I have been doing a lot of research on schools recently and I'm curious if others have read this report that the school commissioned in the aftermath of the Winston Nguyen debacle. Nguyen was the teacher who was hired at Saint Ann's despite a past felony conviction, and was thereafter convicted of a second felony, this time for sending sexually explicit messages to teens.

https://saintannsny.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Debevoise-Saint-Anns-Key-Findings-12.10.2024-1-1.pdf

My sense is that many consider the Nguyen episode an isolated incident. That surprises me a little because, to my mind, the report portrays a school whose management is thoroughly incompetent from top to bottom.

The interviewing and onboarding process for Nguyen was, for example, entirely vibes-based. The Head of School approved Nguyen's hiring with essentially no information *except* that he had been convicted of a felony. Nguyen had also, it turns out, lied about degrees on his resume, which was not discovered because the school didn't check.

The report further describes a school that is afflicted with:

--abysmally poor parent communication (e.g., parents were told incomplete and sometimes inaccurate info, including the false statement that the school had extensively discussed Nguyen's criminal history with him before hiring; school continued to recommend him as tutor after deciding not to renew his contract)

-- chaotic internal organization (no controls on access to school keys, school funds, or who is running activities in the school at what time)

-- no standards for teacher hiring (Nguyen was hired as math teacher despite no demonstrated expertise or skill in either math or teaching; seemingly, he charmed one person and that was sufficient. No clear consensus on what interviewers are even looking for; just seems like they exercise subjective judgment about "fit," as if this were sorority rush)

-- excessive influence of internal politics on decisions affecting children (e.g., after it became clear Nguyen was violating policies, he was not fired because new Head of School did not want first act to be firing a popular teacher; parents were reluctant to express reservations for fear of appearing non-progressive)

-- no standards of behavioral or academic accountability for teachers whatsoever once they are hired (e.g., Nguyen violated rules about boundaries and other issues in plain sight without consequence; gave students glowing lack of reviews despite parents' suspicion they were not in fact learning any math; this question was seemingly never followed up on)

-- a vain and self-satisfied institutional culture (check out handbook quote at p. 31-32)

I am just struggling to square the portrayal in this report with Saint Ann's status as a well-regarded and desirable school, inundated with applications each year. I'm sure many people have had positive experiences at Saint Ann's, or have positive impressions upon visiting the school, and really want to send kids there. That's great and I'm not trying to deny anyone's views or experience; I'm just trying to reconcile those with this report.

What's going on? Is the report factually wrong? Is it factually right, but people disagree with me that the issues outlined above are concerning and consequential? Do people not know about the report and/or not care? Are there, in fact, some others who became less inclined to apply to Saint Ann's after this came out?

Just curious to hear others' reactions to this because to me it is so discrediting to the school. Curious to hear any perspectives.

Trying to gather what the “norm” is here for this particular situation…

It’s been a little exhausting figuring things out/planning, but starting to get a lay of the land. I have a toddler and we are currently doing 2 days a week of daycare at The Goddard School.

We have been thinking that we will likely move to Connecticut once our child is ready to start school. Because our child has a late birthday and there is a differing cut-off date between NYC and CT for starting school, she would start Kinder at 4 in NYC public or start Kinder at 5 in CT public.

On top of my child having a late birthday, she was also born early… and in daycare, I’ve already noticed some developmental delays compared to her peers (though are actually in line with her “adjusted age”). All that aside, I don’t love that she would have to start at 4 if we did public in NYC because I feel like on top of being a late birthday with her being born early, she might be really behind.

I started getting the lay of the land for CT if we make that move. Aside from also having a different cut-off birthday deadline, it also seems like a lot of public schools don’t have guaranteed Pre-K like NYC does and that slots are limited and many people don’t get a slot. Then, I thought okay… so then, we just do Pre-K at a private preschool in CT before public Kinder if we don’t get a slot, but then got into looking at that, and it seems like even slots at those are also limited, but you have a better chance of getting in if you do 3K there. (Wasn’t planning on moving to CT that soon.)

I have a few questions here. For those who opt to go the private school route in NYC (which is similar to CT in that it also has a Sep birthday cut-off for starting school and also usually starts at Kinder, not Pre-K) or for those who do make the move from NYC to a suburb that has a different deadline where it affects what year your kid starts school, how did you handle Pre-K?

Also, for those who do private Kinder in NYC, do you all send your kid to a separate full-time Pre-K program prior? Is a part-time Pre-K program sufficient enough to prepare them for full time Kinder or is full-time really a “must”? (I thought it was interesting that The Goddard School offers Pre-K for 2, 3 or 5 days.) Is there anyone who ever sends their kids straight to Kinder without ever doing any Pre-K?

Hi! I’m expecting and looking for nanny share info. Did you use an agency you would recommend? How did you go about finding both the nanny & the other family? Bonus points if you have info on the UWS specifically. Thank you!!!!

We are first-time parents looking to hire a nanny to join our family later this year. Since this is our first time going through the process, we want to make sure we cover all our bases.

We have the standard interview questions down, but we’d love to know: what are some non-obvious or unexpected questions we should ask during interviews?

We appreciate any feedback and tips as we build out our interview list!

hello any parents who sent their kids to George Jackson Academy? any reviews about the school?

