It was a tearful exchange Tuesday night when School Committee Chair Janice Mele reached the first action item on her meeting agenda – the request to officially accept the resignation of Superintendent Margaret A. Iacovelli.

After 14 years in Johnston, seven spent in her current position, Iacovelli was understandably emotional, saying the decision was not an easy one to make.

“My professional career has been extremely fulfilling and one that’s difficult to leave,” she said.

A Smithfield resident, the 61-year-old Iacovelli has been an educator for close to 40 years but seemed more reluctant than relieved as her colleagues took turns saying their goodbyes. For a moment, it appeared as though they might not get the chance.

“I make a motion to deny,” joked committee member Robert LaFazia. “I’m going to ask that we table this until 2014.”

After an equally lighthearted admonition from Mele, LaFazia conceded that he believes Iacovelli deserves the break.

“I have to say, this is the second superintendent I’ve worked under and I’ve never known someone who was more dedicated to her profession and to moving this district forward,” he said. “She took hold of the ship and brought it straight forward.”

Addressing the superintendent personally, LaFazia choked up before he passed the floor.

“Peg, I have to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Next to him, member Lorraine Iafrate echoed those sentiments and noted that communication between the committee and the administration could not have been better.

“You made our job very easy by always keeping your office open,” she said.

And if Iacovelli isn’t in her office, she’s still got work on the brain.

“You’re there on the weekend, you’re there on holidays – you’re always there; 12, 14 hours a day,” said Mele.

Just recently, the chairwoman wanted to call Iacovelli at home to share some information in the early morning hours. After dialing a wrong number, she realized she had called the superintendent’s home in Florida where her husband Bob is living. Now officially retired for about a year, he was not happy when the same woman called again, disrupting his sleep. He scolded her before she could identify herself and apologize for the mishap. Mele and Iacovelli laughed at the mix-up, but the committee nodded silently when the chairwoman used the story as an example of their colleague’s accessibility.

“Being a new member a couple years back, I can remember getting late calls from parents. I’d bother the superintendent at home at 11 p.m. and sure enough, she’d answer the phone,” recalled John Conti, the vice chair. “That takes special dedication for a person to be around at any time, night or day.”

Known for her long hours, Iacovelli got into the habit early. When she first joined the Johnston School Department, the district was going into intervention status with the Rhode Island Department of Education and Johnston High School was on probation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Looking back on the climate then, Iacovelli said she could now retire knowing she’s accomplished what she set out to do.

“I’ve completed every goal,” she said, smiling through her tears. “Johnston is in a good place. It’s time to move on.”

Among her major accomplishments, Iacovelli is proud that JHS is now fully accredited, the district’s ratings have improved across the board, curriculum was revamped, content and rigor were addressed, and overall, she believes the students in Johnston are getting a great education.

“People don’t realize we have fantastic students,” she said. “They are enthusiastic, they are studious, they are respectful and very polite. It’s a wonderful community to work in.”

That attitude – and list of achievements – was a factor in 2007 when she was named “Rhode Island Superintendent of the Year.”

Committee member Joseph Rotella said it didn’t take him long to realize what the fuss was about.

“I can tell you as the newest member of the School Committee, I was thoroughly impressed by her leadership. She really does deserve to be happy,” he said.

Once the entire committee had spoken, the motion was accepted and the members and the audience rose for a standing ovation for Iacovelli.

Although the motion made it official, Iacovelli will remain on until Dec. 30 of this year and has agreed to act as an interim superintendent in the event the committee needs more time finding a replacement. Regardless, her days are numbered. After her retirement date, she can only work 90 days before a new superintendent is in place.

Once her successor is found, Iacovelli will get the chance to spend more time with her husband, who has been semi-retired for three or four years and has been anxious for her to move down to Florida so the pair can spend their days golfing. His support, however, has been crucial to her success.

“He’s been extremely patient with my requests of ‘one more year,’ ‘one more year,’” she said, adding with a laugh that he even learned to cook since she was often kept late working.

“That’s big for an Italian,” she said.

When not on the green, Iacovelli said she would like to travel, cook and relax, though she is unsure of how good she’ll be in that department.

“I’m not going to know what to do with my evenings because I’m used to doing paperwork,” she said.

That comes second to the relationships Iacovelli cultivated over her years in Johnston schools. Despite a publicly volatile relationship with the city’s previous administration, Iacovelli stuck it out on the school side and has created a positive working environment for those in administration and on the committee. Even during last year’s contract disputes, Iacovelli said her team put students first.

“I could still talk to the unions,” she explained after Tuesday’s meeting. “We kept open communication even in tough times.”

The meeting had run late, but Iacovelli was still fielding questions at quarter past 10. She won’t be the superintendent for much longer, but for now, it was just a typical day at the office.

“It’s been fun,” she said, pausing before adding, “and a challenge.”