Massapequa Alum Named New High School Principal

A Massapequa High School alumnus will become its next leader, as the board of education appointed Barbara Lowell to the position of principal, effective July 1, at its Feb. 6 meeting. Lowell, a lifelong Massapequa resident, has been a teacher and administrator in the district for 22 years.

Lowell attended Unqua Elementary School from kindergarten through sixth grade before moving on to McKenna Junior High School for seventh grade and Berner Middle School for eighth and ninth grade. She graduated from Massapequa High School in 1992, where she was a member of student government, SADD and the varsity basketball and tennis teams.

Her educational career began in 1998 as a social studies teacher at Berner Middle School. Lowell held positions as attendance officer and dean, and has been executive assistant to the principal since December 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies education and a master’s degree in education from Molloy College and a master’s degree in school leadership from Touro College.

At the high school, Lowell will lead a faculty that includes teachers who were there during her days as a student, as well as some of her former Berner students who are now teachers there. Since becoming a teacher at Berner, she said her life has been “deepened and enhanced” by her many great colleagues who have helped her grow professionally. In the coming months, she will work with Interim Principal Brian Conboy to ensure a smooth transition.

“It is an honor to be the principal of the high school that I went to,” Lowell said. “I had a great education and a great experience here in Massapequa.”

Superintendent Lucille F. Iconis described Lowell as a collaborative educator who “believes that success comes from developing strong relationships with teachers, students and parents.”