By Andrew Hackmack
Malone said after meeting with Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas, she knew District 30 would be a good fit for her. "Dr. Kanas has a very specific vision where she wants the district to be," Malone said. "I feel that my vision and my philosophy of education is very complimentary to that."
Though she started on July 1, Malone did visit the Forest Road before the school year ended and got to meet many of the teachers, students and parents. She is looking forward to working with the building's faculty. "They are all innovative, energetic and child-focused," she said. "It seems that everyone is really part of a team."
Another part of that team, she said, is the PTA which hosts cultural arts development programs on a monthly basis.
Malone was previously principal of the No. 6 School in Lawrence, which closed at the end of the year. She took the job knowing that it would only be for one year, as a school closing in that district was planned for this June and she would have the least seniority. However, she wanted to try her hand at the job and see if she enjoyed working in administration. She did.
When it was announced in March that it was her building to be closed, Malone had to help prepare the school community for the transition. "It was really a lot of emotional support to the families and to the staff," she said, "ensuring them that this was a change that was going to be positive."
Prior to taking over as principal, Malone was a speech therapist in the school. She also was teacher-in-charge, in which she assisted the principal with event scheduling, testing coordination and other responsibilities. "It was kind of a natural segue," she said about moving up to principal last year.
The No. 6 school served about 400 students in first through fourth grade. "I went out of my way to know every kid's name, to know every family," she said. "That's important to me." At Forest Road School, Malone will lead about 280 students in grades K-6.
She said one of Forest Road School's biggest assets is its cultural diversity. "This is representative in terms of a global community," she said.
A big push in District 30 has been a focus on early literacy. Malone said she began her teaching career in Lawrence working in the district's kindergarten building, so she is well-versed in that area.
Kanas agreed that this is one of the benefits Malone brings to the job. "She has a lot of experience in assessing students, especially with speech and language," Kanas said.
The superintendent added that, upon visiting the Lawrence School District, everyone noted what a warm and capable person Malone is. "The parents and the teachers and all of the staff remarked on her extraordinary communication skills," Kanas said. "She really believes in building bridges between parents, the community and the school. We are so happy to have her."
Malone lives with her husband in Broad Channel, Queens. She is a member of multiple book clubs, plays recreational softball and volleyball, and does fundraising work for the volunteer fire department.
Forest Road School is a place Malone can see herself being for a long time. "I'd like a place to hang my hat," she said. "I feel confident that the fit is right. It's a terrific community."
