The South Huntington School District has named Mr. Anthony Allison as its new districtwide Supervisor of Mathematics, Business, and Career & Technical Education (CTE). 

Mr. Allison comes to the district after serving as District Director of Mathematics in Glen Cove since 2023, along with 25 years of experience as an assistant principal and math teacher. His passion for education began while teaching math in a small Catholic school, leading him to transition his graduate studies from business administration to adolescent education.

He holds a Master of Science in Adolescent Education and has New York State Professional Certification in School District Leadership, School Building Leadership, and Mathematics Grades 7-12.

Mr. Allison lives in North Bellmore with his wife, two teenage daughters, two Bichon Frises named Roxy and Zoe, a cat named Rusty, and two pet rats that his daughter brought home from her school’s animal care program.

We spoke with Mr. Allison about his new role in South Huntington. The answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Q&A 

Did you always want to be an educator?
Mr. Allison:  “No. I didn't originally go to school to become an educator. I thought I was going to be an engineer. I took a couple of math classes, had one of the worst math teachers ever, and decided to change majors. I went into business administration, focusing on personnel management, policy, and procedure. At one point, I even thought I might become a senator.”

How did you get into teaching?
Mr. Allison: “After graduation, I got a job in Macy’s HR department on the corporate side. I enjoyed it, but I didn't want to stay in retail. Next, I went to work for Neuberger Berman, an investment marketing firm, where I stayed for two years. After a layoff, I decided to go back for my MBA at Brooklyn College. While taking classes and collecting unemployment, I ran into a friend who mentioned a local school was looking for a math teacher and because I was always good at math, I decided to try it out. I taught two morning classes in sequential math, a physical science class, and a computer class. I fell in love with it.”

What made you take the step out of the classroom and into administration?
Mr. Allison:  “After about 14 years in the classroom, I felt the administrative team had lost sight of the mission, and I wanted to help drive things in the right direction. I transitioned to Seaford, a small district where assistant principals supervised subject departments. I supervised math, business, tech ed, and later social studies and science. I view administration as guided discovery. My job as an administrator is to provide guidance so teachers and students discover that they already have the answers. 90% of the time, a student's first instinct is correct. I’m not  trying to make everyone a mathematician, but rather good citizens with usable skill sets. My goal as an administrator is to support teachers and students so they can shine.”

Math has always been a challenging subject. How has teaching math changed over the last three decades, and what works for students today?
Mr. Allison:  “Fundamentals haven't changed: when kids enjoy what they're doing, they learn. What has changed are the supports and how we engage them. Today, differentiation and meeting students where they are are essential. In Glen Cove, we used a program called First in Math to build fact fluency through gamification rather than repetitive drill-and-kill procedures. Making math fluency interactive helps kids see connections easily. We also brought parents into elementary classrooms to talk about how math applies to their careers, making the subject practical and relevant.”

How do you make advanced high school subjects like trigonometry or calculus engaging?
Mr. Allison:  “You make it hands-on and connect it to real-world applications, like Career and Technical Education (CTE). I had one student who hated math but loved cars. When learning trigonometry, we looked at windshield angles and aerodynamics on actual vehicles. We also need to build strong college partnerships so high school students can earn college math credits early in a supportive environment, rather than paying higher tuition to retake introductory courses in huge college lecture halls.”

In addition to math, you also oversee CTE. What role does CTE play in your vision for the district? 
Mr. Allison:  “CTE focuses on preparing students for workforce pathways—such as cosmetology, medical tech, culinary arts, automotive, and early childhood education. Not every student needs or wants a four-year college degree. Many thrive in public service, skilled trades, or vocational careers that offer stability and good benefits without heavy debt. South Huntington already excels at college placement, and my goal is to continue growing our internal CTE pathways so students have robust options right here in the district.”

What makes South Huntington the right place for you to be at this point in your education career?
Mr. Allison:  “It’s the strong sense of family, the longevity of the administrative team, and the district's diversity. Being of Panamanian and Italian heritage, diversity is second nature to me. Education is about building genuine connections. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. I want the South Huntington community to know that I am fully invested in the success of every child and look forward to spending the rest of my career here.”

The South Huntington family extends a warm welcome to Mr. Allison and wishes him the very best in his new role!