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PCDS Annual Benefit Celebrating 60 Years: Children of the World Gala!
58th Annual Benefit on Friday, April 8!
Please join us for our primary fundraising event of the year from 7-10PM
This year’s Annual Benefit is a Masquerade-themed cocktail party at The Cosmopolitan Club, with both a silent and live auction of exciting items, all donated or solicited by PCDS parents! This is a wonderful occasion for parents to meet one another, so we hope you’ll join us in your best mask and festive cocktail attire. There will be food stations with open seating. To register, please click here!
Please join us for a PCDS Open House!
Our In-Person Open House for those who are fully vaccinated will be held on Wednesday, December 1 at 6:30PM. To register, please click here!
Dear Park Children's Day School Community,
On behalf of the Park Children’s Day School Board of Trustees, we are excited to announce the appointment of Pamela D. Stark as the 7th Director of Park Children's Day School. Pamela was unanimously recommended by the Search Committee to the Board of Trustees, who enthusiastically approved her appointment to succeed Betsy Newell in July 2025.
For the past 25 years, Pamela Stark has worked as a Director, early childhood special educator, clinical social worker, and consultant for early childhood schools in Manhattan. She earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social work with Children and Families from Columbia University School of Social Work. Most recently, Pamela was Director of The Rockefeller University’s Child and Family Center.
With a proven track record as an administrator in curriculum development, staff professional development, and family engagement, Pamela is a dynamic leader who has successfully overseen exmissions, admissions, and budget management. Grounded in a student-centered teaching philosophy, Pamela is committed to fostering a supportive and stimulating play-based learning environment.
In accepting her appointment Pamela noted “I am thrilled to join PCDS and look forward to connecting with you at events during the upcoming school year. During the search process, it was a pleasure to experience the enthusiasm and commitment to PCDS from parents, board members, teachers, administrators, and alumni families.
PCDS has a strong history of upholding the highest quality early childhood education and maintaining an especially close-knit supportive community. I am honored to join PCDS and continue this important work. I look forward to our partnership and working together to provide joy-filled and meaningful early childhood education for our children.”
Pamela will be joining another private preschool in an interim leadership role for the next year prior to joining Park Children’s Day School upon Betsy’s retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Our appointment of Pamela concludes an extensive seven-month process in which the Search Committee worked closely with advisors from Carney, Sandoe & Associates to consider scores of applicants before bringing three finalists to school to meet with Trustees, administrators, faculty members and current parents.
The Search Committee would like to express its sincere gratitude to the entire PCDS community for your collective involvement in our search and commitment to the future of our school. Your feedback throughout this process – from the community survey through the final candidate-parent conference calls – has been integral in helping inform our decision and helping to shape the future of our beloved PCDS.
Please join us in welcoming Pamela to the Park Children's Day School community. We look forward to the exciting journey ahead under her leadership.
Warm regards,
Kristen Mleczko Chair of Search Committee, Trustee, Parent and Alumni Parent
Assaad Nasr Chair of Board of Trustees, Alumni Parent
Martha Dabagian Parent and Alumni Parent
Asim Grabowski-Shaikh Trustee, Alumni Parent
Patti Horstmann Administrator, Alumni Parent
Munira Musadek Trustee, Parent and Alumni Parent
Jacqueline Vasconez Faculty
Dear Park Children's Day School Community,
On behalf of the Park Children’s Day School Board of Trustees, we are excited to announce the appointment of Pamela D. Stark as the 7th Director of Park Children's Day School. Pamela was unanimously recommended by the Search Committee to the Board of Trustees, who enthusiastically approved her appointment to succeed Betsy Newell in July 2025.
For the past 25 years, Pamela Stark has worked as a Director, early childhood special educator, clinical social worker, and consultant for early childhood schools in Manhattan. She earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social work with Children and Families from Columbia University School of Social Work. Most recently, Pamela was Director of The Rockefeller University’s Child and Family Center.
With a proven track record as an administrator in curriculum development, staff professional development, and family engagement, Pamela is a dynamic leader who has successfully overseen exmissions, admissions, and budget management. Grounded in a student-centered teaching philosophy, Pamela is committed to fostering a supportive and stimulating play-based learning environment.
In accepting her appointment Pamela noted “I am thrilled to join PCDS and look forward to connecting with you at events during the upcoming school year. During the search process, it was a pleasure to experience the enthusiasm and commitment to PCDS from parents, board members, teachers, administrators, and alumni families.
PCDS has a strong history of upholding the highest quality early childhood education and maintaining an especially close-knit supportive community. I am honored to join PCDS and continue this important work. I look forward to our partnership and working together to provide joy-filled and meaningful early childhood education for our children.”
