Why I work for UCPS: Ernest Marcello, human capital coordinator

Ernest Marcello has taken a few unexpected turns in his career.

He started as an English teacher in Los Angeles, moved into school administration and eventually became a principal. Today, he works in Human Resources at Union County Public Schools, supporting elementary principals, aspiring administrators and employees across the district.

And somewhere along the way, he also became a chef.

A career built through different perspectives

In 2014, Marcello decided to give UCPS a try, beginning his career with the district as an assistant principal at Cuthbertson Middle School.

“I thought, you know what? Why not give it a shot?” he said.

At Cuthbertson, he worked with multiple grade levels and took on a variety of responsibilities. He later moved to Sun Valley High School, gaining experience at the high school level and broadening his perspective on school leadership.

That experience eventually led Marcello to Waxhaw Elementary School, where becoming principal marked an important milestone in his career. His mother had encouraged him to pursue a degree in educational administration, and earning it helped prepare him to lead a school.

“I had worked really hard to get to that point,” he said.

As he stepped into the role, Marcello wanted to get to know the people who would become his school community. He offered one-on-one meetings with staff over the summer and found ways to connect with families and students, including hosting “Popsicles with the Principal.”

“That whole experience, that first year, it was amazing,” he said.

Helping others move forward

Today, Marcello serves as a human capital coordinator for elementary schools in the Human Resources department.

He supports 15 elementary principals with staffing and professional development. He also works with the district’s assistant principal pool, helping candidates prepare for leadership roles while supporting schools as they hire and welcome new employees.

One of the parts of his job he enjoys most is New to U, which welcomes employees throughout the school year.

Whether someone joins UCPS in August or later in the year, Marcello wants their first experiences with the district to feel personal.

“I really love getting to know new employees and where they’re coming from, their experiences, and then just letting them know the great things that our district has to offer,” he said.

He also enjoys working with aspiring administrators and helping them understand what it takes to become strong leaders.

For Marcello, those conversations are an opportunity to share what he has learned while helping others see what might be possible in their own careers.

Learning to listen

Marcello’s years in school leadership changed how he works with others.

“I think this district really taught me how important it is to listen and maybe move slow at first, but really be able to listen, get everybody’s point of view, and then hopefully help people come up with solutions rather than me coming up with that solution,” he said.

“I feel like they’re more partnerships,” he said. “If I’m going to be able to get something, I want to be able to provide something in return.”

Throughout his career, Marcello has learned from supervisors, coworkers and school leaders, taking something from each relationship and building on it.

A culture of opportunity

Marcello’s belief in the value of education has shaped the way he thinks about his work.

“I always knew that education was important because it provided opportunities,” Marcello said. “I wanted to be able to provide those opportunities to others.”

That perspective is part of what he appreciates about UCPS. He points to opportunities available to both employees and students, including Next Stop:TeachUCPS, as well as programs that help students explore careers in education and other fields.

“If you want to grow, I feel like it’s there for you. You just have to take advantage of it,” he said.

Looking ahead, Marcello is excited about how UCPS continues to expand opportunities for students through academies focused on sustainability, AgTech and health sciences. He sees those pathways as ways for students to explore their interests and begin thinking about their futures early.

Why he stays

After more than a decade with UCPS, Marcello said the people he has met along the way are a big part of why he has stayed.

“The level of support and collaboration, I think, is beyond reproach,” he said.

He has watched colleagues move into new roles and take on new challenges, creating connections that have lasted throughout his career. He has also come to appreciate that every school has its own identity.

“I feel like every school has its own story,” he said. “It has its own kind of quirks and personality.”

Those relationships have made UCPS feel like more than just a workplace.

“I feel like I’m part of the family, and I feel like the district is part of my family,” he said.

What the kitchen taught him

Marcello’s path to education includes an unexpected detour.

At one point, he stepped away from teaching to pursue another passion: cooking. He attended Le Cordon Bleu and worked as a chef in California and abroad.

The demanding hours eventually brought him back to education. He missed spending time with his family, but he also realized how much he missed working with students and being part of a school community.

Cooking also taught him lessons he still carries with him.

“Perseverance. I think also definitely listening,” he said. “The ability to problem-solve quickly. But also, I think collaboration.”

Marcello still enjoys cooking, especially meals that give him time to slow down. Braised short ribs and mole are among his favorites, and he enjoys spending an hour or more preparing a Sunday meal.

For him, cooking is creative, relaxing and, sometimes, a lesson in figuring things out as he goes.

“You might have an idea and then you do something that’s not quite right. But you can fix it. There are always ways to make something work,” he said.