Ms. Nancy Gunning

Phone: 516-441-4500

Email: ngunning@greatneck.k12.ny.us

Nancy Gunning has served as one of NMS’s two assistant principals since September of 2014. However, she has been part of the NMS family since September of 1996 first as an English teacher, and, then, as an English teacher and Dean of Students. Dispersed throughout these years, Ms. Gunning has also served as a track coach and newspaper advisor.

The one thing that Ms. Gunning enjoys the most about middle-school students is their ability to always keep the adults in their life on their toes! She reports that nothing about her job is ever boring, and that every single day, her students bring a sense of wonder, newness, excitement, and humor to her day.

Whether as an English teacher, a track coach, a Dean of Students, or now as an Assistant Principal, Ms. Gunning feels she thrives in helping her students, their parents, and her staff solve problems. Her goal is to always empower middle schoolers to think for themselves and to take healthy risks so that they can learn not only from their successes, but how to get up after a failure.

Ms. Gunning reports that North Middle School is her second family, and, therefore, coming to work is like coming home.

Mr. Brendan Nelson

Phone: 516-441-4500

Email: bnelson@greatneck.k12.ny.us

Following the announcement of Ms. Andersen’s administrative transition from North Middle to Community Ed, a selection committee was immediately convened to fill the Assistant Principal vacancy at North Middle. On Aug. 17, the Board appointed the committee’s selection, Brendan Nelson.

Mr. Nelson comes to Great Neck from the North Shore Central School District, where he has served as the middle school assistant principal since 2018. However, members of the GNPS community may recognize Mr. Nelson from his three years as a school counselor at North Middle School from 2015–18.

“I am so excited to be coming back home to North Middle. I’m grateful to Dr. Bossert, Dr. Lando, and our Board of Education for putting their faith in me to bring my years of experience back to the north side of town,” says Mr. Nelson. “I look forward to working hard alongside Dr. Cozine, Mrs. Gunning, and all of our truly wonderful staff to provide a great student experience for all of our students.”

Mr. Nelson’s career in education spans 21 years as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. He started as a high school social studies teacher in the Sewanhaka (2002–03) and Rye Neck (2005–07) school districts before becoming a school counselor. He served as a middle school counselor for 11 years — including eight years in the Rye Neck school district and three years at Great Neck North Middle School — before becoming a middle school assistant principal.

 Mr. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Manhattan College, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. He holds New York State Certifications for School Building Leader, School Counselor, and Secondary Social Studies Education.