Pamela will be joining another private preschool in an interim leadership role for the next year prior to joining Park Children’s Day School upon Betsy’s retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Our appointment of Pamela concludes an extensive seven-month process in which the Search Committee worked closely with advisors from Carney, Sandoe & Associates to consider scores of applicants before bringing three finalists to school to meet with Trustees, administrators, faculty members and current parents.
The Search Committee would like to express its sincere gratitude to the entire PCDS community for your collective involvement in our search and commitment to the future of our school. Your feedback throughout this process – from the community survey through the final candidate-parent conference calls – has been integral in helping inform our decision and helping to shape the future of our beloved PCDS.
Please join us in welcoming Pamela to the Park Children's Day School community. We look forward to the exciting journey ahead under her leadership.
Warm regards,
Kristen Mleczko Chair of Search Committee, Trustee, Parent and Alumni Parent
Assaad Nasr Chair of Board of Trustees, Alumni Parent
Martha Dabagian Parent and Alumni Parent
Asim Grabowski-Shaikh Trustee, Alumni Parent
Patti Horstmann Administrator, Alumni Parent
Munira Musadek Trustee, Parent and Alumni Parent
Jacqueline Vasconez Faculty
Dear Park Children's Day School Community,
We hope you are doing well in these first days back to school. On behalf of our Search Committee, we are writing with an update on our Director search. Following months of recruitment and an initial evaluation by our consultants, the Search Committee met earlier this month to review a curated pool of candidate files. We were impressed with the breadth and depth of the applicant pool and after robust discussion and evaluation of each candidate we identified 7 individuals to invite for confidential interviews in a semi-finalist round this month. Pending the outcome of those interviews, we anticipate welcoming finalists to campus in early February. These final round campus visits will provide opportunities for members of the PCDS community to meet with each of the candidates.
We remain confident that we will be able to recommend the next Director to the full Board of Trustees in the coming months, allowing for a robust transition period in close partnership with Betsy Newell who will remain the Director of our school until July 2025. We are excited about our stellar pool of applicants, which affirms the excellent reputation of Park Children's Day School and the attractiveness of our community and program.
With appreciation,
Kristen Mleczko
Chair, Park Children's Day School Search Committee
Assaad Nasr
Chair, Park Children's Day School Board of Trustees
Dear Park Children's Day School Community,
We hope you are doing well in these first days back to school. On behalf of our Search Committee, we are writing with an update on our Director search. Following months of recruitment and an initial evaluation by our consultants, the Search Committee met earlier this month to review a curated pool of candidate files. We were impressed with the breadth and depth of the applicant pool and after robust discussion and evaluation of each candidate we identified 7 individuals to invite for confidential interviews in a semi-finalist round this month. Pending the outcome of those interviews, we anticipate welcoming finalists to campus in early February. These final round campus visits will provide opportunities for members of the PCDS community to meet with each of the candidates.
We remain confident that we will be able to recommend the next Director to the full Board of Trustees in the coming months, allowing for a robust transition period in close partnership with Betsy Newell who will remain the Director of our school until July 2025. We are excited about our stellar pool of applicants, which affirms the excellent reputation of Park Children's Day School and the attractiveness of our community and program.
With appreciation,
Kristen Mleczko
Chair, Park Children's Day School Search Committee
Assaad Nasr
Chair, Park Children's Day School Board of Trustees
PCDS Community,
As we shared in our letter last month we have launched a search for our next Park Children's Day School Director. Our consultants at Carney Sandoe & Associates have prepared a community survey to get your perspectives on our school priorities, the things we value most about our school, and the experience, skills and qualities we desire in a new Director. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Monday, October 2 at 5:00pm ET. We look forward to your responses.
PARK CHILDREN’S DAY SCHOOLDirector SearchCommunity Questionnaire Survey (surveymonkey.com)
Thank you in advance for your time,
Kristen Mleczko on behalf of the Search Committee
PCDS Community,
As we shared in our letter last month we have launched a search for our next Park Children's Day School Director. Our consultants at Carney Sandoe & Associates have prepared a community survey to get your perspectives on our school priorities, the things we value most about our school, and the experience, skills and qualities we desire in a new Director. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Monday, October 2 at 5:00pm ET. We look forward to your responses.
PARK CHILDREN’S DAY SCHOOLDirector SearchCommunity Questionnaire Survey (surveymonkey.com)
Thank you in advance for your time,
Kristen Mleczko on behalf of the Search Committee
Dear Parents, Past Parents, Colleagues, and Friends,
We have been celebrating the 60th year of our school this year with gratitude and enthusiasm. When I think of the great challenges we have faced since I arrived in 2001, I see in my mind’s eye all the faces of those who ensured our survival, and I am so grateful to you all. The determination and loyalty of our teachers, our administration, and our parents, past and present, have been phenomenal, and the school is now growing and strong.
