John Amato Keeps Finley Humming
When John Amato took over as principal of J. Taylor Finley Middle School in July 2006, he sat down behind the same desk that retiring principal Craig Springer had used for the previous two decades. It’s never easy to step into the shoes of such a long serving veteran, but the newcomer was quickly made to feel right at home.
Finley’s veterans helped their new leader get off to a successful start during those early months at the helm. The school has always featured a tight knit faculty and members of the group weren’t shy about sharing their opinions with Mr. Amato and helping him understand why certain policies and procedures were in place.
Mr. Amato came to Finley after serving as assistant principal at Sayville Middle School for six years. He previously 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. He earned his administrative certification through The College of New Rochelle in 1999.
Since the time of his appointment, Mr. Amato has gained the respect of the entire Finley school community. He’s known to be personable, friendly and often quite funny. His love for the school is evident during a conversation and his commitment to student success is unwavering.
“I have a few notions which guide my leadership,” Mr. Amato said. “Treat people -students, parents and staff - honestly and fairly, have high expectations for myself, teachers and students and get to know as many students by name as possible. That’s a start.”
Mr. Amato is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education. 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.
Finley turns 55 years old this year, but walking through its halls, visiting its classrooms and talking to its students and teachers, one gets the feeling that the school’s best days are still to come. It’s still full of life, still filled with energy. That’s just the way Mr. Amato likes it.
“My four years at Finley have been very rewarding,” Mr. Amato said. “Being a principal is difficult in any school. There are good days and bad days. The good days have to outnumber the bad days. At Finley that is definitely the case.”
There’s always a little bit of a buzz around the school, whether it be a pep rally in the making, an assembly program, an evening dance, a contest of some sort, a community service activity or a big athletic game. Students seem happy when they come through the doors in the morning and the faculty and support staff is remarkably loyal to the educational program and helping students excel.
Mr. Amato and Finley Assistant Principal Ken Parham work as a team and are a constant presence around the school from the moment the pair steps into the building in the morning. “I really enjoy the staff and the students work hard and keep me laughing,” Mr. Amato said.
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