Luciano tabbed Dare schools principal of the year

Manteo High School principal John Luciano has been named the 2012 Dare County Schools principal of the year.

Luciano arrived in Dare County as principal at Manteo High School in August 2006.

In his six-year tenure at Manteo, Luciano has overseen a major renovation and has led the school on a remarkable path to increase student achievement.

The school was singled out for a visit by Gov. Bev Perdue in 2009 primarily to recognize the success of the “EOC Season” approach to prepare students for end-of-course exams.

Under Luciano, Manteo High School has consistently achieved graduation rates above 90 percent.

Since the arrival of Luciano as principal, Manteo High School has placed high priority on reaching all students.

Its resulting success is largely attributable to programs and initiatives including AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), EOC Season, a mandatory homework policy, and Bring Your Parent to School Day. 

The school’s faculty maintains a supportive culture signified by targeted best practices such as daily intervention and data-driven instruction.

Due to its success in proactively reaching all students, Manteo High School was ranked by US News and World report in spring 2012 as the number two high school in North Carolina for preparing all students to be college-ready.

“John Luciano is a principal who thinks outside of the box,” said Dare County School superintendent Sue Burgess. “I admire that he personally meets with the parents of every senior.”

“Based on his leadership ability and success in reaching all levels of students, Mr. Luciano is certain to be a strong candidate at the regional and state levels as the Wells Fargo Principal of the Year,” said Burgess.

Luciano resides in Manteo with his wife Gail Luciano, who teaches at Manteo Middle School.

Luciano earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees in mathematics from C.W. Post Center, Long Island University, and Brookville N.Y.

His coursework in educational administration was taken at both the University of New Hampshire in Dunham, N.H., and at the University of Lowell in Massachusetts.

Leadership came naturally to Luciano. He developed interest in school administration when, after college serving as a high school science and math teacher for five years in New York, he was tapped for an assistant principal position at a high school in New Hampshire.

Beginning in 1987, was principal at three high schools in New Hampshire, New York and Connecticut.

It was during his time in New York that Luciano gained further administrative experience as an interim superintendent.

The program is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Wells Fargo.

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