During the first half of my tenure at the school, the Park Avenue Christian Church controlled the governance, and the relationship was unsettling and toxic. When PCDS became a separate entity, we created a Board of Trustees who truly believed in the value of the school and the effectiveness of its philosophy. The Board also recognized the importance of so many of our long serving teachers, who had devoted years of their lives to the school and its mission. Just think of how many children Rhonda White has served over her 40+ years at PCDS!
At this point, you probably know what this letter is announcing. Time and tide wait for no woman, and I turned 83 this summer. Although walking up those flights to the office is excellent exercise, I no longer get down to the basement as often as I’d like to see my beloved Toddlers and Threes, and their exceptional teachers in action.
I have adored my time at PCDS, and I am grateful that I have a couple of additional years to continue as Director, while the search committee begins the task of identifying a new leader for the school. For those two years, I will look forward to every day with eagerness and joy. I continue to be grateful for the ongoing friendship of our parents, past and present, and the daily advice and support of my dear friends in the office, Rhonda, Patti, Fiona, Amy, and Takae.
Fondly,
Betsy Newell
Dear Parents, Past Parents, Colleagues, and Friends,
We have been celebrating the 60th year of our school this year with gratitude and enthusiasm. When I think of the great challenges we have faced since I arrived in 2001, I see in my mind’s eye all the faces of those who ensured our survival, and I am so grateful to you all. The determination and loyalty of our teachers, our administration, and our parents, past and present, have been phenomenal, and the school is now growing and strong.
During the first half of my tenure at the school, the Park Avenue Christian Church controlled the governance, and the relationship was unsettling and toxic. When PCDS became a separate entity, we created a Board of Trustees who truly believed in the value of the school and the effectiveness of its philosophy. The Board also recognized the importance of so many of our long serving teachers, who had devoted years of their lives to the school and its mission. Just think of how many children Rhonda White has served over her 40+ years at PCDS!
At this point, you probably know what this letter is announcing. Time and tide wait for no woman, and I turned 83 this summer. Although walking up those flights to the office is excellent exercise, I no longer get down to the basement as often as I’d like to see my beloved Toddlers and Threes, and their exceptional teachers in action.
I have adored my time at PCDS, and I am grateful that I have a couple of additional years to continue as Director, while the search committee begins the task of identifying a new leader for the school. For those two years, I will look forward to every day with eagerness and joy. I continue to be grateful for the ongoing friendship of our parents, past and present, and the daily advice and support of my dear friends in the office, Rhonda, Patti, Fiona, Amy, and Takae.
Fondly,
Betsy Newell
Dear Park Children’s Day School Community:
Today, we come to you with some important news to share regarding the future of our cherished school and its beloved leadership.
Betsy Newell, our treasured and steadfast steward of the school, will retire as Director at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. This decision follows much heartfelt discussion and contemplation between Betsy and the school’s Board of Trustees. Through 22 years of dedication and passion, Betsy’s instrumental role in shaping the nursery school we know and love today cannot be overemphasized. From overcoming challenges like the unexpected move to the West Side in 2013 to steering us through the trials of the pandemic with grace, her resolute leadership has propelled Park Children’s Day School to new heights with strong enrollment, continuous successful school placements, and financial stability. Betsy’s unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the entire PCDS (and former PACCDS) community – including our students, parents, alumni, faculty, and administrators – leave an indelible mark that will be valued for years to come.
The Board takes to heart the challenges and responsibility in finding a Director to start July 2025, and the associated trust that the PCDS community places in the Board to do that. To that end, the Board curated an inclusive and diverse Search Committee, consisting of representatives from parents, faculty, the administration, alumni parents, and trustees. Chaired by Kristen Mleczko, a trustee and current parent at our school, the committee also includes the following members:
- Martha Driscoll, Parents Association Treasurer and current parent
- Asim Grabowski-Shaikh, Trustee and alumni parent
- Patti Horstmann, Director of Admissions
- Munira Musadek, Trustee and current parent
- Assaad Nasr, Trustee and alumni parent
- Jackie Vasconez, Faculty member
The Search Committee will manage the search process on behalf of the Board and will regularly update the Board throughout the process. It will serve as the principal liaison between the Board, the school and the search consultants and messengers to the candidate pool, conveying PCDS’s values, mission and strategy. It will also evaluate and curate the candidate pool, interviewing and culling the pool into semi-finalists and finalists. At the end of the process, the committee will make a recommendation to the Board, who will, in turn, make the final selection of the next Director.
To guide the Search Committee, the Board enlisted the expertise of Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a renowned executive search consulting firm specializing in independent schools. Their experience and commitment align perfectly with our needs to conduct a thorough, thoughtful, and inclusive search process to identify the best candidates for the Director position.
