Alyssa Baker
Bank Street School for Children '15
I could talk about Bank Street all day! I went back regularly after I graduated because my younger sister was still there, and I eventually became an alumni tour guide while I was in high school because I loved it so much.
Alyssa Baker, whose father is a professional actor, was immersed in the world of performers and storytellers from day one.
“When you grow up in a family of entertainers, you’re either going to love it or you’re going to hate it,” she said.
After graduating from Bank Street, she studied dance at LaGuardia High School before realizing her true passion was production, and she earned her BA in Film, Television, and Media Arts from Quinnipiac University. Today, Alyssa is a production assistant on the Alternate Streams team, where she manages archival footage for documentaries, social campaigns, and feature films.
Entering the workforce during the industry-wide writer’s strike in 2023, Alyssa faced challenges, but the resilience she developed during her childhood at Bank Street helped her navigate a “jobless, lost” six months before she landed her role at the NBA in early 2024. One of her proudest milestones to date was leading the footage research for the NBA Original documentary Inbound (2025), which explores the recent rise of Canadian players in the league.
While her professional life is spent at the intersection of sports and media, Alyssa credits Bank Street for providing the emotional foundation that sustains her today. Looking back on her time at the School for Children, Alyssa fondly remembers her teachers, particularly Ali, who anchored her during the high-pressure application process and transition into high school.
Reflecting on her journey from the 13/14s to the 2025 NBA Draft and the star-studded NBA All-Star weekends, Alyssa encourages current students to be present.
“Bank Street feels like your whole world while you’re there, but in the grand scheme of things it’s such a short time in your life. Don’t sweat the small things. Soak in the traditions—the musicals, the DC trip, and the simple joy of being together and having fun.”
Bank Street’s community has provided Alyssa with her lifelong friends. Despite the passage of time and the shift into adulthood, they remain her closest confidants.
“Friendship takes work, and when you leave Bank Street that might hit hard,” she said. “Don’t take for granted the time that you have together; that community is so important.”
Whether she is collaborating with executive producers or scouring archives for a perfect clip, Alyssa carries the Bank Street spirit with her: a commitment to community, a mindful and grounded perspective, and the self-confidence to show up each moment as her full self.
View excerpts from our interview with Alyssa.