While in high school, David Casamento said, he thought about becoming a doctor but his high school chemistry and biology teachers in Norwich , N.Y. and a stint as a tutor help change his mind.
In his junior year, Casamento said, he decided instead to become a teacher.
Now Casamento is 46 and the recent recipient of tenure as director of science and technology after three years in the East Williston School District.
“I knew I liked helping people learn. I knew I really liked chemistry,” Casamento said. “It was challenging for some people. It wasn’t as challenging for me.”
After earning his bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from Hofstra University in 1989, Casamento began teaching AP chemistry and biology at W. Trespar Clarke High School in Westbury. He subsequently earned his masters in secondary education while still at Clarke, where he had found the sweet spot of his teaching career.
“I definitely gained a full appreciation once I got into biology and chemistry. That’s when I found my passion,” Casamento said.
He said he enjoyed his 15 years of teaching at Clarke.
“It didn’t even seem like a job when I went in a classroom. It’s the most empowering and great feeling. It’s great being around kids every day, not knowing what’s going to happen or what’s going to come out of their mouth,” he said.
His affinity for students was reflected in his role at Clarke as a class advisor. Casamento said he still is in touch with students he taught there.
“I’m still very involved with my ex-students,” he said.
Near the end of his tenure at Clarke in 2004, Casamento said, he prepared for a new career direction, earning a certificate of advanced study in education from Stony Brook University.
“It had been 15 years, and I’d done a lot of great things in the classroom. And I just wanted to have a greater impact,” Casamento said. It was a great opportunity to learn something new.”
In 2005, he was hired as director of science K-12 for the North Babylon School District. In 2008, he moved on to become director of science and instructional technology K-12 for the Huntington School District.
His current position as director of science and technology in East Williston, he said, is by far the most demanding position he’s held in his career.
“They’re all administrative jobs, leading to this job, which is the job with the most responsibility I’ve had,” Casamento said. “I just keep reinventing myself but keep my foot in the science world.”
In East Williston, he has revamped the science research program, making science research a formal class and implementing a requirement that students in the program get a mentor – usually a college or university professor they work with during summers.
That change has had an impact, he said, with Wheatley students enjoying success in the annual Siemens Science competition and the International Science and Engineering Fair.
“It’s enabled students to function at higher levels and take hold of it,” Casamento said. “It’s only been in place for three years, so we’re just starting to see the fruits of our labor.”
Casamento said it’s also given him a way to maintain the contact with students that he enjoyed as a teacher.
Managing the technology job has been a new experience for Casamento, who’s done a lot of on-the-job learning as he’s overseen the increasing use of computers at all district grade levels.
Casamento’s work in mastering the use of computers was reflected in the testimonial East Williston Superintendent of Schools Elaine Kanas gave him in recommending him for tenure at last month’s school board meeting.
Kanas described Casamento as “the most hard-working colleague” she’s ever known.
The board voted unanimously to grant him tenure.
In his free time, Casamento said he enjoys working out, doing projects around the house, watching TV, and traveling.
He and his spouse live in Huntington.
