Senator Michael Venditto Honors North Bellmore Superintendent Marie Testa

Marie Testa began her career as a Research Analyst for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Her desire to make a difference in the world led her to a career in teaching. Mrs. Testa earned master’s degrees in Education, School Administration and Supervision, and it did not take long for her to begin making a difference in her community through shaping the minds of our youth.

Mrs. Testa began her teaching career in the North Bellmore School District in 1994, where she quickly emerged as a leader among her peers. She was elected to the district’s Joint Professionals Practices Committee, became a representative of the policy board of the North Bellmore Teacher Center, coordinated the implementation of the Peaceful Playground Program and facilitated the district’s leadership and mentoring Initiatives. All her involvement in the school district has resulted in a more fun and comprehensive learning environment for the children of her community.

As an educator, Mrs. Testa has been honored by News 12 as the Long Island Educator of the Month, was nominated for Disney’s American Teacher Award and was honored by the Ithaca College/Hofstra University research and publication collaborative.

In July 2001, Mrs. Testa was promoted to principal of the Gunther School. As principal, she coordinated the district’s strategic planning process, which led to the development of the District Mission and Core Values – the district’s guiding principles. In 2013, Mrs. Testa was appointed by the North Bellmore Board of Education as the first female superintendent of schools.

During this unprecedented time in education, Mrs. Testa has seamlessly made the transition from principal to superintendent. In her short tenure in her new position, she has shown herself to be an inspirational leader who is committed to her community, school district and to offering all children a challenging and rigorous curriculum throughout their entire school career.