More Changes at Chariho

By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA

September 12th 2023

WOOD RIVER JUNCTION – The Chariho Regional School District will undergo major changes in its administration, following the resignation of Finance Director Ned Draper and the appointment of Middle School Principal Gregory Zenion to the Finance Director position.

Those changes left the Middle School principal position open, and Superintendent of Schools Gina Picard announced Thursday that Giuseppe “Joe” Gencarelli, currently the Principal of Hope Valley Elementary School, will be the new middle school principal.

Jeffrey Scanapieco, the Ashaway Elementary School principal, will take on an expanded role as principal of Hope Valley Elementary School, which is currently being phased out, and the Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, (MTSS) and Student Success. The MTSS program, mandated by the Rhode Island Department of Education, replaces the Response to Intervention program previously implemented to assist students who are struggling.

Both School Committee Chair Catherine Giusti and Superintendent Picard said they were pleased that administrators looking for new challenges had been able to find them at Chariho.

“I’m really excited about the changes,” Giusti said. “I think this is a new opportunity for Joe [Gencarelli], I think Jeff [Scanapieco] will be excellent in his new roles.”

“We have administrators of significant value and who want to grow,” Picard said. “This is really about the retention of administrators. We think it will bring the district to the next level.”

In a letter to Hope Valley Elementary families and staff, Gencarelli said,

“Serving our elementary students from preschool to grade four has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I came to Hope Valley School not knowing what to expect and how long I would stay in RI (since I had 11 years of teaching in Connecticut). But, lo and behold, I ended up staying 13+ years because of this amazing little community. I’ve been privileged to watch countless students grow, learn, and prosper. What’s a greater gift than that? I appreciate the memories we’ve made together, the challenges we’ve faced, and the successes we’ve celebrated. Hope Valley School will always hold a special place in my heart. But my journey isn’t over. I will have the current Hope Valley children as they head to CMS in no time.

I am looking forward to watching them grow into young adults.”

Scanapieco also sent a message to the families and staff of Ashaway School.

“I am excited about this new opportunity and look forward to continuing to support the Ashaway School community in the future,” he wrote. “I will miss working with the Ashaway students, staff, and families and the friendships made along the way. I am confident that the school will continue to thrive under new leadership and our dedicated, compassionate staff. I look forward to seeing our students' continued growth and achievements.”

In her announcement to the Chariho community, Picard said the changes would not take effect until the district hires a new principal at Ashaway Elementary.

“Rest assured, we are committed to making this transition smooth for everyone and will keep our current team in place until a new principal is found for Ashaway Elementary,” she stated.