Message from Our Dean

Suzanne S. McCotter

I’m delighted to be the new Dean of the Graduate School of Education at Bank Street College, and have enjoyed getting to know this warm community. Bank Street is part of my personal story: when I was young, my father taught in the School for Children, so stepping into this role feels like coming full circle.

For over a century, Bank Street’s programs have engaged the whole student and fostered a deep appreciation for lifelong learning. Our students learn to transform thoughts and ideas on education, from the abstract to the concrete, and thrive in real-world settings as impactful educators, community leaders, museum educators, and child life specialists. They not only develop the skills to create rich, challenging learning environments, but also learn how to inspire and uplift those they interact with every day.

As I begin this work, I keep Lucy Sprague Mitchell’s Credo in mind: What potentialities in human beings—children, teachers, and ourselves—do we want to see develop? And how do we nurture curiosity, courage, and a zest for learning in a world of new needs and new possibilities?

Our students, staff, faculty, and alumni carry Bank Street’s values into their daily work, showing others how this approach can make a difference. Our collective experiences help shape our community and guide future students who are just starting to explore their own paths. Our work is grounded in the belief that education is a process of constructing knowledge, and that when learners begin to question the world, they connect to their own sense of agency and engage in deeper learning. We believe the core relationship between student and teacher must be rooted in authentic dialogue, and that collaborative learning communities are the key to meeting the challenges of tomorrow.

Bank Street is a powerful educational institution—one that supports experiential learning, engages and supports development, and offers an opportunity to shape the future. If you are not already a part of our community, we hope you will consider joining us.

Sincerely,

Suzanne S. McCotter
Dean
Bank Street Graduate School of Education