By Andrew Hackmack
Maureen Henry has been selected as the new principal of South High School, taking over for Dr. Stephen Lando.
Henry spent the past seven years as an assistant principal at Floral Park Memorial Junior-Senior High School, part of the Sewanhaka School District. Prior to that she was an assistant principal at John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview-Old Bethpage.
Her administrative career began at John Adams High School in Ozone Park. After teaching mathematics there for many years, she became the assistant principal for math. She also has taught math, science and health at St. Edmunds High School in Brooklyn.
Valley Stream South High School serves about 1,300 students in grades 7 though 12. Henry said it is about the same size as her last school in Floral Park.
"South High School has such a wonderful reputation," she said, "both academically and for the community service that the students do."
Henry said she enjoys working with students both at the middle school and high school level. From seventh graders to high school seniors, she gets to see them grow and mature.
"They come in, really, as babies," she said, "and leave as young men and women."
Another benefit to leading a junior-senior high school, Henry said, is that it more than just a quick stop in a child's academic career. In six years, she can really get to know the students and their families.
Henry said it is important for students to take advantage of the many opportunities that high school has to offer. She noted that South High School has a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and wants to encourage all students to get involved.
Junior high and high school are a critical time in any child's life, Henry said, as they begin to develop their strengths. It is during those six years in which students figure out what their contribution to the world will be.
Henry said she is looking forward to meeting the staff of South High School. She wants to do what she can to support the building's faculty because they are the ones who work directly with students.
With many years as a math teacher, and many more as an administrator, Henry hopes that her experience will be an asset to the school community.
"It's a great school and a lot of good things have been happening here," she said.
Valley Stream Central High School District Superintendent Dr. Marc Bernstein said he was pleased to recommend Henry to the board of education as the new South principal.
"Her experience as a math teacher and assistant principal for math," he said, strengthens our administrative team on a district-wide level."
Bernstein said that South High School is one of the best performing schools in this section of Nassau County. He is confident that under Henry's leadership, they will only improve on that success.
Henry said her goal is to ensure that every child in her building succeeds academically and in their own personal growth. She is eagerly anticipating her first day of school and meeting all of the students. There is one group she already feels a special closeness to.
"I'm looking forward to seeing those new seventh graders," she said, "who I'll certainly bond with because we will all be new."
