Plainview-Old Bethpage elementary school Principal Karen Heitner disciplinary case: Former boss Lorna Lewis says she was an 'outstanding' educator, but could be 'harsh' with staff

A suspended Plainview-Old Bethpage elementary school principal was an “outstanding” educator who elevated student performance — but she was repeatedly advised to improve how she communicated with staff, her former supervisor testified at a disciplinary hearing this week.

Karen Heitner, principal of Pasadena Elementary School in Plainview, faces administrative charges alleging she touched two staffers inappropriately during a PTA luncheon in June 2024, as well as engaged in age discrimination and created a hostile and unsafe work environment involving other employees. The district suspended Heitner in August 2024 and is seeking to fire her.

Lorna Lewis, a prominent Long Island educator who was superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage district from 2012 to 2020, was called by Heitner's attorneys to testify Tuesday as the first witness in her defense.

Lewis said under questioning that the principal brought a “mastery” of elementary literacy to Pasadena Elementary.

The work produced by students "showed a different level of sophistication and depth,” Lewis testified. “For children, Karen was the person for that building. We are here for the kids. She’s here for the kids.”

But under cross-examination, Lewis said that over several years of evaluations, she had advised Heitner to improve her communication with her subordinates. The cross-examination was conducted by the district’s attorney, Christopher Mestecky.

Lewis said communication was one area she frequently included in evaluations and that as a superintendent, she wanted to grow administrators and help them refine their skills to be more effective leaders. 

Under questioning, Lewis acknowledged she previously told Mestecky that Heitner “was rough around the edges” and “harsh” toward some staff.

“Not all staff,” she clarified. “There were people she was not patient with.”

In past hearings, about half a dozen employees testified that Heitner created a toxic workplace environment and her behavior left some feeling humiliated or harassed. Heitner's attorneys have argued that the allegations against her were made by disgruntled employees who did not want to be held accountable for their poor performance or resisted changes Heitner brought to the school.

2019 allegation

During Tuesday's hearing, Mestecky brought up additional allegations from 2019 from a computer aide, which was not part of Heitner's disciplinary case. The incidents were investigated by Vincent Mulieri, then the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources under Lewis.

Mulieri found there was a “communication breakdown” that led to a verbal exchange in which the aide perceived Heitner to be “abusive, unprofessional, condescending and mean-spirited," Mestecky said while questioning Lewis, who was Heitner's supervisor at the time.

Mulieri also found Heitner’s behavior in a moving-up ceremony “demonstrated a lack of professionalism,” Mestecky said during the hearing. He did not elaborate.

Mulieri recommended Heitner seek professional development to help improve her communication with staff, Mestecky said. She was also directed to maintain a professional demeanor with staff at all times.

The aide also complained Heitner assigned her to cover duties not part of her job description.

Lewis said she spoke with Heitner about those findings. In response to the aide’s complaint that Heitner pulled her to cover duties outside her purview such as monitoring the cafeteria, Lewis said Heitner told her: “I had to staff the cafeteria...I had to take care of kids.”

Even though Mulieri found it not appropriate that Heitner assigned responsibilities outside the aide’s job duties, according to Mestecky, Lewis said: “In emergencies, principals have to do what’s right for the kids.”

High praise from former boss

Lewis, a superintendent of 18 years in three Long Island districts who served as president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said Heitner’s work was “stellar.”

The veteran educator called the disciplinary charges “silly” and said she told Heitner she thought the charges would go away.

“Based on my knowledge of the principal and her conduct when I was superintendent, I don’t see it as consistent of what I know of her,” she said.

Lewis said Heitner elevated the school’s instructional program to a “commendable” height and she brought some of the initiatives the principal started in Plainview to Malverne when she became superintendent there in 2020. Lewis retired from Malverne in June.

One of those initiatives was called “literacy night” to help children read.

“I said: ‘Call Karen,’” she recalled telling her Malverne staff. “She knows how to do it.”

Even after learning Heitner was suspended, Lewis said she didn’t hesitate to bring the principal to Malverne to help train her staff on a method of teaching known as “responsive classroom."

"I would do it again," she testified. "I would do anything for my children.”

When Heitner’s attorney, Arthur Scheuermann, asked Lewis what she thought of the principal's honesty, her answer was “of the highest quality.”

“If you ask her something, Karen fesses up,” Lewis said. “Almost too honest.”

Hearings in Heitner's disciplinary case began in April, with the district presenting its case over 10 sessions. James Brown, a state-appointed hearing officer who has presided over the hearings, will make a recommendation after the proceedings conclude.

Lewis is expected to continue testifying at the next hearing, scheduled for Sept. 22.

By Dandan Zou

dandan.zou@newsday.com@DandanZou

Dandan Zou covers education for Newsday. Previously, she worked for a community newspaper in Maryland and a personal finance magazine in Washington, D.C.