Iona University Alumni Share the Joy of School Leadership on National Principals Month

October 23, 2023

Alumni Success

October is National Principals Month and Iona University has a proud tradition of training the next generation of school leaders. Speaking with Iona University alumni in these key roles, it turns out managing a school is not the buttoned-up career choice some might assume it to be. Rather, these principals describe their jobs as exciting, fun and extremely rewarding. 

“A day in the life at Saint Barnabas Elementary School is busy, exciting and full of laughter and learning!” said Lauren Iorio, ’16MST the principal at St. Barnabas Elementary School in the Bronx. “I love that my role allows me to participate in so many facets of learning – from watching my youngest students learn how to communicate and play with one another, to seeing my eighth graders tackle a Regents algebra problem.”

Iona offers future educational leaders a spectrum of education programs with undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on early childhood education, adolescent education and more. Career changers seeking their first degree in teaching can also opt for a master’s degree in teaching (MST), which is specifically designed for professionals who already have a bachelor's degree in another field.

For those eager to take their passion for school leadership to the next level, Iona offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership (MSEd) degree. The program prepares graduates to pursue New York State’s initial certificate in school leadership and to become eligible for the School Building Leader Exam.

Explore Iona’s Education Department online or contact education@iona.edu or (914) 633-2210 to learn more today!

DYNAMIC, PURPOSE-DRIVEN CAREER

Schools are dynamic environments where new challenges emerge every day. Iona prepares school principals by emphasizing the importance of working as a team.

Iona also meets rising educators where they are in their career journeys.

“After teaching high school math for a year and a half at LaSalle Academy, I was able to return to the classroom as a student again and learn a mix of higher-level mathematics and pedagogical techniques,” said Andy Cavacos, ’93MSEd, principal of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia. "The experience at Iona pushed me to become open to growth and eager to step up as a lifelong learner.”

Education constantly evolves. As such, Iona’s fieldwork-driven programs offer opportunities to work in school communities early and often, equipping students with the latest and most relevant experiences as they approach their first teaching or leadership positions.

Above all, Iona’s education programs allow students to follow a calling.

“With the educational field ever changing, make sure you always follow your passion and interests,” said Michael A. Carpentieri, ’10MST, ’13MSEd, principal at George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School in Glen Spey, N.Y. “If you are interested in entering the educational field know there are so many outlets for you to find beyond just the classroom. School districts are constantly looking for data and technology experts, social workers, psychologists, counselors and of course teachers as well as students who can understand equity, diversity and inclusion.”

ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.