DiNapoli excited to return to city’s schools

Ask students to name their favorite school subject, and some might say reading and writing, while others might say science and mathematics. Those with a well-rounded interest in both subjects, like Andrew DiNapoli, assistant superintendent for human resources for the Glen Cove City School District, knew from a young age that he wanted to use his interests to cultivate a career to help others.
The ambitious 36-year-old Farmingville native spent much of his formative years dreaming of a career in medicine. During his senior year of high school, the class secretary became a lifeguard and volunteered his time with the American Red Cross. At the same time, he volunteered to coach sports to elementary-aged children.
While DiNapoli earned his Bachelor of Arts in English, with a minor in chemistry at Stony Brook University, he took courses to prepare himself for the Medical College Admission Test. Although he was one course shy of qualifying to take the test, he switched from a physics course to a literature class, a decision that changed the course of his anticipated career path. He says he always admired analyzing literature because those stories helped him reflect on human experiences, and their modern-day connections. His fondness for literature, specifically James Joyce, combined with his family’s leanings towards education inspired the shift in his career. His mother was a preschool teacher, and his father, a union electrician, taught at the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services.
Not long after graduation, DiNapoli attended the Teachers College at Columbia University where he earned his master of arts in teaching. His determination motivated him to endure 14-hour days so he could earn his degree in approximately one year.
DiNapoli first came to Glen Cove early in his career because he was inspired to be part of the district’s diverse community. He became an English teacher at Robert M. Finley Middle in 2012 while also coaching for the girls and boys Varsity track and field teams. He also advised the student council, helped the homework club and was an instructor for the academic intervention services on Saturdays.

When he became the district’s coordinator in English language arts, he wanted to prepare students to become “global citizens.” He established a program to introduce students to research topics that were of interest to them, teaching them the important research methodologies.
“One of most important things to me was just making sure that they were researching something that was passionate to them and they thought were important,” DiNapoli said. “Sixth and seventh graders being introduced to just research practices can be meticulous, and in some aspects, mundane. But when they’re reading and arguing about something that they’re passionate about, that’s the thing that will keep their engagement.”
DiNapoli went on to become the director of curriculum for the Baldwin Union Free School District in 2018. Some of his many career highlights include serving as the district representative for the Nassau BOCES Perkins Grant consortium, establishing partnerships with Generation Ready and the RULER Institute. He also formed the Baldwin High School Curriculum Screening Committee and collaborated with the district’s special education supervisor to discuss, and design curriculums in conjunction with the Next Generation Learning Standards.
In 2020, he became the principal at the district’s middle school, and earned a certification to become an assessment writer for the state’s Next Generation English language arts program, and like many other administrators, he faced unprecedented challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. DiNapoli hosted a Zoom webinar with the Baldwin Council of Parent Teacher Associations, where psychiatrist Dr. Caryl Oris spoke with parents about the effects of stress and anxiety on the body. The interactive Parent Academy Workshop, titled “Persevering and Moving Forward in Challenging Times,” highlighted ways to cope with balancing academics and fostering a save environment for students.
DiNapoli initially left Glen Cove to advance his career in Baldwin, but said the decision wasn’t an easy since he forged strong connection with the community at the beginning of his career. He says he’s excited to return to the city’s school district.