Elaine Kanas, superintendent of schools for Valley Stream District 30, is the East Williston school board’s choice as its new superintendent of schools.

Mark Kamberg, president of the East Williston School Board, said last week he would present Kanas’s nomination for the position to the board for its approval at its June 6 meeting.

Kanas will be replacing Lorna Lewis, who was appointed superintendent of the Plainview–Old Bethpage Central School District early last month. Lewis finishes her tenure on July 31, completing five years as superintendent of the school district.

“I really like the opportunity to work in a small school district where you can know the children and the families all the way through the schools,” Kanas said of her appointment. “It’s a community that really supports its schools. It’s all about the teachers, the community and the board working together. That’s the sort of community I’m very excited to be a part of.”

Kanas said she was particularly excited to be in a grade K through 12 district again. Valley Stream District 30 is an elementary school district. 

She had been assistant superintendent of instruction and personnel at the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County for five years before taking her current post in Valley Stream.

“It’s a new opportunity and I’m excited about the opportunity of working of K-12,” Kanas said.

She said she has “a strong interest, experience and involvement in curriculum,” and her first priority is reviewing the curriculum with district teachers.

“It’s clearly a great school district and the first thing to do is to come in and really learn the school district,” said Kanas.

She said she’s looking forward to meeting community members and the district staff to “determine new goals and objectives in the future that builds on the success that is in East Williston.”

Before working in the Carmel school district, Kanas was principal of the Siwanoy Elementary School in the Pelham Public Schools in Westchester County.

Kanas has also been a professor at Columbia University, the College of New Rochelle, and Manhattan College, and held several administrative positions in school districts in upstate New York and New York City.

Kanas received her doctor of education in curriculum and teaching from Columbia University, a master of fine arts degree from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor of science from Skidmore College. 

She has been published in a range of educational publications, including the Scholastic Press “Instructor Magazine” and the National Council of Teachers of English “Primary Voices K-6” publication.

The board began its search for new superintendent immediately upon learning of Lewis’s appointment to her new job in early April.

Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@archive.theisland360.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204