Ken Regan appeared before the New Rochelle Board of Education for the final time as Principal of William B. Ward Elementary School after 22 years of service. Incoming Principal Franco Miele was on hand with his family. The Board of Education offered their thanks for Regan’s service and welcomed Miele. Mary Jane Reddington and Diedre Polow shared their memories of interviewing Mr. Regan when he was hired in 1998.
Asked if he had any parting words for parents at Ward School, Regan told Talk of the Sound, “I’m leaving but I’m not leaving the planet”. Regan turned more serious when talking about his successor.
“Mr. Miele has energy and the ability to relate to children,” said Regan. “15 staff at Ward approved him”.
Asked what he felt was most important about his time at Ward, Regan talked about the Mary Campbell Peace Pole at Ward and wanted to remind parents and students that Ward’s designation as the “Peace Magnet” school is not something to be taken lightly.
“We have to teach children…’don’t say it, show it’…that deeds have to match the words.”
In a final remark that might explain a bit about Regan’s retirement, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the emphasis on testing and evaluation under the No Child Left Behind Act. “You don’t test little kids”, he said. “High School yes, but boys and girls develop differently”.
Franco Miele told Talk of the Sound he was “proud and honored” to have been selected as Ward’s Principal.
Asked if he had any message for students, Miele said “Get ready. It’s going to be a great ride…a great experience”. He called on students to come ready to work and to do their best every day.
Due to current contractual obligations, Miele will not formally begin his tenure as Ward Principal until October 1st but intends to be there as often as his time permits including the first day of school and parent-teacher night. Jefferson School faces a similar situation for a different reason, incoming Principal Kim Nieves is on maternity leave and will not be back until October. Former Principal Cindy Slotkin will fill in for Nieves until she returns.