New hire fills new position at Forest Road Elementary

Students at District 30’s Forest Road Elementary School will have an assistant principal for the first time when they arrive for the first day of school this fall.

Jennifer Lewner was hired as the school’s first assistant principal, and will serve both district-wide and school-specific roles under Forest Road principal Erin Malone.

Board of Education president Cristobal Stewart said the position’s creation “came as a response to the need to have expertise on a district-wide level.”

Lewner’s last job was lead math teacher at The Scholars Academy in Rockaway Park, mentoring new teachers and providing instructional support and feedback to staff. She also worked as the data and testing specialist at the Scholars academy, analyzing math team data at the school, city and state levels.

Lewner also serves on the New York City Department of Education Math Advisory Council providing feedback and instruction for teachers throughout the city. She is also an NYC DOE Common Core Math Fellow, training teachers and staff members on elements of Common Core.

Stewart praised Lewner’s track record, citing her leadership and curriculum development experience. He also complimented Lewner’s experience with the Common Core curriculum, saying it would allow her to provide training to all district teachers. Stewart said the district’s administration considers that aspect crucially important.

“This was really part of an effort to develop resources on a district-wide basis so that we can improve as a whole,” he said.

Superintendent Nicholas Stirling welcomed Lewner to the district.

“We know she will contribute to our ongoing goal of improving the educational curriculum for our students,” he said.

Lewner’s position was created using existing funding from state aid from this year’s budget, according to Stewart. The position will be funded in future years by savings the school expects from refinancing its debt, he said.