On Monday, November 17, Bank Street hosted a special appreciation luncheon for members of the Lucy Sprague Mitchell Society, which honors donors who have chosen to leave a legacy gift to the College. Gathering in Tabas Auditorium, alumni, retired faculty, and longtime friends came together to reconnect, reflect, and reaffirm the values that have shaped Bank Street for more than a century.
The afternoon was both a celebration of community and a moment to consider what it means to sustain Bank Street’s mission in a changing world. In his opening remarks, Bank Street President Shael Polakow-Suransky, GSE ’00, spoke to the strength that comes from remaining rooted in purpose, especially during uncertain times.
“These are unquestionably unsettling times, but Bank Street is well equipped to meet this moment,” he said. “We will remain grounded in the values that have guided us for more than 100 years.”
To underscore that commitment, Polakow-Suransky turned to Bank Street’s own history. Drawing from The Way Will Open, a biography of former Bank Street President Jack Niemeyer, he reflected on the College’s leadership during the McCarthy era and the Civil Rights Movement, periods when Bank Street could have retreated but instead expanded its work with children, families, and educators across the country. “Bank Street stayed true to who we were,” he said. “I believe we are called to do the same now.”
That throughline of continuity across generations was echoed by Dean of the Graduate School of Education Suzanne McCotter. While new to her role, McCotter shared that her connection to Bank Street began early in life, visiting campus as a child with her father, longtime School for Children teacher Paul Schwarz. She and her siblings delighted in exploring their father’s classroom, the play deck, and the library. Today, she sees powerful opportunities to build on Bank Street’s progressive foundations through innovation, collaboration, and the work of its faculty and staff.
The luncheon also highlighted the tangible impact of legacy giving on the lives of educators and students today. McCotter introduced Samantha Sewpersaud, Noyce Math Leadership Fellow and middle-school educator of 19 years in the Bronx, who spoke about her experience in Bank Street’s Leadership in Mathematics Education Program. Earlier this year, federal scholarship funding for Sewpersaud and her fellow Noyce scholars was abruptly withdrawn. In response, the Bank Street community came together to raise more than $300,000, ensuring the cohort could complete their studies.
“My time in the math leadership program has been a journey of affirmation and growth,” Sewpersaud shared. “[Bank Street has] given me more than an education. You’ve given me permission to see myself as a leader.”
She closed by thanking attendees for their generosity, noting that their support reaches far beyond her own experience: “Through me, you’re investing in the hundreds of students I’ll teach and the educators I’ll support throughout my career.”
As conversations continued over lunch, attendees shared memories and reflected on the relationships that have long defined the Bank Street community. One guest remarked that despite being away from campus for many years, seeing the familiar tree in the Bank Street lobby and cafeteria was a reminder of the College’s enduring spirit—alive, rooted, and still growing.
The gathering concluded with a heartfelt gesture: access to the Center for Children’s Literature’s Best Books Lists and recent works of children’s fiction. It was a fitting close to an afternoon shaped by reflection, gratitude, and a shared belief in the lasting power of education, and in the role each generation plays in carrying Bank Street’s mission forward.
Have you remembered Bank Street in your estate plans? If so, please let us know so that we can thank and welcome you as a Lucy Sprague Mitchell Society member. Informing Bank Street of your planned gift intention will also allow us to designate your gift according to your wishes. For more information on the Lucy Sprague Mitchell Society, please contact Tracy Snyder, Donor Engagement Officer, at 212-961-3360 or tsnyder@bankstreet.edu.