Anthony Cacciola is a 1979 West Babylon graduate. He began working for the West Babylon Schools in 1976 when he was in 10th grade earning $2.85 an hour as a part-time custodian.  His father worked as a custodian there and his mother as a cook.   His goal was to save for college and study to become a music teacher. When his mother died during his senior year of high school, and his father in poor health, Cacciola, an only child, decided to attend college locally. When he graduated in 1979, he attended Suffolk County Community College during the day and signed on as a full-time custodian for the school district, cleaning buildings at night. He then attended Long Island University to pursue a degree in music education. In 1983, with only his student teaching left to go, he quit college when the district offered him a position as head custodian in charge of Santapogue School. Cacciola quickly worked his way through the department.   Three years later, he was promoted to chief custodian, overseeing the operation and maintenance of the West Babylon Junior High School.  He was promoted in 1989 to superintendent of buildings and grounds, overseeing the district’s physical facilities and capital projects.  With the encouragement of his mentor, Dr. Dorothy Pierce, Cacciola went back to C. W. Post to finish his bachelor’s degree and pursue graduate study in school business administration. He received a master of science degree in educational leadership and administration in 1994.  When Dr. Pierce retired as assistant superintendent for finance, Cacciola assumed the role of school business administrator in 1993, followed by his appointment to assistant to the superintendent for finance, a position he held for five years before becoming assistant superintendent for finance. In 2007, Mr. Cacciola was named the district’s superintendent of schools, a position he held until his retirement in January, 2015. In 2008, Mr. Cacciola received the New York State Association of School Business Officials Starfish Award, given to only one school business official in New York State to recognize exemplary service in the field of school business administration.  Mr. Cacciola also served as an adjunct assistant professor at Dowling College and Long Island University where he taught various graduate courses in school district administration and finance.  He has provided inspirational speeches for organizations and articles on his career appeared in Newsday and The New York Times and was televised on ABC News.

Mr. Cacciola is very proud of his involvement in the West Babylon School District for a period of 38 ½ years.  He has never worked for another employer and had perfect attendance for 28 years.  He is particularly proud of leading the district during the most challenging fiscal times and leading the district during the South Bay Fire, the largest school building loss in New York State history.  He is also proud of his work with the West Babylon Alumni Foundation and the West Babylon Main Street Organization.

Although he moved to Florida, he will always call West Babylon his home.  He will also never forget the motto ‘Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.”