Paul Francioni is always in motion. As Director of Facilities, Francioni spends his days covering ground across Shady Side Academy’s entire footprint, maneuvering between spaces from the facilities warehouse near the Gene Deal Fields to the Upper School Campus’ Mellon Gates, and from Country Day School on Riding Meadow Road across the Highland Park Bridge to the Junior School. “I do not run my jobs from my office,” he says. “Wherever my work is, I am there.”

Francioni’s responsibilities reflect the impressive scope of Shady Side’s physical plant, and the constant coordination required to keep it moving forward. “I oversee grounds, maintenance, custodial cleaning, transportation, construction, service contracts, emergencies such as broken water lines or power outages, and budgeting for future renovations,” Francioni explains. For 19 years, his work has helped shape the physical environment that supports the Academy’s daily life and long-term growth.

Francioni arrived at Shady Side in 2007 with a career built in construction, entrepreneurship, and facilities management. His early work took him into a wide range of environments, each one adding to the practical knowledge he relies on today. 

“I came out of the construction field,” he says.

 “I worked for a masonry contractor and did a lot of building renovations, such as turning old schools into nursing homes and apartment buildings. I did bridge and railroad work. I used to go down into mine shafts. I did some work on the Kinzua Dam up in Warren, Pennsylvania.” That experience continues to shape how he evaluates projects, manages timelines, and anticipates challenges.

Over time, Francioni has become a defining presence at the Academy, not only through the projects he leads but in the way he leads. His approach reflects the Academy’s guiding principles: responsibility, respect, safety, honesty, and kindness. That impact was recognized in a memorable way at the Rockwell Middle School ribbon cutting, where a cake modeled after the building featured a Francioni figurine standing out front.

This is a great place to work,” he says. “People are really connected to each other. It is like a small family here.

Francioni’s first project at Shady Side set the tone for what would follow. In the summer of 2007, McKelvy Field morphed into an artificial turf stadium with new lighting, marking a visible shift in the athletics experience. “That was such a mud pit down there,” he says. “When the stadium became more useful, it changed the whole experience for our athletes. It was transformational.” Since then, projects have continued at a steady and often demanding pace. “We are always trying to cram six months of renovations into two and a half months,” he says. “Always.”

That momentum requires more than planning; it requires presence. That’s why Francioni opts to get out of his office and into the field. He travels around in his black SUV, visiting sites and working directly with his employees to keep priorities and progress aligned. “I have a great team,” he says. “We have the absolute best people. I mean, we can do anything here.” 

Francioni champions his staff, speaking about them with directness and pride. “These people will walk through fire for me,” he says, “but I would be right there next to them, and I am.” 

The work they do together supports more than buildings and grounds. It sustains a community. Francioni sees that connection clearly in the culture of the Academy. “This is a great place to work,” he says. “People are really connected to each other. It is like a small family here.” That sense of belonging aligns closely with his own background and values.

Francioni traces much of his perspective back to his upbringing on a family farm, where expectations were simple and consistent. “Work, then you eat,” he says. “My Italian family always had a strong work ethic.” That foundation continues to shape both his leadership and his daily habits. It is visible in how he shows up, how he works, and how he supports others.

Outside of Shady Side, that same energy carries into his personal life. He restores and races cars, spends time outdoors, and prioritizes weekends with his granddaughters. “I really enjoy that time,” he says. “That is the greatest feeling ever.” 

For Francioni, progress is tangible. It is built, maintained, repaired, and improved through consistent effort and shared commitment. It appears in the spaces students move through each day and in the systems that support their experience. More often than not, it begins early in the morning, with Francioni already on campus and in motion.