Millennium Magazine_7th Ed

67 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine EDUCATION B rother Leonard Conway always desired to be an educator from a formative age, having been influenced by his parents, who were both devout Catholics. Raised in an encouraging family, he was also inspired by the Brothers of the Franciscan Order and wanted to begin giving back to his community. Earning a BS in mathematics from St. Francis Preparatory School in 1971 and an MS in computer science from the Pratt Institute in 1974, he began working for St. Francis after earning a bachelor’s degree and has remained with the institution for the entirety of his career. Joining St. Francis as a teacher, a position he held for nine years, Brother Conway was subsequently promoted to the director of computer sciences in 1980 and principal in 1983. Serving as principal for a resounding 30 years, he has since become president of the school in 2013. Additionally, he has served the school as moderator of the Parents’ Guild since 1973. In his role as president, he deals primarily with the facets of business that keep the school running, including fundraising and balancing the budget, among other responsibilities. St. Francis was named an Outstanding American High School by U.S. News & World Report in 1999. In light of his contributions to St. Francis, Brother Conway earned an honorary doctorate in 2008. Philanthropically involved as well, he has led campaigns at the school and sits on the board of trustees, having previously served as vice chairman of the board of trustees for 12 years. Notably featured in Newsday newspaper in 1989, he has also been a recognized spokesperson for local, national and international media during the swine flu crisis. Among his notable achievements, Brother Conway received the first Excellence in Education Award from the U.S. Department of Education between 1983 and 1984, and launched a $4 million endowment campaign for St. Francis in 1997. He attributes his success to his ability to develop shared leadership, as well as delegating responsibilities among faculty members. He defines success as seeing his students succeed and in 2019, his students won over $176 million in scholarships and aid. BROTHER LEONARD CONWAY PRESIDENT St. Francis Preparatory School Fresh Meadows, NY