At a special board meeting Wednesday evening, July 13, the Boardman Local School Board unanimously approved hiring Mike Zoccali, 38, as the new principal at Stadium Drive Elementary School. Zoccali comes to Boardman with more than 15 years of experience as a teacher and administrator.
      Zoccali graduated from Youngstown State University in 2000 and received his masters in administration from Westminster College. He began his career in education as a long term substitute at Glenwood Middle School. He was then hired by the Austintown Local Schools, where he worked as a teacher from 2001-2013.
      During the last three years, Zoccali has served as an assistant principal at Austintown Middle and Austintown Intermediate Schools.
      He and his wife Ally have two children, Anthony (10) and Michael (8).
      “ I am excited about the opportunity to finish my career where it all began back in 2000 and help build upon the ‘Tradition of Excellence’ that is the Boardman Local Schools,” said Zoccali.
      Zoccali said his father inspired him to become a teacher.
      “Growing up I saw the impact my father had on many of his students,” he said. “I saw how much he enjoyed his profession and thought it was something I would like to get into.”
      Zoccali’s will receive an annual salary of $74,190. He replaces Jim Goske, who abruptly resigned last month, shortly after receiving a one-year contract extension from the Boardman School Board. Goske moved to an administrative post with Campbell City Schools.