Triple Alumnus of The School of Education a Servant-Leader

“Every student can learn,” he stressed. “Every student does not learn the same way.” 

Last March, Dr. Mangeri, a triple alumnus of The School of Education who serves as Assistant Principal at George W. Hewlett High School in the Hewlett-Woodmere Public School District, was named 2023 New York State Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually by SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals to a middle or high school assistant principal who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the students in their school.

The Albertson, NY, native initially wanted to be a dentist, and had his academic future mapped out. A product of public elementary school in the Mineola School District, he went to Chaminade High School, also located in Mineola—a decision he considers life changing. 

“It was a challenge, but I stuck it out,” he recalled.“It opened doors for me.”

After being waitlisted by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Dr. Mangeri attended Hofstra University for one semester. “My brother went to St. John’s, and I thought I would forge my own path,” he recalled. 

Dr. Mangeri began bartending and found he could make a great deal of money in a short amount of time. “However, it’s not something I wanted to be doing when I was 40,” he explained.

After some introspection and advice from those he trusted, Dr. Mangeri decided to attend St. John’s. “People would remind me that at every job I ever had I was the person who was asked to train others. My mother said, ‘Why don’t you become a teacher?’” 

While attending St. John’s as a history major, Dr. Mangeri began working at Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc., in Oceanside, NY. There, he worked with disabled adults in a residential setting, assisting them with life skills in the hope they might achieve a degree of independence. 

“I loved it. It was so rewarding,” he said. “It opened my eyes to a lot of difficulties that special education students have.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s, Dr. Mangeri began substitute teaching in the Locust Valley Central School District, while applying for permanent positions as a history teacher throughout Nassau County. He was eventually hired as a leave replacement at Kellenberg Memorial High School (Chaminade’s sister school); a temporary position for a teacher on medical leave. 

The teacher was due to return, but Dr. Mangeri was allowed to stay in the role until December of that academic year to shepherd his students through their trimester exams. During this time students made it known to the administration he was an asset to the faculty, and discussions began about a permanent position. 

“Being a little overconfident, I told [the administration] I could teach anything as long as you give me the books and the time to prepare,” he said.

He was given a ninth-grade religion class for the remainder of the year. Dr. Mangeri stayed at Kellenberg for the next eight years, eventually teaching history and coaching football and girls’ basketball. He also moderated the Social Studies Club and the National Honor Society. After his first year he was also given the responsibility of serving as Dean of the Bro. Joseph C. Fox Latin School, which effectively serves as a middle school (i.e., sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) for Kellenberg. He served in that role for three years and eventually returned to teaching.

While at Kellenberg, Dr. Mangeri completed his master’s at St. John’s, noting that he received a tuition reduction given to educators currently serving in their field. Because he always worked while earning his degrees, Dr. Mangeri didn’t have much free time to enjoy campus life, but had high praise for the various faculty members who taught and mentored him at each degree level.

During his final year at Kellenberg, Dr. Mangeri attended a faculty meeting where the principal suggested teachers read the book Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D. The book’s essential message is to not wait for things to happen. 

“That became my mindset, and I realized it was time to make a move,” he reflected. 

The following year he joined the faculty at George W. Hewlett High School as a social studies teacher, eventually becoming Attendance Coordinator, and later, Assistant Principal.

Dr. Mangeri’s philosophy of teaching has served him well, and it is something he has tried to inculcate in the teachers who report to him. “We need to meet students where they are and elevate that,” he explained. “These are somebody else’s kids. They’re here to learn from us.”

He added, “I tell my teachers kids learn from people they like, and we need to build relationships. I’m a big relationship guy. If the staff is on your side they’re going to get a lot of things done for you. They know I have their backs. I want teachers to feel empowered to do their jobs.” 

Dr. Mangeri also believes strongly in his own accountability, and recognizing moments when he is at fault. “It goes a long way with the staff when I call myself out. You give credit where credit is due, and you take the blame when you mess up.”

Servant leadership is a concept integral to Dr. Mangeri’s philosophy of education. “I believe I work for the students and teachers here. If I can do something to make a teacher better, and they have the desire to move somewhere, they have the skills to do so. I like them to be prepared—but I also want them to want to stay.”

He added, “I have a great staff. I’m lucky that it’s like a family. My staff knows the kids come first and the adults next.”