Dr. Lorna R. Lewis admits it won't be easy to lead the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District into a new era:
“This is a trying time for all Long Island school districts as we face new standards, such as working within the tax levy caps and teacher evaluations," said Dr. Lewis, who was by the school board on Monday night to be Plainview's next superintendent.
But she's ready:
"I feel like the luckiest person in the world to join another top-rate school district where excellence is the standard." she said after the vote Monday night. "This is a place where the children lie at the heart of the community."
Lewis, 57, has spent the last five years as superintendent of the East Williston Union Free School District. She is taking over for Gerard W. Dempsey, Plainview's longtime schools chief, who is retiring at the end of the school year. Lewis will begin her tenure in August. Her annual salary will be $265,000, school officials said.
"In Dr. Lewis you have chosen an outstanding educator, someone who I am confident will move the district forward," said Dempsey. "The district is in good hands."
The district conducted an executive search to find Dempsey's replacement that included some public participation in the process. Many board members echoed Dempsey's words in welcoming Dr. Lewis to the community.
"I am ready for the challenge and eagerly look forward to working with (the board, administration teachers and community to successfully move our district toward the next era of outstanding academic accomplishments,” she said.
The career educator is considered an expert in curriculum. She received her B.S. in physics from Fordham University and earned three Masters Degrees before completing her Ed.D in science education from Teachers College at Columbia University.
She taught math and physics beforing taking on a variety of administrative jobs including science chair in the Rockville Center UFSD, science director in the Uniondale UFSD and director of curriculum and assessment, and deputy superintendent in the Three Village Central School District.
Dr. Lewis has conducted curriculum audits in several states. She has served as a keynote speaker at many major events for school administrators and has presented workshops at BOCES and local universities. Dr. Lewis a member of the executive board of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, where she co-chairs the curriculum committee.
Mc Dermott (District Athletic Director) who approves these coaches just "cruises" in his job too. I hope that Dr. Lorna R. Lewis cleans house and wakes Plainview/Old Bethpage up! I hope that she lights a fire under the Administrators, teachers and coaches butts who have been sleeping on the job (and taking their jobs for granted) for so long. Our school system is very overrated and we are NOT at the tops in academics...and our sports teams are hardly competitive because of very poor coaches that they hire. It wold be much better to go outside the school district and hire a more qualified coach, instead of hiring a teacher who cioaches just for an additional paycheck. Cleaning house and REALLY striving for excellence in all activities acedemics, sports, etc..) that our children participate in would go a long way in gaining respect and a loyal following in this community. If she has the courage and insight to do that...she will most likley be the leader that we desperately need.
Regarding sports teams. It is not just about making the sports team . Take a look at Newsday under the section "L I sports" do you ever see Plainview in there? no . The coaches more than likely do not pick the kids based totally on capabilities all the time. Children are often picked because the teacher knows them or the "cool group" they are in. I have seen it many times. Then of course you have the overbearing parents who go up to the school and play the political game to get their kids on the team. Lets not forget what just happened in POB where they have a "everyone gets on the team " in basball for the boys , but the girls have to tryout for the softball where some girls that wanted to play got cut. Now we are not only playing a game of politics with the sports but gender discrimination. It's ok to let every boy who wants to play baseball in the middle school but we have to cut girls from the softball team. The politics played in this school is terrible . What we have to question is this , are our children all not bthat good enough to compete or is it that the coaches pick and choose children based on factors that should not included. Then there is the question of how well our coaches are able to teach and coach sports .I believe all children who want to play sports should be able to be given the opportunity. Either way the athletic dept needs to be reviewed by the new Superintendent