Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — Three weeks ago the Nayatt School community welcomed Joseph A. Militello, the second interim principal at the elementary school this academic year. Mr. Militello replaced John Gray who acted as interim principal for the first semester.

In 2009, Mr. Militello retired after 28 years as Principal of Archie R. Cole Middle School in East Greenwich.

He came to Barrington at the request of Mr. Gray, an colleague and friend.

“John and I have known each other for many years and we both were interim principals at East Greenwich High School. He was very helpful preparing me for this position,” Mr. Militello said.

Walking into Nayatt School has been a pleasure, he said, with the entire staff, faculty, students and parents welcoming him with open arms. It is his first experience working with elementary school aged children.

“I told my wife I made the wrong decision 40 years ago (not working with elementary school aged children). The kids are great at this age,” he said.

A doting grandfather to three — Jaden, 10, Dylan, 4, and Fiona, 2 — Mr. Militello said students at this age and very engaging, polite and eager to learn. He tries to visit as many classrooms as possible in a given day but sees the majority of the students in his office. Not that they are sent there for disciplinary matters, rather, they have to pass through his office to get to the nurse’s office.

“Sometimes they line up on the bench over there and wait,” he said, motioning to a bench opposite his desk.

He and his wife Donna, a school teacher in East Greenwich, attended last weekend’s school production of Peter Pan.

“We were very impressed by the students and adults that put the play on. It was wonderful to see how professional and together everything was. The kids were exceptional,” he said.

Mr. Militello and his wife live in Narragansett, about 5 minutes from the beach and spend time there in the summer months. His commute to Barrington takes about 40 minutes, but he doesn’t mind.

“I’m an early riser and I try to leave before the traffic gets too bad,” he said.

When he is not working, he likes to cook, although he would not call himself a gourmet.

“Wednesday night is my night to cook. I like to make salmon or a vegetarian pizza. My wife likes what I make, that’s important,” he said.

Mr. Militello likes to ski and has been an advisor of the ski club at his former middle school for the past 20 years. He chaperoned a trip of students to Sunday River in Maine recently.

Over February vacation, he is taking his wife, daughter and 10-year old grandson on a cruise.

“I will be eating salads this week because I know I wouldn’t be eating them on the cruise,” he said.

At the February meeting of the PTO, a reception was held in his honor where he was introduced and greeted by parents.