CCS Board Chooses Pre-Kindergarten - 4th Grade Co-Principal
February 25, 2010, page 1
by Nancy Wood

The CCS School Board has approved the hiring of Gregory Marino to be the new Pre-Kindergarten – 4th grade Co-Principal.

Marino was unanimously recommended by a hiring committee consisting of parents, staff and school board representatives. According to CSSU Superintendent Elaine Pinckney, “Greg is bright, engaging, thoughtful, articulate and an experienced administrator. Everyone who interviewed him knew immediately that he was exactly the right match for CCS. His sense of humor, focus on students and dedication to doing whatever it takes to ensure success for each and every student was evident in every response. We all look forward to working with him in realizing CCS’s potential.”

Marino is currently in his third year as the principal of the Essex Town Elementary School. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in music education from Ithaca College and SUNY Queens College and earned his Certificate of Advanced Studies in Administration from SUNY Stony Brook. He has experience at the elementary and middle school/junior high level. He lives in Williston with his wife and four children.

The decision to hire Marino was made at the board’s meeting on February 16. The hiring committee is still interviewing candidates for the 5th – 8th grade Co-Principal.

When asked about the cost of having two principals, board member Sue Thibault pointed out that up until this year there have been three full-time administrators, now reduced to 2.5. During the current year that includes a full-time principal, a half-time principal and a full-time special educator. For next year there will again be 2.5 administrators: two full-time principals with an education focus on their specific grade levels, and one half-time special educator.

Essex Town Elementary has 421 students in Pre-K through 2nd grade.