As we near our midpoint in the school year, filled with long nights of studying and midterms, it feels as if just yesterday, I was sitting in the auditorium of the school on a Thursday summer afternoon, listening to Mrs. Theony introduce our new assistant vice principal, Mr. Lemoncelli, to the members of the Transition Team. It had not even been a month into summer vacation, and his excitement to be involved in the upcoming school year was apparent.
Throughout the summer, I spent much of my time in the school, completing various projects for several clubs, and nearly every time I was there, Mr. Lemoncelli would greet me with a “Hi, Tori, how are you doing today?” which was then followed by a simple, “If you ever need anything, my door’s always open!” It was this welcoming and genuine attitude that made me look forward to coming to the school during the summer and throughout the school year, knowing that I was sure to be exposed to positive energy and a welcoming smile.
This past week, I took the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Lemoncelli and talk with him regarding his life prior to Abington and now.
As a former faculty member of Pocono Mountain School District and Bishop Hafey, Mr. Lemoncelli’s passion for teaching and working with others has always been evident in his work.
“I originally wanted to be a cardiologist, but science and math were never really my thing,” he laughs. Instead, he chose to focus moreso on social studies and history, which was influenced greatly by his teachers throughout high school and college.
After twenty years at Pocono Mountain, Mr. Lemoncelli felt a desire for change and took the opportunity to apply for the position at Abington.
“The interview process was rigorous, and I remember walking out that day and thinking, ‘Man, I hope I get this job,’” he recalls. “I was so impressed with Abington’s student body and strong community.”
When I asked him about his transition into the school district, he had one adjective to describe it: “flawless.”
“I had a lot of questions, but I also had a lot of people who helped me,” he says. Through his summer involvement in the Transition Team and the assistance of his fellow faculty members, he immediately felt welcome into the Abington Heights community.
Since starting at Abington, Mr. Lemoncelli has adjusted quite well. His role as an influential instructional leader remains the same since his move, yet Mr. Lemoncelli notes that there is something different about Abington Heights that makes it so special to him.
“Every school has its issues, but there are also a lot of really great things going on here,” he notes.
When asked if he has any advice for seniors as their final year of high school slowly draws to a close, he answered with a simple message: “Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way.”
We concluded our time together by conversing about his inspirations, hobbies, as well as his love for Star Wars and the New York Yankees. Though our conversation was rather brief, I found that there was more to Mr. Lemoncelli than his job as an administrative leader: a caring, enthusiastic individual whose passion lies in helping and watching others succeed.
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