David Montuori, the new Assistant Principal of Nassau BOCES Carman Road School, is a veteran educator with nearly 25 years of experience working with the special needs population. While he has served his time as a classroom teacher, the majority of his career has been spent as an administrator in a number of vital leadership positions.

Mr. Montuori began his career as a technology coordinator for Saints Cyril and Methodius School in Deer Park. Within his first two years at the private parochial school, he was promoted to assistant to the principal, during which time he also served as the school’s New York State Testing Coordinator and grant writer.

Mr. Montuori moved on to take several administrative roles at YAI — formerly the Young Adult Institute, now a network of organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the country. While at YAI, Mr. Montuori served as a community training specialist and a day habilitation supervisor, before inevitably taking the helm as director and coordinator in charge of 145 adults and 30 children.

“When we look at people with disabilities, we often focus on their limitations,” Mr. Montuori observes. “I want us to focus on their abilities. I want the world to embrace special needs students, and to understand that they are capable of accomplishing the same things as everyone else, just at their own particular pace.”

From YAI, Mr. Montuori joined the Nassau BOCES family as a special educator in the agency’s Rosemary Kennedy School (RKS) for students with moderate to severe developmental disabilities. From there, he joined the faculty of Carman Road School, for students with multiple disabilities, including physical and developmental impairments, and autism spectrum disorders. He was appointed coordinator of the school’s extended year program before taking on his current role as assistant principal.

“I love working with these students,” Mr. Montuori says of his experience at Carman Road. “This population is near and dear to my heart. I love being able to help them grow and reach their fullest potential. The staff and faculty here are wonderful to work with. Together, we are developing our programs to better serve the students and families of the Carman Road community. In the end, if we can make a positive difference in our students’ lives, then we’ve done our job.”

Mr. Montuori holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Hunter College and in special education from Dowling College, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Old Westbury. He also holds certifications from New York State in special education, business and distributive education, and strategies for crisis intervention and prevention, as well as in school district and school building leadership.