About Our Founding Director
Lesley Koplow, GSE ’79, is a clinical social worker, educator, and author based in New York City. She founded the Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice at Bank Street Graduate School and has written numerous books for educators, including Unsmiling Faces: How Preschools Can Heal and Creating Schools That Heal. Since 2020, she’s also written a series of children’s books focused on emotions and healing. After retiring in 2023, Lesley left behind a legacy of emotional care for children and educators in schools, childcare, and temporary housing. The Center continues her mission of creating nurturing, supportive spaces where children feel seen and valued.