Smithtown schools superintendent resigning

Smithtown schools Superintendent Anthony Annunziato said Tuesday night that he will resign, a little more than a year into the job, to lead the doctoral program at St. John’s University’s School of Education.

His resignation will take effect at the Aug. 29 board meeting, days before the start of school for the Smithtown district’s 14,000 students, and board of education president Gladys Waldron said Thursday that the board would start interviewing interim candidates immediately as the search for a new chief begins.

“Perhaps by midyear we could have the appointment of a new superintendent,” she said. “But I know it’s difficult — most good superintendents don’t leave halfway through the year.”

Annunziato did not return calls for comment Thursday, but Waldron said he had told the board six weeks ago that he was considering leaving the district, which paid him $259,000 this year, to take the St. John’s job.

“His first love was teaching, and this is also an opportunity to do research,” she said. “This is less money, and it will affect his pension, but it’s like a dream come true for him.”

She said he has been a “fantastic” leader who has expertly managed the district’s $224 million budget and its curriculum changing to meet new state standards.

Annunziato started at Smithtown in July 2012 after leading the Bayport-Blue Point school district for seven years.