Flower Hill School has always been an optimistic place. Since the building first opened in September 1954, students have collectively displayed a positive frame of mind.
When a new wing was constructed in 1958, Flower Hill was able to accommodate even more of the community’s young people, who embraced the school and expressed pride in calling it home. In the decades that followed, those same feelings and attitudes engulfed that special little place tucked into one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of Long Island.
![Flower Hill's new Principal Lucia Laguarda.](../../../assets/images/2018/january/cameo_08b.jpg)
Flower Hill's new Principal
Lucia Laguarda.
Lucia Laguarda is in her second month as the building’s educational leader. “I am honored to be the new principal at Flower Hill,” she said. The veteran educator assumed the new post on December 1, but before her first day with students, she had an opportunity to meet many families two weeks earlier at a meet-and-greet.
“I asked parents to tell me why they loved Flower Hill and to tell me what we may want to do differently,” Ms. Laguarda said. “At my first staff meeting with teachers, I asked similar questions. I wanted to know why people love Flower Hill and what we may want to work on. It has become very clear to me that Flower Hill has a cohesive, friendly and hardworking staff that want the very best for the children. The parents love the diverse student body and the individual care given to their children. I was thrilled to find these areas of common strengths for Flower Hill and I feel like I am at a great school with a wonderful staff and families.”
These have been busy days for Ms. Laguarda as she seeks to learn everything there is to know about Flower Hill. She has settled into her new role and quickly gained the trust of the school community.
“I have spent the last month building relationships with staff, children and families,” Ms. Laguarda said. “I enjoy visiting classrooms, attending meetings with staff about teaching and learning and participating in family events. The more I get to know Flower Hill, the clearer it has become that the identified strengths that families and staff shared with me are present and I aim to continue nurturing them. At the same time, I am noticing ways that we can all work smarter so that we can truly achieve all of the goals we have for our students and their success. I look forward to bringing experiences that I’ve had and implementing things that may work well at Flower Hill.”
As 2018 gets underway in earnest, Flower Hill and its new principal are ready for any challenge that comes along. “I welcome feedback and enjoy meeting with staff and families to discuss ideas,” Ms. Laguarda said. “I hope to help lead Flower Hill for many more great years and I am thankful for this opportunity.”