included interviews with a screening committee of teachers and parents and meetings with District Superintendent Richard E. Organisciak and the New Rochelle Board of Education, Miele was delighted when the job offer came from Richard Organisciak at 9 p.m. on Aug. 17.

"It was a very proud moment for me," says Miele, who can still recall the rush of excitement and adrenaline he experienced when he accepted the offer. Miele can't wait to get to know his new charges.

"I love working with this K through 5 age group. You see the children grow academically, emotionally and behaviorally. They get off the bus flying— they're so excited to come to school."   

Longtime Assistant Principal John Fogliano is optimistic that the transition at the top will go smoothly.

"Mr. Miele is very energetic and has a lot of spirit," said Fogliano, who has worked at Ward for 25 years.

Rounding out the school's administrative team are Cynthia Barr-Pfeffer, administrative assistant, and Nate Harris, a 25-year veteran of the school.

Fogliano expressed his deep gratitude for the leadership and service of retiring principal Ken Regan.

"For 22 years, he was a great principal to work for. Our skills complemented each other very well, so we were a perfect match. I wish him the best," said Fogliano.

With an estimated 1,075 students, Ward is one of the largest elementary schools in the state. The school was founded in 1959 when the Ward Family, who owned and operated the Ward Baking Company, gave a 13-acre tract of land to New Rochelle officials.

Today, Ward boasts competitive girls and boys basketball teams, a band and orchestra, a service squad, a winning chess team, a parent newsletter, an audio-visual squad, and an active student council.

Each November, the older students select a slate of officers following a spirited campaign season, complete with speeches, posters, and slogans. The comprehensive PTA-run after-school program offers courses on everything from basketball to ballet, cooking to cheerleading.