Huntington’s New Science Director Settles In
David Casamento has only been in his new job for a relative short period of time, but the career educator who was hired last August as the Huntington School District’s director of science is already well on his way toward laying the groundwork for improvements in an already formidable program.
“Even though I have only been in Huntington for just over a month now, I feel like I've been here much longer,” Mr. Casamento said. “Everyone in Huntington has been very helpful and kind in helping me to adjust to my new setting. I am particularly thankful to the other curriculum directors, as their advice and institutional knowledge has been invaluable. I have already met so many colleagues and am particularly excited to be working with the dedicated professionals in the science department in both Finley [Middle School] and the high school.”
A resident of Huntington, Mr. Casamento earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Hofstra University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry in May 1989 and a Master of Arts in secondary education in August 1991. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in school district administration from SUNY Stony Brook.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Mr. Casamento taught Regents chemistry, honors chemistry, AP chemistry and AP biology at W. Tresper Clarke High School in Westbury from 1990 to 2005. He provided individualized tutoring, developed the AP biology and AP chemistry lab curriculums and advised Intel science competition semi-finalists.
In December 1994, Mr. Casamento completed an administrative internship at Clarke High School. He became director of science in the North Babylon School District in February 2005, a post he held until coming to Huntington.
“Starting this week, I will be attending all grade level meetings in the primary and intermediate buildings,” Mr. Casamento said. He has set an ambitious agenda for himself. On the primary grade level, he “will continue to work with the primary science committee to develop assessments and rubrics for student learning,” he said. “I will also be working to ensure that these teachers know what the fourth grade test looks like so that we can improve the scores of these students. At the intermediate level I will be learning the curriculum of the fifth and sixth grade classes and I will be working with the fourth grade teachers to improve our scores on the fourth grade test. At the middle school, we will be looking at how we can assist with Finley's goal of literacy across the curriculum, as well as improving the scores on the eighth grade exam.”
Mr. Casamento has engaged in a series of discussions with SEARCH Chairperson Maryann Daly about providing additional science programs for elementary school youngsters. “Often times, school districts get so focused on literacy and math, since they are tested grades 3-8, that a school community can forget about the importance of science and the impact it has on developing higher level intelligences in our students,” he said. “This has not been my observation in Huntington. When I came here, I said that I would like Huntington to be a science community. The directors before me started Huntington on this path and it is my hope that I can take Huntington even further toward this goal.”
He may be a full time administrator, but Mr. Casamento remains a teacher at heart. “I love teaching and respect the job that teachers do every day,” he said. “I can't help myself. If I enter a class and know the teacher is comfortable with my presence, I tend to just jump in and assist or start teaching - if permitted. I love working with kids and it's probably the part of this job I miss the most. But don't worry, I always try to find a way to get to know the kids, know their strengths, and mentor them whenever possible.”
At Huntington High School, Mr. Casamento has plans to establish a chapter of the National Science Honor Society. He will stay busy in many other areas, too. “I will be working with the science research teacher to improve this program, and we will be reviewing last year's June Regents results,” he said. “Even though most of our Regents results were excellent, we will be looking at everything from curriculum, to instruction, to assessment in order to improve these scores. The teachers in Huntington are professionals and I am certain that together, all of us will do what is necessary to help students succeed and achieve and make the goal of making Huntington a science community, a true reality.”
Science, which has traditionally been one of Huntington’s premier programs, seems poised to soar to new heights in coming years and Mr. Casamento hopes to help lead the way.
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