Paula R. Lein

Principal
Archer Street School
Freeport UFSD

The first time she walked into her kindergarten classroom at the age of 5, Paula R. Lein was hooked. Even then, the school environment intrigued her. "I just liked being there," she said recently. "I liked being part of it. I liked learning."

She still likes learning and shares that passion with the students of Archer Street School in Freeport where she has been principal since July 2000. A firm believer that education is not one size fits all, Lein is always looking for different ways to engage students. Her favorite tool is the arts, and she is more than willing to get out from behind her desk and practice what she preaches. Right now, she is teaching 24 fourth-graders how to ballroom dance.

Through the years, she has implemented many programs to cultivate a love of learning, including Archer Street School's Book of the Month, Visual Literacy, Tilles Center Workshops and Introduction to Songwriting.

In 2008, Lein received SCOPE Education Services' Administrator Service Award, and during Lein's tenure, the school has received numerous accolades as well. In 2004, Archer Street School was recognized by the New York State Business Council for Outstanding Improvement and placed on the New York State Education Department's list of most improved schools. The school was chosen by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy in 2005 as the 4th District's February School of the Month. That year, it was also recognized by the Board of Regents and the State Education Department as one of New York's High Performing/Gap Closing schools.

Lein is co-president of the Nassau County Elementary School Principals' Association.
She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from New York University and a master's in educational administration and leadership from Long Island University.

She lives in Plainview, N.Y., with her husband, Erwin. They have three children and four grandchildren.