NEW SCOTLAND — Altamont family man Jeffrey Vivenzio is the new Voorheesville Elementary School principal. He will meet with community members at a special event next Thursday evening.

Vivenzio, 39, will begin officially on Sept. 1, but he is holding a “Meet the Principal” event to get to know the families in his new school, he told The Enterprise.

He replaces Thomas Reardon who left, after six years, to become the superintendent for Wynantskill Union Free School District.

Voorheesville has seen turnover in its administration since June, with a new superintendent, a new director of pupil personnel services, a new assistant superintendent for finance and operations, and a new middle school principal in addition to Vivenzio. Three of the five changes are due to retirements, and one is from an internal promotion.

Vivenzio was an elementary principal in Johnstown for six years, and an elementary school teacher in Albany for five years before that.

“I grew up in Altamont, and I’ve lived in Guilderland my whole life,” Vivenzio said. “I’ve always been looking for the opportunity to work [nearby], doing what I love to do — and that’s being a principal.”

His commute to Johnstown was long, and Vivenzio is happy to be closer to home, he said.

He and his wife, Maria, are building a home near Tawasentha Park, he said. They have four children between the ages of 1 and 9. His wife cares for their children and also provides daycare to other children, he said.

Vivenzio said that he does not feel any rivalry with Voorheesville, having grown up in Guilderland.

“A lot of kids played on teams,” he said, referring to youth leagues made of students from both schools.

“Guilderland is a much bigger conference than Voorheesville,” he said about school sports.

Vivenzio earned his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Wesleyan College, his master’s degree from University at Albany, and his administrative certification from The College of Saint Rose.

He worked for a year as a sixth-grade teacher in Albany, then taught fourth grade at a charter school in Albany for five years, during which time he also served as a reading coordinator, he said. He later worked as a Reading First coordinator for the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

Vivenzio then spent five years as a principal in Johnstown before being tapped to fill the position in Voorheesville.

He is certified to teach birth to age 2, and first grade through sixth grade, and he holds a literacy teaching certificate for ages birth to sixth grade, he said. He holds administrator certification for any level, and has certification to be a superintendent, also.

Asked if he would like to be a superintendent eventually, he said, “Maybe one day, absolutely.”

“I’m a family person, first and foremost,” Vivenzio said. “I love athletics. I love being outdoors.”

Vivenzio coached his daughter’s softball team, he said. He welcomes the use of the elementary facilities by outside groups.

He said that the repair work on the playground, which is now closed, should be completed before school begins.

“It’s necessary to ensure the playground will continue to be safe,” he said.

Vivenzio said that he wants to understand the school’s current programs, rather than add a program immediately.

“The programs now are very successful. I look forward to seeing them in action,” he said. “I want to build relationships with the teachers and parents, and go from there.”

“Voorheesville is an amazing community,” he said. “It has a great reputation for being a school of excellence. I’m excited to be joining them.”