As valued members of our PCDS community, your input and involvement matter deeply to us. There will be opportunities for you to engage in the search process and provide your valuable insights. Allison Stiles and Seliat Dairo from CS&A will be visiting our school this fall to meet with as many community members as possible. Additionally, an online survey will be sent to the PCDS community, and a dedicated email address for communications related to the search will be active throughout the search process. Please keep an eye out for information on community forums where you can share your thoughts with the search consultants.
We want to extend our sincere gratitude in advance for your participation and support in this crucial endeavor. To facilitate ongoing communication, we will keep you updated regularly throughout the process. If you wish to reach out to the Search Committee, you can do so at sc@parkchildrensdayschool.org.
In the meantime, we want to assure you that over the next two years there will be ample opportunities to celebrate and honor Betsy’s incredible contributions to our school. As we embark on this journey to find our next Director, we are committed to undertaking a comprehensive and thoughtful process to find a leader who will not only uphold our play-based educational philosophy and warm community, but also guide PCDS towards an even brighter future.
Together, as a united community, we will continue to thrive and nurture the next generation of young minds, ensuring that the spirit of PCDS remains steadfast.
With warm regards and gratitude,
Assaad Nasr,
Chair, Park Children’s Day School Board of Trustees
Kristen Mleczko,
Chair, Search Committee
Dear Park Children’s Day School Community:
Today, we come to you with some important news to share regarding the future of our cherished school and its beloved leadership.
Betsy Newell, our treasured and steadfast steward of the school, will retire as Director at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. This decision follows much heartfelt discussion and contemplation between Betsy and the school’s Board of Trustees. Through 22 years of dedication and passion, Betsy’s instrumental role in shaping the nursery school we know and love today cannot be overemphasized. From overcoming challenges like the unexpected move to the West Side in 2013 to steering us through the trials of the pandemic with grace, her resolute leadership has propelled Park Children’s Day School to new heights with strong enrollment, continuous successful school placements, and financial stability. Betsy’s unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the entire PCDS (and former PACCDS) community – including our students, parents, alumni, faculty, and administrators – leave an indelible mark that will be valued for years to come.
The Board takes to heart the challenges and responsibility in finding a Director to start July 2025, and the associated trust that the PCDS community places in the Board to do that. To that end, the Board curated an inclusive and diverse Search Committee, consisting of representatives from parents, faculty, the administration, alumni parents, and trustees. Chaired by Kristen Mleczko, a trustee and current parent at our school, the committee also includes the following members:
- Martha Driscoll, Parents Association Treasurer and current parent
- Asim Grabowski-Shaikh, Trustee and alumni parent
- Patti Horstmann, Director of Admissions
- Munira Musadek, Trustee and current parent
- Assaad Nasr, Trustee and alumni parent
- Jackie Vasconez, Faculty member
The Search Committee will manage the search process on behalf of the Board and will regularly update the Board throughout the process. It will serve as the principal liaison between the Board, the school and the search consultants and messengers to the candidate pool, conveying PCDS’s values, mission and strategy. It will also evaluate and curate the candidate pool, interviewing and culling the pool into semi-finalists and finalists. At the end of the process, the committee will make a recommendation to the Board, who will, in turn, make the final selection of the next Director.
To guide the Search Committee, the Board enlisted the expertise of Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a renowned executive search consulting firm specializing in independent schools. Their experience and commitment align perfectly with our needs to conduct a thorough, thoughtful, and inclusive search process to identify the best candidates for the Director position.
As valued members of our PCDS community, your input and involvement matter deeply to us. There will be opportunities for you to engage in the search process and provide your valuable insights. Allison Stiles and Seliat Dairo from CS&A will be visiting our school this fall to meet with as many community members as possible. Additionally, an online survey will be sent to the PCDS community, and a dedicated email address for communications related to the search will be active throughout the search process. Please keep an eye out for information on community forums where you can share your thoughts with the search consultants.
We want to extend our sincere gratitude in advance for your participation and support in this crucial endeavor. To facilitate ongoing communication, we will keep you updated regularly throughout the process. If you wish to reach out to the Search Committee, you can do so at sc@parkchildrensdayschool.org.
In the meantime, we want to assure you that over the next two years there will be ample opportunities to celebrate and honor Betsy’s incredible contributions to our school. As we embark on this journey to find our next Director, we are committed to undertaking a comprehensive and thoughtful process to find a leader who will not only uphold our play-based educational philosophy and warm community, but also guide PCDS towards an even brighter future.
Together, as a united community, we will continue to thrive and nurture the next generation of young minds, ensuring that the spirit of PCDS remains steadfast.
With warm regards and gratitude,
Assaad Nasr,
Chair, Park Children’s Day School Board of Trustees
Kristen Mleczko,
Chair, Search Committee