In
1953 Lawrence came to the Franklin Park School District as a teacher after
earning a bachelor’s degree at William and Mary College in Williamsburg,
Virginia and serving two years in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps. He did
advanced study at the Univ. of Chicago, Northern Illinois Univ., and National
College of Education earning a master's degree in education.
After four years in the classroom, he was named principal of East School where
he remained for eight years until he became assistant superintendent in 1965.
In 1969 he was instrumental in designing the West School building which now
bears his name. He also helped design the Hester Junior High School addition. In
May of 1973 Lawrence was appointed Superintendent of Schools, retiring in 1989.
The board of education authorized the establishment of the Lawrence W. Passow
Fine Arts Fund to provide fine arts experiences beyond the regular curriculum
for pupils in the Franklin Park Public Schools.