David Marmor, principal of Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows, will be retiring this month after dedicating more than 25 years to public education, including 15 years as a principal.
“I am deeply moved by the extraordinary love, support and generosity shown to me by our elected officials, community partners, staff, students and families,” Marmor said. “As I retire from Francis Lewis High School, I do so with a full heart, immensely proud of what we have built together, profoundly grateful for this remarkable community, and confident that the school’s future will continue to shine.”
Both Assemblymember Nily Rozic and Councilwoman Sandra Ung honored Marmor with proclamations for his service, expressing their gratitude for his leadership and wishing him a happy retirement.
Rozic said he served with distinction and a commitment to academic excellence and students’ well-being. She said the award recognized his service and acknowledged his impact on students, faculty and the broader educational community.
Ung noted his many achievements during his time at the school. She pointed to U.S. News & World Report, which consistently ranks the school among the top high schools in the state, and Niche.com, which reports that FLHS remained in the top 3% of high schools nationwide. Its graduation rate remains above 90 percent, and more than four out of five graduates pursue higher education within six months.
“Under Dr. Marmor’s leadership, Francis Lewis didn’t just rise to meet challenges, it set new standards,” Ung said. “He cultivated a culture of respect and high expectations that has shaped generations of students. He proved that a public school serving thousands of young people from all backgrounds can maintain world-class academic performance, graduate students at exceptional rates, and send them on to colleges and careers with confidence.”
Not only that, Ung continued, but Marmor did so despite the school operating at nearly double its intended capacity for years. She said his “strategic vision and calm leadership” equipped students with the tools, support and resources they needed to succeed. “His ability to guide such a large school community toward exceptional outcomes is nothing short of remarkable,” she said.
During Marmor’s tenure, FLHS maintained and oversaw expansions to the school to meet the academic and extracurricular interests of his students, including a 555-seat state-of-the-art annex complete with modern science labs, a professional-grade kitchen and flexible classrooms in 2022.
Nidhi Babbar, the assistant principal of science at FLHS, said Marmor’s vision transformed the high school with the addition of the annex, which provides students with real-world opportunities in science research, culinary arts and hydroponic technologies.
Babbar noted that Marmor has also been a dedicated advocate for student mental health and the prevention of cyberbullying. “His leadership combined innovation with compassion, leaving a lasting legacy for generations of students,” she said.
Rozic and Ung said Marmor’s leadership would be deeply missed, and his legacy would live on at the school in ways that would help students find their voice, confidence and passions.
“Dr. Marmor has dedicated his career to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed,” Rozic said. “His leadership and commitment to excellence have left a lasting mark on Francis Lewis High School and the entire Queens community. I am proud to honor his remarkable career as he retires.”
“Dr. Marmor leaves behind a model of what strong, student-centered leadership in public education can look like,” Ung added. “I want to thank him for his years of service to the families of Northeast Queens, and I wish him the very best in this next chapter.”
