Malverne’s next superintendent meets with parents, district residents

Dr. Lorna Lewis, of Freeport, said she takes Ocean Avenue south on her way home from her job as superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District at the end of most days to avoid traffic on the Southern State Parkway. Driving past Malverne High School, Lewis has followed the progress of the construction of the now-completed Performing Arts Center over the past two years. On March 5, she stood at a lectern in that new building as she was introduced to parents and residents as the Malverne School District’s next superintendent at a meet-and-greet.

“The fact that you were willing to invest in the future with a space like this . . . this just signals to me that my time in Malverne will be joyous, because that’s what I’m about,” Lewis said.

After Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund announced in September that he had decided to retire at the end of this school year, the district began searching for his replacement. It received input from parents, students, district residents and faculty members. There were 56 candidates, according to Board of Education President Danielle Hopkins. The board narrowed the list down to three in January, and finalized its search last month.

“We do want to thank the community, because this was a long process,” Trustee Josephine Bottitta said. “I know that no matter what, change is sometimes hard and scary, but we were very mindful of all of your input.”

Lewis told the Herald that she was excited to be part of a welcoming community. “I was really impressed with the turnout and all of the questions,” she said. “It really shows the district’s commitment to excellence. One thing that resonates clearly is that this is a community whose commitment to the children is at a premium.”

An educator for 40 years, Lewis, 65, said she felt privileged to join the Malverne district. The meet-and-greet featured district leaders, parents, students, alumni and community leaders from groups such as the Lakeview NAACP and the Lakeview Youth Federation.

“Tonight I just feel like the luckiest person in the world,” Lewis said. “I know that Jim [Hunderfund] set a path for your future of excellence, and I’m hoping to be a part of that.”

The most popular topic of discussion at the meeting was increasing diversity among faculty and staff members in the district. Many of those who responded to a survey sent to district residents during the search said this should be the new superintendent’s top priority.

“It’s important that the staff reflects the population,” Lewis said, “but it’s also most important that we have an excellent teacher in front of our students. Black or white, Asian, Latinx — we need to be sure that we have the most qualified person in front of our students.

“The fact that you have a black superintendent, please do not expect that this staff is going to change overnight,” she continued. “The staff we have now is an excellent staff, and we want to maintain that.”

Many parents said they were pleased to see the district’s student body has become more diverse, but they hope to see the same among teachers. “I don’t think that bringing teachers into the district who are from diverse backgrounds will compromise the excellence that is already instilled in this district,” parent Sherri Flournoy told Lewis. “I think it can only enhance it. There’s a lot of work that we have to do, but I know that you’re the woman for the job.”

Mary Harrison, a district resident and Hewlett High School’s guidance chairwoman, said similar conversations are taking place in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District. Harrison said that Lewis helped launch her career in education in the East Williston School District in 2008.

“I can assure you, and I promise you, you have chosen somebody that’s going to bring great change to the community,” Harrison said. “I can only tell you from experience that I’m so excited to be a resident here, because I know what we’ll see together and how great this district will become.”

Lewis’s impact as an educator has been recognized with awards of distinction from ERASE Racism, the NAACP, Nassau BOCES Education Partners, the National Coalition of Black Women, the St. John’s University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, the Korean Parents Association of Long Island, the Long Island Black Educators Association and the Suffolk County Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.

Lifelong Malvernite Erin Murray said she hoped Lewis would add to the “family environment” the district has established. “I know that there’s an amazing, dedicated staff here . . . it really does feel like home,” Murray said. “I think that because of how diverse this district is, we adapt so much easier to the real world. “What an incredible opportunity we have to live in the district with so many different backgrounds.”