WFHS principal Philip Scotto named chamber’s 2020 ‘Man of the Year’

William Floyd High School principal Philip Scotto has been named The Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics & Shirley’s 2020 “Man of the Year.”

Scotto, who became principal of the 2,800-student William Floyd High School in 2016 and has a long history with the district, will be honored on April 27 at the Mill Pond Country Club in Medford.

The chamber chose Scotto as its Man of the Year “because he has had an amazing influence on the students,” said organization’s president Beth Wahl. “He changed the atmosphere in the high school in a matter of weeks. I have never known of a school where the students, on their own, made and wore shirts saying ‘Scotto for President’ during the last presidential election.

Scotto first joined William Floyd in 1984 as an English teacher and later served as the department chairperson from 1998 until his retirement in December 2013. He came out of retirement a month later to serve as director of the English Department (grades six through 12) for the remainder of the 2013-14 school year. 

After a year off, he joined William Floyd High School as an assistant principal for the 2015-16 school year. He was then promoted to principal.

Prior to William Floyd, Scotto served as a parochial school teacher in Brooklyn for 10 years.

Scotto is a graduate of St. John’s University with a bachelor’s in English and social studies. He earned a master’s degree in reading instruction and his SAS/SDA administrative certifications from the College of New Rochelle.

Scotto said honored and grateful to the chamber for his selection and believes that it is a validation of the work that he has done throughout his career.

“It’s an honor to contribute to the community,” he said, adding, “A good school district improves the community.”

For more information on the dinner honoring Scotto, email mschamber11950@gmail.com or call 631-399-2228.