For Farrah Feygis, becoming an educator began long before she stepped into a classroom professionally.
As a child growing up in Oceanside, Feygis would line up her stuffed animals, younger brother and even her cat and turn them into students for imaginary lessons. Behind those childhood games was the influence of her grandfather, an assistant principal in the New York City public school system whose example helped shape her understanding of what an educator — and eventually a school leader — could be.
“He left a lasting impression about the importance of education, as well as the impact that a strong leader can have on the school community,” Feygis, 38, said. “And that truly inspired me to want to serve my community as an adult and become a leader.”
Now Feygis is bringing that philosophy to Glen Cove as the new principal of Connolly Elementary School, following more than a decade as a classroom teacher and several years working with educators and school leaders on literacy instruction.
Her connection to education continued through high school, when she tutored students through the National Honor Society and participated in a child development course that allowed her to work inside the same elementary school she had attended.
Feygis went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education and psychology from Hofstra University Honors College. She later earned a master’s degree as a literacy specialist from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY Oswego.
She spent a decade teaching in Brooklyn schools in the New York City Department of Education, from 2012 to 2022, and served as a United Federation of Teachers chapter leader. She later became a staff developer with Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, working with roughly 15 schools and helping educators implement research-based literacy practices. She also founded her own literacy educational consulting company.
“Literacy is essential for all facets of life,” Feygis said. “It’s the main tool that people will use — that the kids will use as they get older and currently — to read, write, speak, make sense of the world.”
At Connolly, however, Feygis said her first priority is not arriving with a predetermined list of changes. Instead, she wants to understand the school and the people who already make up its community.
She began doing that before officially starting July 1, attending end-of-year events in May and June and meeting students, staff and families. Over the summer, she also held voluntary conversations with teachers to hear their perspectives.
Superintendent Alexa Doeschner said that early presence stood out.
“She did not wait for July,” Doeschner said. “She came to end of year events, met families, and started learning who our students are. That tells you something about how she leads.”
Feygis said those conversations repeatedly returned to one description of Connolly: family.
“We celebrate diversity. We embrace inclusivity,” she said. “We really are committed to meeting the needs of the whole child.”
Feygis plans to continue building those relationships through regular “Coffee with the Principal” sessions, an open-door policy and individual staff check-ins. She also intends to remain visible to students in classrooms, hallways and the cafeteria.
“I truly believe that it is essential that we as educators have a collective responsibility to provide all students with access to a rigorous and joyful and inclusive curriculum,” Feygis said. “And in order to achieve that, I believe in the strong partnerships and collaboration between the different stakeholder groups.”
