Giant Poster Murals to Grace Finley Gym
John Amato’s mind is always at work. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School principal is on top of even the smallest detail in his building and he goes to any length to ensure an enjoyable experience for the 660 seventh and eighth graders enrolled there. His efforts have sometimes been known to go in unexpected directions.
“This summer I bought five giant sized posters for the high walls of the gym,” Mr. Amato explained. “Each poster is four feet-by-five feet and depicts an athlete performing his or her sport. The captions are short statements regarding goals and motivation as part of our character education work with students.”
Mr. Amato took over the Finley principal’s position in July 2006 after serving as assistant principal at Sayville Middle School for six years. He earlier worked as a seventh and eighth grade special education teacher in the Sachem school district, where he began his administrative career as a remedial summer school assistant principal.
A 1986 graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue with a Bachelor of Arts degree in human relations and a concentration in leadership and human resources development and management, Mr. Amato obtained a Master of Science degree in special education at Adelphi University in 1989.
Mr. Amato earned his administrative certification through The College of New Rochelle in 1999. He serves on the executive board of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials and is one of the most highly regarded basketball referees in the state.
An energetic and imaginative leader who sets high goals for himself, Mr. Amato said he seeks nothing short of excellence for each Finley student and he is striving to build upon the notable tradition of the school, which is now in its fifth decade.
“The gym at Finley, while clean and fitting for a middle school, needed something more appealing for our students and spectators,” the principal said. “Each one of the posters will be placed above the highest level of bleachers and they are big enough to be seen clearly from the floor. They will be put up by the first day of school.”
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