Dr. Elaine Kanas Appointed EWSD Superintendent

Friday, 15 June 2012 00:00

Formerly served in Valley Stream district  

Dr. Elaine Kanas has been appointed as superintendent of The East Williston School District, effective Aug. 1.

The announcement was made at the June 6 meeting.

Board of education members said that the application process collected nearly 40 applications.  The board interviewed more than 10 applicants, bringing back two of the applicants for final round interviews. The final round interview process consisted of representatives from various constituency groups, including parents, community members, administration and staff.

Dr. Kanas received her doctorate from Columbia University in Education Curriculum and Teaching.  For the past four years she has served as superintendent of Valley Stream 30, an academically high-achieving 1,500 student school district, also in Nassau County. Before serving as superintendent in Valley Stream 30, Dr. Kanas was the assistant superintendent for instruction and personnel for five years, in the Carmel Central School District.  She has also taught at Columbia University Teachers College as an adjunct assistant professor in the department of curriculum and teaching, instructing master’s and doctoral students in designing curriculum for K-12 and higher education.

According to school district officials, Dr. Kanas has played an active role in curriculum and educational leadership on the state, regional and local levels. She presently sits on the New York State Education Department ELA Advisory Panel, grades pre-K - 12.   As a current member of the Nassau Superintendents Curriculum Council, she is involved in curriculum leadership for the county. She also serves as a member of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents Executive Board and is currently the leader of the Nassau County Southwest Quadrant of Superintendents.  Working in collaboration with her own district APPR Committee, she has supported the development of a coherent framework for teacher evaluation and professional development that provides both high standards of staff accountability and opportunities for professional growth, linked to successful student achievement and development.

School district officials added that Dr. Kanas’s accomplishments in Valley Stream include strong fiscal management and oversight that has resulted in maintaining and enhancing programs while continuing to be responsive to community fiscal restraints through increased efficiencies and focused program and operation review. The district was able to make major infrastructure improvements without incurring interest costs for the taxpayers by the successful adoption and funding of capital reserve projects.  Curriculum and Instruction accomplishments include enriched literacy, math and science curriculums, enhanced arts opportunities, an articulated Response to Intervention Program that addressed student need at inception, new academic challenge programs and an increased focus on the integration of student emotional and social development linked with cognitive development.

“The board of education, together with our students, staff, parents and community welcome Dr. Kanas to our district,” a release from the school district stated. “Under her leadership, we look forward to working collaboratively in making our great district even better.”