A new principal at Deasy Elementary School

The Glen Cove City School District Board of Education has appointed Erin Nastri to assume the role of principal of Deasy Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year. Nastri will succeed Melanie Arfman who retired in June. 

Throughout her career, the Oyster Bay native has focused on advocating for the academic success of her students. She has 20 years experience working in education as a teaching assistant, elementary classroom teacher, summer school assistant principal in the Great Neck School District, and as an assistant principal in Three Village Central School District.

The 42-year-old began her journey to the classroom when she studied childhood education at the State University of New York at Old Westbury. As a student, she became a teacher’s assistant for Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Schools. When she attended Long Island University Post for her masters in literacy for grades one to six, she became a full-time teacher with the district. 

Nastri transitioned her career to the Great Neck Union Free School District where she served as an elementary teacher and the assistant principal for the district’s summer school program for 16 years. Her time there was spent fostering her professional development within classrooms.  

Nastri was one of the first teachers in Great Neck to teach in a classroom combining general and special education students. In this setting, Nastri taught her students compassion and inclusivity. Seeing them in the combined program is one of her fondest memories from the district. 

“I loved seeing that program come to life and benefit children in a way that was so meaningful and so powerful,” Nastri said. “It was something really inspiring to be a part of.”

While working in the Great Neck School District Nastri pursued certificates in school building leadership and school district leadership with the College of St. Rose. She attended the Center for Integrated Teacher Education program, a distance delivery partner with the college, for a year-and-a-half. 

“I got my certification and wasn’t really sure that I wanted to use it,” Nastri said. “I really loved teaching, I loved being in the classroom.”

But Nastri’s school administrators were adept at spotting great leaders.  She was encouraged to take on leadership roles. 

Nastri eventually assumed the role as the assistant principal for the district’s summer education classes for two years.  She was the first elementary candidate in the summer school program while working in her typical role as a classroom teacher. 

After her experience as a summer principal, Nastri knew she wanted to further her path as an administrator, but finding the right fit wasn’t easy. 

“I was very picky about where I applied to,” Nastri said. “I loved where I was, it was an amazing place. I really wanted to find a good fit where I could make a difference.” 

She eventually became the assistant principal in the Three Village Central School District, where she worked for two years. The administration she worked with was instrumental in her career and encouraged her to become a principal. 

Nastri found herself once again looking for a position that would be a good fit and was excited to see a position in Glen Cove. Working close to her hometown of Oyster Bay allowed her to be closer to her son. 

“I like the fact that we are so close and that he is going to be able to come to a movie night or to our carnival,” Nastri said. “I was working so far away when I was in Three Village that he could not come to anything that I did. He would always ask ‘can I come to your playground’ even though it was an hour away.”

Nastri said that having her son as part of her working life was one of the strongest reasons why she chose to work in Glen Cove, but she also looks forward to working with students and colleagues with various backgrounds.