Rye Lake Lower Campus Welcomes New Assistant Principal

  Starting out in advertising, Nickolas Villano desired more from his work. He wanted to do something he was passionate about, that brought joy not only to himself but to others. “It wasn’t fulfilling enough,” he said in regards to his career at the time. “I wanted to do something that made the world a better place.” He was in need of a change, which he later found in the field of education.

Mr. Villano thought of his mother, who had been a teacher’s aide. He knew how much happiness the children in her classroom brought her and wanted to take a similar path. He joined the New York City Teaching Fellows program, where he obtained his Master of Science in Education and became certified to teach Special Education and General Education. He also attended the CITE program through The College of Saint Rose, where he earned his Master of Science in Educational Leadership & Administration.

He began his career in New York City’s District 75. At P723X he held various positions as a special education teacher, art teacher, and unit coordinator. Mr. Villano was appointed as the new assistant principal of Rye Lake Lower Campus and began on July 3, 2023.

Mr. Villano’s love for education and for students with special needs has been his driving force. “The best thing is when you get letters from parents saying how happy they are, it’s always nice,” he said. “Seeing a family happy is pretty meaningful.”

At Southern Westchester BOCES he is eager to grow professionally. “I’m here to learn from the students and the staff. I’m here to be a leader and an educator,” Mr. Villano said. “I can walk around these classrooms everyday and learn something new.”