Message From Our Interim Dean
At Bank Street School for Children, every aspect of our program is built around a profound respect for children—their ideas, identities, challenges, and potential. From their earliest years through graduation, students are nurtured as thinkers, creators, and changemakers, developing the confidence to advocate for themselves and others and the skills to navigate a complex world with empathy and courage.
As Interim Dean of Children’s Programs and Head of School for the 2025–26 school year, I’ve stepped into this role with deep gratitude and a full heart. I’ve been a part of the Bank Street community since 2017, serving first as a Learning Specialist and later as Director of Student Support and Learning. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with faculty, families, and children to understand how we can best meet the needs of every learner academically, socially, and emotionally. Before Bank Street, I spent 14 years in public school administration, serving as principal and superintendent in both Harlem and Brooklyn. But my connection to this work is also deeply personal.
Many in our community know that I didn’t learn to read until the fifth grade. I carry that experience with me every day, not as a burden but as a reminder of how powerful the right school environment can be. Too often, children’s strengths go unseen or uncelebrated. At Bank Street, we do things differently. We center each child’s full humanity and build our curriculum around who they are and how they learn. It’s why I’m here and why I believe so deeply in what we do.
Our faculty are experts in child development who bring warmth, insight, and intentionality to their teaching. They plan and adapt a curriculum that is both rigorous and responsive, drawing from students’ questions and lived experiences. Whether it’s a 4-year-old exploring the life cycle of a snail or an eighth grader writing legislation as part of a mock congress, students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, collaborate meaningfully, and pursue knowledge that connects to real life.
At every stage, we guide students to ask hard questions, embrace complexity, and take action grounded in justice and care. Our graduates leave Bank Street not only prepared for high school, with many accepted into top schools across the city, but also ready to lead their lives with thoughtfulness and purpose. Their sense of wonder deepens into discernment, their voice into advocacy, and their curiosity into a lifelong commitment to learning.
While transitions can bring a wide range of emotions—gratitude for what we’ve had and hope for what’s to come—I’m honored to walk through this next chapter with you. As a community, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide a progressive education that honors the brilliance of every child. I look forward to all we will build together.
Melanie Bryon
Interim Dean of Children’s Programs
Head of the School for Children
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