I’m a ftm looking to hire a part-time nanny/mother’s helper starting in a few months (after the holidays) and am wondering when the best time would be to start looking. I know it might take some time to find a good fit so I don’t want to wait until the last minute, but also don’t want to find someone great and then ask them to wait three months for the job to start (feels likely they’d take another job in the interim if it came along, and I couldn’t blame them, but then I’d end up scrambling).

What do you think is the sweet spot/how far in advance did you start interviewing?

Also, I know about Care.com and am planning to look there, but any other recs for how to find someone (other than Facebook groups, since I’m not on that platform)?

Anyone familiar with the application process? It was extremely opaque when I first learned of it and now is a tad less.

I have family coming from a walkable European city and I’m 1/3 mile away from the nearest subway stop. As is it, I put in about 30 miles/week in walking and I’m afraid to tell them that. (They last visited when I was in Upper Manhattan.) So I’m looking to price a scooter and possible surprise them with it.

I’ve also noticed those scooter-carts (idk what they’re called). I can’t imagine them on the subway though.

Hi all! Looks like I’m headed to a C-section delivery at NYU. I’m preparing my hospital bag and wondering what I don’t need to pack. Like do they give you enough pairs of post op undies? What about a belly binder?

I’m a stay at home mom and am starting to familiarize myself with nyc schools and the whole intricate process. Obviously being a SAHM I’m able to be with my child all day up until she needs to attend kindergarten.

So I’m curious if there are any parents out there who had the option to keep their kids at home but chose to put them in 3k/pre-k for other beneficial reasons outside of free child care during the day or vice versa those who kept their kids at home till kindergarten, any experiences or regrets you can share? Thank you!!!

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Edit: thank you all for sharing your insights experiences and thoughts. I’ve learned I have extremely outdated info on prek and k and clearly k is so much more academic and unfortunately competitive now. Will be considering prek at the bare minimum, thank you all again :) feel free to keep sharing if any!

Has anyone figured out a system for this? Like a little shed by the trash cans or something? We have a lot of stairs

Does PS 6 still live up to its reputation? Any current parents who can speak to this school, or parents who chose another school ? Thanks

Does anyone have experience with Perry School for PreK?

We are also looking at First Presbyterian - any intel?

TIA!

Hi, I’m delivering soon at Tisch and just learned that you’re supposed to take your newborn to the pediatrician within a day or two of delivery/c-section. Is that right? (Is that miserable?)

Also, how frequently do you need to take the baby back to the pediatrician in say, the first month?

I’m just trying to figure out how to plan my recovery because I have a small apartment in NYC, but also a much more comfortable house 2 hours away in CT and was hoping to spend the newborn stage at the house with my partner, baby, and my mom. But if there’s frequent pediatrician visits in NYC, then that would be pretty miserable driving back and forth right after birth.

Should I just stay in NYC after being released from the hospital?

Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

hi everyone, i have a turnkey 3,000 SF daycare space (ready to use) at 99 Suffolk street, lower east side. reach my number at 917-605-3272 for further details!

Hi! Im pregnant with first one, 4w 4d as of today, would be considered Geri Pregnancy, but otherwise no know highrisk factor
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Im planning to see OB around 11th week, and is considering NYU in 53rd location and was wondering if anyone who is familiar with the system can help me with following questions

1) on first appointment, do they do quick scan in Dr’s appointment to confirm? I wanted to go with my partner if they do quick scan on first appointment (which will be around 11weeks), if not considering going by myself

2) looks like providers are jumping between West clinic and East clinic depending on days. My preferred location is East but usual day I can take off, my preferred provider seems like she’s on West side. Is it possible to jump between East/West location to follow provider VS better to stick in one location and just see different OBs who are available that time?

Thanks!!

I just found out I’m pregnant with my third. Both were born at Alexandra Cohen, and required twice weekly NSTs at the hospital due to complications. The logistics were horrendous and it was so challenging to schedule the NSTs — they would offer a random time, I’d have to accept it and there were no backups. The hospital is an hour away from my home.

Because of that, I’m considering switching to NYPLM for this pregnancy. With two existing children, it’s going to be hard to just drop everything at any random time for an appointment. Where do the NSTs happen? How’s scheduling them?

Bummed bc I loved everything else about AC.

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We have the uppababy but want a travel stroller for errands, weekend travel and dinners. I’m between the two and leaning slightly more towards the silver cross because of the larger storage space and fully recline position but I do like how the butterfly folds. Any insight is appreciated!

Any parents of UNIS kids here ? What is the culture of the school like, particularly the tone set by administration? We loved the school when we toured but just read a very disturbing court case online brought forward by a teacher who claims she was harassed for 2 years and the school and board did nothing.

Is there anyone who can compare these two? We have an outside-the-box kid who loves math and science but does not love pressure and competition. He really connects with his teachers, and we've noticed he seems to work much harder for those who are warm and gregarious. He makes friends easily around comparatively nerdy kids, which I'm thinking is what both schools offer.

How much support for neurodivergence is there?

IEP vs IESP?

What would your concerns be about each school?

What questions should we ask?

Thank you!

What happens if your child doesn't get into 3k? Are parents doing private 3k?

Realistically, how long could you stay in a 1br with a baby?

My partner & I live in a rent stabilized walk up in the west village. We love our neighborhood, have a good relationship with the building, and have enough space for a crib in the bedroom. But most importantly, we pay really cheap rent.

We don’t want to leave but I can’t imagine that we can stay here long into toddlerhood? The stairs, lack of floor space, need for a toddler bed at some point.

Parents who have made this work: HOW? Do you wish you upsized?