New principals appointed at GCS elementary and high schools

GREENVILLE―The Greenville Central School District Board of Education appointed two new principals at its meeting on Monday, July 13.

Effective August 12, 2026, Rachel Harvey will serve as principal of Scott M. Ellis Elementary School, and Marcus Puccioni will serve as principal of Greenville High School.

Superintendent Rachel Anderson noted that candidates were interviewed by a variety of stakeholders, highlighting the value of multiple perspectives in the hiring process.

“We had a number of highly qualified applicants but ultimately decided that Ms. Harvey and Mr. Puccioni would be the best fit to meet the needs of our students,” Anderson said.

Harvey is an experienced leader in elementary education. Since 2022, she has served as Cairo-Durham’s elementary assistant principal, overseeing school operations, student discipline, staff supervision, and instructional programming. She also implemented and supported school-wide behavior management systems to promote a positive and safe learning environment.

Prior to her administrative role, Harvey taught UPK and preschool, and spent five years as a classroom teacher in kindergarten third, and fifth grades at Cairo-Durham Central School District.

Her first priority, Harvey shared, will be getting to know the students, staff, families, and community.

“I also want to support the great work already happening in the building while fostering a positive school culture where every child feels supported, every family feels welcomed, and every staff member feels valued,” Harvey said.

“Its people are its greatest strength,” she added. “The dedication of the staff, the support of families, and the strong sense of community create an environment where students can thrive. I'm excited to build on that strong foundation alongside the entire school community.”

When asked about Harvey’s strengths, Anderson said, “Rachel Harvey comes to us highly recommended. She is very well regarded in her previous district, and she’s going to be a great fit for Ellis. She’s personable, she understands the priorities of education in an elementary setting, and she prides herself on her community and parent engagement.”

Harvey holds a Master of Education in early childhood administration from National Louis University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Leadership from SUNY New Paltz. She currently resides in Catskill.

Puccioni has over 24 years of experience in education, beginning as a math and science teacher and later serving as a special education and English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. For the past 17 years, he has led schools at the elementary middle and high school levels.

Puccioni is currently the principal at Shaker High School, overseeing more than 2,000 students and 250 faculty and staff. At Shaker, he managed the transition to block scheduling and revised the Multi-Tiered System of Supports process. He also emphasized school climate and culture by refining processes and systems that support behavioral and academic outcomes.

Throughout his career, Puccioni has focused on improving education by advancing high-quality programs, enhancing classroom instruction, and promoting collaboration among all stakeholders.

“I truly feel as if my time in education, and over the past seventeen years as a school leader, has been devoted to helping ensure that everyone learns, teaches, and belongs,” he said. “I am excited to be part of a collaborative environment and team where I can make strong relationships with all stakeholders and help support students along their chosen path.”

“I want to learn from everyone who is a part of the school community,” Puccioni  added.

Anderson noted that Puccioni’s experience in K-12 education distinguished him from other candidates.

“Marcus Puccioni is a calm and reassuring presence. He understands that there’s work to be done and isn’t afraid to hit the ground running. His experience in educational leadership is nothing short of impressive, and we look forward to welcoming him into our small, tight-knit, and collaborative team,” she said.

Puccioni holds a Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology, a K-12 Administrative Certificate from Eastern Michigan University College of Education, a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Leadership from SUNY New Paltz, and New York State Professional School Building Leader and School District Leader credentials. He currently resides in Knox.

These appointments are the final pieces of the instructional team puzzle, Anderson shared.

“I’m really excited that we’re able to get our building leaders onboarded and in place in August so we can complete our instructional team before the school year begins. They each have unique qualities and positive attributes that they will bring to our team, and I’m excited to get started collaborating with them,” Anderson said.