For Immediate Release: Nyack Public Schools announces the appointment of the new Liberty Elementary School Principal.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nyack Public Schools Names New Principal of Liberty Elementary School
Nyack, New York - May 23, 2025 - Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi is pleased to announce the decision to appoint Ms. Lucia Pichardo as the new Principal of Liberty Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025. It is anticipated that Ms. Pichardo will be appointed formally to the position by the Board of Education at the June 3, 2025 meeting. She will step into the role after serving as Acting Principal at Liberty Elementary School since the beginning of the school year.
With nearly three decades of experience as a teacher and educational leader, Ms. Pichardo brings an array of expertise to the role of principal and has a long-standing record of innovation, equity, and student-centered achievement. She has been embraced with great enthusiasm at Liberty Elementary School since September 2024, where she has quickly established fundamental trust among the students, staff, and parents.
Ms. Pichardo has dedicated herself to serving a diversity of students across all ages and stages since beginning her work in the district twenty two years ago. She has been a teacher, department chairperson, building level administrator and central office administrator. In the standing role she has held since 2022 as Director of Bilingual Education and English as a New Language (ENL), she strengthened systems and relationships with families who represent the fastest growing demographic in our community. Prior to that, Ms. Pichardo was Assistant Principal of Nyack High School for seven years; Social Studies Chair for grades 6-12 for six years; and a tenured high school Social Studies teacher for seven.
Throughout her career in Nyack Public Schools, Ms. Pichardo has gained deep understanding across the school community, strengthening her reputation as a language and cultural bridge for students and families. She has worked extensively on curriculum development, equity initiatives, restorative justice practice, assisting students with a range of academic and behavioral needs. She is particularly passionate about leveraging social-emotional learning, family engagement, and inclusive practices to improve student outcomes. In her own words: “Creating a positive and inclusive school climate remains one of my highest priorities. I embrace collaborative leadership that fosters open communication to achieve success in all forms… I want to inspire others to embrace change that benefits every student in our care”
Ms. Pichardo holds master’s degrees in School Administration and Leadership from College of New Rochelle and in Instructional Technology from New York Institute of Technology. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas College for undergraduate studies where she received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a minor in Spanish Literature. Prior to her time in Nyack, she was a Social Studies teacher in the East Ramapo School District for seven years.
“We are thrilled to announce Lucy Pichardo as our new Principal for Liberty Elementary”, says Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi. “She is the perfect leader for this school now to build a culture of love that uplifts each student’s success. We cannot wait to see her RedHawk leadership soar!”
RedHawk Ready in 2024-25: We remember, refresh and reunify with the "why" we do what we do in Nyack Public Schools for each child to receive what they need to succeed. The Board of Education and administration stand committed to achieving the District’s racial equity goal of creating a District-wide and building-based climate and culture that demands and supports systemic equity and improved student achievement for every student, while narrowing the predictable gap in measurable outcomes. (Policy 0105)