Monday, July 14, 2025
Lorna Lewis took over as the superintendent of the Malverne school district in July of 2020 following a long, accomplished career in education. After 47 years, she will be retiring from her role as an educator on June 30. Lewis told the Herald that “it has been an honor to serve this community. I have gotten as much from them as I believe that I have given to this community.”
Q: Can you tell be about your life and your background?
A: I am an immigrant. I came to this country when I was 16 years old. I went directly to college, having completed high school at 16. I went as a physics major and mathematics minor. I did my bachelors at Fordham and then taught physics while I was doing my doctoral work in science education at Columbia.
Q: Can you bring me through your career up to this point?
A: So I started in a very exclusive private school, perhaps the most exclusive in the country, the oldest school in the country, the Collegiate School. I taught physics and mathematics there and then I got married and had a family so I moved to public school. Then I was the chair of science in Rockville Centre and moved up through various administrative roles before ending as the assistant principal of South Side High School. Then I went to Uniondale for one year as the director of science. Then to Three Village school district where I had various roles but became the deputy superintendent.
Then I left Three Village and went to East Williston as a superintendent. I have served as the superintendent in East Williston, Plainview, and now Malverne, so I’ve had three superintendencies.
Q: What led you to become interested in administration?
A: I really wasn’t interested in administration at all. I was in Rockville Centre and I enjoyed teaching, I was teaching Advanced Placement physics and I was a department chair. I loved that, it;s a wonderful position. But Bill Johnson, who was superintendent at the time, decided he wanted me in full time administration. He eliminated chairs so I was kind of forced into administration.
At the time I didn’t even have the qualifications to be an administrator because my degree was not in administration, it was pure science. And he said, “well, go get it,” so then I did. I went one summer, I took the necessary 18 credits and was qualified by September to become an administrator. So then I became an administrator, then the instructional supervisor and assistant principal. From there my life took off administratively.
Q: What drew you to teaching?
A: I love teaching. I think that I was born a teacher. I’m a naturally talented teacher. When I was playing with dolls, I was teaching my dolls. When I was playing with my friends in school, I was the teacher. I was surrounded by teachers, my aunt who raised me was a teacher.
I was drawn to teaching. I think it is the one profession that touches lives in ways you cannot measure or imagine. I feel even today as superintendent, I continue to be a teacher.
Q: Were there any significant challenges you had to overcome in your career?
A: I guess the challenges might be people’s perception of what a black woman can and cannot do. For me, it always used to be that I had to be better than, do more to prove that Black women are capable. Women and Black people — I’m representing two intersections — so I am constantly aware that I am the role model that people look to.
At the end of my career, I’ll have 47 years. I feel that I’ve accomplished the legacy that I sought — to leave a place better than you found it — and to leave a place where being a Black woman as the leader is an accepted norm, not an exception. That’s a huge accomplishment for me.
Q: What does being the superintendent of Malverne mean to you?
A: It means everything. I’ve been superintendent in two very high performing, wealthy districts that did not have students of color. Ending my career in a place that is majority student of color, bringing the same level of expectation and accomplishment, means the world to me. Because it says to the world “if you believe in kids, if you put the energy into what you do, the same can be accomplished anywhere.”
The ingredients are here at Malvere, to pursue excellence and unleash greatness. It’s here. And I’ve never had that opportunity anywhere. I’ve worked with great districts, great teachers, great staff, but I’ve never had an opportunity to work with a majority students of color and to see excellence abound here. Bottom line, kids are kids. If you believe in them, and you provide the resources, you can accomplish anything.
Q: What are you most proud of during your time in Malverne?
A: Without a doubt the street name change is the number one thing in my career, not just Malvere, my career. I’ve never had the opportunity to see the power of student voice and for advocacy, having that street name change is without a doubt the most important thing that has happened in my career.
Q: What advice do you have for other educators, your students and the new superintendent?
A: It’s the same advice I always give, that nothing comes easy — you have to put in the work.
And for the new superintendent, just this is a very magical, special place. Take care of it. I always say to any superintendent that is following me, appreciate the treasure that this place is and just continue to polish it.
Q: What are your plans for retirement?
A: I plan to travel, which I’ve always loved to do but never had the opportunity to do extended travel. I also plan to continue to coach, coach superintendents, administrators, and district leaders.
I’m at the point in my career where I need to be the ladder holder, because others held the ladder for me to ascend. Now I’ve arrived to where I wanted to be and now it’s my job to help others rise.
