Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
Joseph A. Maisano
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
Email: joseph.maisano@plainedgeschools.org
Phone: (516) 992-7466
Hello,
My name is Joseph Maisano, and I am the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. I wanted to take the time to write this letter to introduce myself to our school community. For those of you that do not know me, I have been fortunate to spend the majority of my career as an educator here in Plainedge. In 2004, I was hired as a teacher at Sylvia Packard School and within weeks of beginning my career as a new teacher, I marched alongside hundreds of community members to our brand new Plainedge Middle School.
During my 10 years there, I spent much time as a coach, club advisor, and academic coordinator as well. In the Summer of 2014, I entered administration here as the Assistant Director of Special Education. In this role, I supported teachers, fellow administrators, and most importantly our students and their families from Kindergarten through 12th Grade within the complex world of Special Education. In 2016, I was promoted to the Director position, which I held until my recent appointment as your new Principal. In my time as a Special Education administrator, I had the privilege of working to support struggling learners with a focus on meeting the needs of the individual learner, and this was a truly rewarding experience. I believe that this skill set will serve me well in my new position because as a parent myself, I would want those tasked with supervising the education of my child to look at them as the individual that he or she is.
In addition to the responsibilities of my professional life, I am a proud husband and father of three young children, my oldest is entering the 1st grade. I look forward to experiencing the upcoming years as an elementary parent alongside all of you.
I have had the pleasure of working with the John H. West staff and many of their families over the past 5 years in my former department, and I look forward to working even closer with the entire community in this new capacity. I am honored to have been chosen as the successor to a wonderful principal who spent many years servicing the West community. As you know, the staff at John H. West is a group of extremely passionate and dedicated individuals who I am very excited and privileged to lead into the future. We will continue to work with our families, following the mission of the District, to support each and every student with innovating and rigorous academics and a comprehensive approach that considers the whole child. John H. West will continue to maintain high standards for all students while focusing on the social-emotional well-being of our students. Our goal is to work alongside our families to help mold young individuals into kind, compassionate, respectful, hard-working, and motivated, contributing members of society. I truly believe that the elementary years are the foundation for the future, so the responsibility that we have as elementary educators is an important one, and I assure you that we do not take that responsibility lightly. These years are the formative ones, so my goal as the building leader is to create a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for your children; one in which they feel cared for and inspired to be unique and to take risks.
I look forward to seeing you around our school, as well as the numerous events throughout the District. Plainedge has been my home away from home for the better portion of my adult life, so I look forward to continuing that wonderful relationship with a new streamlined focus and invigorating enthusiasm, as I become a member of your John H. West community.
With Sincerity and Elation,
Joseph A. Maisano
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🎓 We proudly celebrated the graduation of the Plainedge High School Class of 2026, honoring an exceptional group of students as they reached this remarkable milestone!
Valedictorian Leah Muldoon and Salutatorian Khloe Hong delivered inspiring speeches, encouraging their classmates to pursue their passions, remain true to themselves, and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead with confidence and determination.
Principal Lauren Iocco, Board of Education President Joseph Beyrouty, and Interim Superintendent of Schools Ms. Carol Muscarella offered heartfelt congratulations and shared words of encouragement as the graduates embarked on their next chapter.
As the Class of 2026 begins this exciting new journey, we are confident they will continue to make a positive impact wherever life takes them. No matter where their paths lead, they will always be part of the Plainedge family!
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
#Weareplainedge #plainedgepride #community #classof2026 #together #plainedge
🎓 Congratulations to the Plainedge Middle School Class of 2026! 🎓
Today, we celebrated an incredible milestone as our graduates officially moved up to Plainedge High School. National Junior Honor Society President Vincent Cusumano reflected this remarkable class while encouraging his classmates to embrace the exciting opportunities ahead!
A special thank you to our Middle School Drama Club for their outstanding performance of “Finale” from Frozen Jr., which made the ceremony even more memorable.
The Plainedge Board of Education, administration, faculty, and staff are proud of all that this class has achieved and look forward to seeing the great things they will accomplish in high school and beyond.
To the Class of 2026: Believe in yourselves, continue to work hard, and never stop reaching for your goals. Your future is bright! ✨
If you missed today`s ceremony, you can watch the recording at Plainedge TV Live Stream.
#WeArePlainedge #PlainedgePride #MiddleSchoolGraduation #ClassOf2026 🎓❤️🖤
🎓 Congratulations to the 5th-grade students of Eastplain, Charles E. Schwarting, and John H. West Elementary Schools on reaching this important milestone and moving up to 6th grade!
As you prepare to begin your journey at Plainedge Middle School, take pride in all you have accomplished, the friendships you have built, and the knowledge you have gained along the way. Your teachers, families, and the entire Plainedge community are incredibly proud of you and excited to see all that you will achieve in the years ahead!
Embrace this next chapter with confidence, curiosity, and determination! Your future is bright, and your possibilities are endless.
Well done, and congratulations! 🎉
#weareplainedge #plainedgepride #community #education #movingup
On behalf of the Board of Education and everyone in Central Administration, we wish you all a Happy Father’s Day!
Juneteenth - Schools will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026 and reopen Monday, June 22, 2026
#weareplainedge #plainedgepride
🎓✨ Our Pre-K students celebrated their Moving Up Ceremony with joyful songs, big smiles, and lots of excitement as they marked this special milestone on their journey to Kindergarten! We are so proud of all they have accomplished and can`t wait to welcome them to Kindergarten in the fall.
Families and community members can watch Plainedge Public Schools` Moving Up and Graduation ceremonies live at plainedgetv.com/live.
#WeArePlainedge #PlainedgePride #ClassOf2039 #MovingUpCeremony #PreKGraduation #FutureReady #PlainedgeSchools 🎓📚
🎶❤️ The Charles E. Schwarting Elementary School 5th Grade Choral Students visited their Bristal Buddies for a memorable morning filled with music, laughter, and celebration.
Our talented young performers delighted residents with their graduation song and a selection of contemporary favorites! Residents sang along and shared in the excitement!
#WeArePlainedge #PlainedgePride #BristalBuddies #CommunityConnections #MusicMatters #SchwartingElementary 🎵✨
Cheers, applause, and plenty of Plainedge Pride! Matty and Oscar took their final walk to the bus during a memorable clap-out celebration! Surrounded by the love and support of our school community, this clap-out celebration was a beautiful reminder of what makes Plainedge so special.
#WeArePlainedge #PlainedgePride #PlainedgeProud #BestBuddies #Community #Education #Family #SpecialEducation
🔔 One last bell.
📚 One last walk through the halls.
🎓 One unforgettable class.
Congratulations to the Plainedge High School Class of 2026! Your Plainedge family is cheering you on every step of the way!
#WeArePlainedge #PlainedgePride #ClassOf2026
Creating Our Beautiful World 🌎🎨
This week, our 9:1:3 students partnered with APE Peer Mentors and Best Buddies to bring a special mural project to life! Guided by artist Mr. Dinaro, students worked together to paint two vibrant panels celebrating the beauty, diversity, and wonder of our world.
The project showcased creativity, teamwork, inclusion, and friendship as students and staff collaborated to create a lasting piece of artwork that reflects the spirit of our school community.
#weareplainedge #plainedgepride #community #education #together #united #art #ourworld

