From Principal to Crisis Counselor: An Interview with Rocco

By Jackie Luciani

For many people, retirement marks the end of one chapter. For Rocco, it became the beginning of another rooted in service, empathy, and helping others through life’s most difficult moments. After years spent guiding students, families, and staff as a high school principal, Rocco found himself drawn toward volunteer crisis counseling at Long Island Crisis Center (LICC). What began as a new opportunity after education quickly became a meaningful continuation of the work he had already dedicated his life to: listening, supporting, and helping people navigate challenges.

In this interview, Rocco reflects on his journey from school leadership to crisis support, the lessons that connect both roles, and why he believes simply listening can change someone’s life.

A Career Built Around Helping Others

Rocco’s path into education began with a desire to guide young people and make a difference in their lives. After teaching physics and math, he eventually became principal at Riverhead High School, a role he describes as both rewarding and challenging because of the diverse needs of the student population.

Even in leadership, his focus remained centered on people.

“I wanted to help and direct young people in their lives,” he shared.

That same motivation followed him into retirement.

After seeing an advertisement for volunteer opportunities at Long Island Crisis Center, Rocco completed the necessary training and began volunteering on the hotline. What initially seemed like a new experience soon felt familiar in an unexpected way.

“It was a natural flow,” he explained. “The same criteria in helping people one on one through crisis counseling.”

When the Work Became Personal

During training, one particular experience stayed with him.

Rocco recalls working with a person who was experiencing suicidal thoughts, a moment he says affected him greatly and reinforced the importance of crisis support.

That experience helped solidify his commitment to volunteering and reminded him how critical compassionate listening can be during moments of emotional pain.

The Skills That Carry Over

Although education and crisis counseling may appear different on the surface, Rocco sees strong similarities between the two.

His years in schools taught him empathy, patience, communication, and how to recognize the needs of others. As a principal, he often supported students, staff, and families through stressful and emotionally difficult situations. Those experiences naturally prepared him for hotline work. “It just reinforced my abilities to hear the needs of people,” he said. Today, he skills he uses most often as a crisis counselor are the same ones that defined his leadership style throughout his career: strong communication, patience, and the ability to help people make thoughtful decisions during difficult times.

The Power of Listening

When asked why listening is such a powerful form of support, Rocco emphasized that listening creates opportunities for growth and understanding.

“Listening promotes learning from challenging situations to improve or grow,” he explained. For callers reaching out during moments of crisis, being heard without judgment can make a profound difference. Rocco believes many people misunderstand crisis support, assuming counselors are there to “fix” someone’s problems, when in reality, much of the work involves helping people feel supported, understood, and capable of coping.

Lessons in Resilience

Volunteering has also taught Rocco important lessons about resilience.

“To be stronger, to bounce back from difficult experiences and mentally grow stronger,” he said. He believes asking for help is not a weakness but instead a pathway toward personal growth, adaptability, social connection, and a healthier mindset. For anyone hesitant about reaching out to a crisis hotline, Rocco hopes they understand that support can help improve emotional flexibility and make life’s challenges feel more manageable.

A Continued Commitment to Service

Looking back on both careers, Rocco sees one clear connection between being a principal and being a crisis counselor: helping people work through behaviors, thoughts, and actions in order to move forward. The work, while different in setting, has always centered around supporting others. When asked what this volunteer role has given back to him personally, his answer was simple: “Satisfaction.”

For Rocco, the ability to continue helping others after retirement has provided purpose and meaning. And for those considering volunteering themselves, especially retired educators and professionals, he offers straightforward advice:

“Volunteer with organizations like LICC.”

Because sometimes the greatest impact comes not from grand gestures, but from simply being there for someone when they need it most.