Mesa Verde assistant principal moving to Italy
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers RRIVEDERCI- Scott Mastroianni, assistant vice principal at Mesa Verde Middle School, is moving verseas for two years to work in a private school. His great sense of humor and ability to connect with students will be missed at Mesa Verde, said Principal Kelli Hays.

Scott Mastroianni, a popular assistant principal at Mesa Verde Middle School, is leaving his post in Moorpark for a two-year assignment abroad.

The Italian-American will feel right at home in the southern Italian town of Brindisi, where he will work as director for a small nonprofit international school.

Quality Schools International has campuses throughout the world catering to Englishspeaking students and locals who seek an alternate educational setting.

"Going to Italy was always a dream for Mastroianni, but his bright, uplifting personality will be missed," said Kelli Hays, principal at Mesa Verde.

Mastroianni has a great sense of humor, and he brings much joy and laughter to all the people who are around him.

"He kept the office laughing, especially with his singing- or attempts to- of Italian songs," said Hays.

Mastroianni is enthusiastic and loves the kids, Hays said. He shares in the belief that all children can learn and that educators must to do whatever it takes to ensure that students are successful in and out of the classroom.

Even when disciplining the students he tried to turn potentially negative experiences into positive, learning ones for each and every student, Hays said.

Mastroianni has been with the Moorpark Unified School District for four years.

He has been able to connect with students because he strives to understand their interests, he said.

He started as a math, history and computer science teacher at Moorpark High, where he also was an assistant baseball coach.

"Moorpark is a great district with good people and a little bit of everything," said Mastroianni, who also taught in the Conejo Valley from 1997 to 2000. His wife, Daisy, was an English teacher at Oak Park High.

The couple were invited to teach at an international school in Thailand for two years in 2000. They took their first daughter along for the ride, and Daisy gave birth to their second child while they were there. The experience taught the family much about tolerance and cultural acceptance, Mastroianni said.

So when he came to Moorpark in 2003, Mastroianni worked hard to help new students feel comfortable and connected, he said.

Now Mastroianni is heading to Italy with four children, including Jennifer, 8, Grace, 6, Sofia, 4, and Domenic, who is 9 months old.

In addition to being the director of the school, Mastroianni will teach high school math. Daisy will teach English and social studies, and she may become the school librarian.

"It is really a 'win-win-win' for me, because I get to be an administrator, teacher, have all of my kids attend the same school," said Mastroianni.

The prolonged stay will also compel the family to assimilate into the local culture, and they'll be able to explore a part of the world as a family. "That will enrich all of our lives," Mastroianni said.

The Moorpark Acorn will introduce incoming assistant principal Beth Acosta later this summer.