It was a beautiful day, as students and their families attended MWD’s annual kindergarten orientation. Students and parents ventured to the school to drop off supplies and meet their teachers before the start of the school year.

The district extends its congratulations to all of the Class of 2020 who graduated on Friday, Aug. 7 under a tent on the high school field. Due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the graduation ceremony was held without spectators and was split between three sessions throughout the evening. Spirits were still high as students crossed the stage to receive their diploma and bump elbows with administrators and Board of Education members.

Our new superintendent of schools began on Aug. 1. We would like to welcome her officially to the Malverne family!

Dr. Lewis began her career teaching mathematics and Advanced Placement Physics at the Collegiate School in New York City. She then served in various administrative capacities, including being a science chair in Rockville Centre Union Free School District, science director in Uniondale Union Free School District, deputy superintendent in the Three Village Central School District and superintendent in the East Williston Union Free School District. Additionally, Dr. Lewis has been an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, where she was the instructor of graduate science methods courses. She previously served as superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District.

An active member of many professional associations, Dr. Lewis proudly serves as the past president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS) and also co-chairs its curriculum committee. She is past president of LIASCD and the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents, and is on the board of Erase Racism.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be following my esteemed colleague Jim Hunderfund, who has accomplished so much already for the students and community of Malverne,” Dr. Lewis said. “I am truly honored to be chosen to build upon these successes, and move the district into the next era of outstanding achievements.”

Dr. Lewis received her Bachelor of Science in physics from Fordham University and went on to earn three master’s degrees before completing her doctorate in science education (Ed.D.) from Teachers College at Columbia University. Her impact as an educator has been recognized with distinguished awards from Erase Racism, NAACP, Nassau BOCES Education Partners, National Coalition of Black Women, 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.

Dr. Lewis has presented testimony on behalf of NYSCOSS on the impact of testing to the New York State Senate and has presented a white paper to the Commissioner and the Board of Regents on the Proposed Graduation Rates. She has presented workshops at local universities, NYSSBA, BOCES and LIASCD on such topics as Board-Superintendent Relations, Common Core, Deconstructing the Grades 3-8 Mathematics Assessment, Detracking Our Schools, Digging Deeper: Ensuring All Students to Be College and Career Ready, Embracing Diversity, Maintaining Excellence with Reduced Revenues, Teaching for the Giftedness in All Children, The Annual Professional Performance Appraisal (APPR) and Using Data to Improve Instruction.