Entering his 21st year in education, new Farmingdale High School Principal Glen Zakian said he was drawn to this career because of his involvement in school and extracurricular activities when he was a student.

"They all had a tremendous impact on me as a person," he added. "I thought that having the opportunity, as a teacher, to have similar influence on others was a noble way to spend one's life. As a result, I began working in camps and later went to school to become an educator."

According to Zakian, his first few weeks have been "great."

"The faculty, staff and students have hit the ground running and are doing a great job," he added. "The building is running smoothly and the environment is very positive."

His goals for the school include continuing "the great tradition of a complete education that has been commonplace at Farmingdale High School."

"The faculty and staff are tremendous," he added. "I want to enhance the educational accomplishments of our students by providing the teachers with the resources to use their imagination, teaching skills and technology to educate the students. I want to get the students involved in their school; be participants and supporters in everything available to them (clubs, theater productions, music, athletics). I want the community to remain proud of their school and what it offers to their children."

Zakian also brings with him his educational motto - "if you respect yourself and others, you will never be misled."

"Farmingdale High School's new Principal Glen Zakian has been doing a wonderful job of bringing the adults in the building together to coordinate a safe environment for student learning," said John Lorentz, superintendent of Farmingdale Schools. "All accounts to date have been a positive description of team work that focuses on the students and includes everyone's perspective."

Zakian joins the Farmingdale School District family after having served as an assistant principal at the Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School. He has over 12 years of combined administrative experience both with the Plainview-Old Bethpage and with the Harborfields Schools. His educational background includes a BS from Hofstra University, MA from SUNY Stony Brook and an administrative degree from LI University/C.W. Post. He resides in Jericho with his wife and three children.