30 Nov Lucky Ducks: Pawling Central School District’s Pre-K Program Kicks Off Third Year by Laura Facchin

It’s impossible not to smile when stepping into pre-k teacher Karina Antonio’s classroom at Pawling Elementary School. The room hums with the sights and sounds of joyful exploration; this afternoon the students are working on various small group activities. While some sink their hands into bins full of sensory delights like rice and paper grass, others enjoy time drawing, writing, or painting with colorful ice cubes on popsicle sticks.

Student Leah Resendiz is having an especially good day. “I’m the lucky duck!” she giggles.

“The ‘lucky duck’ is my classroom helper,” explains Antonio. “I choose one a day. They love getting a chance to be the leader.”

Antonio and her counterpart Elise Malone are teachers for Pawling’s pre-k program, which was first introduced in 2021. Now in its third year, it has grown from one class of 20 children to two of 18 – each run by a teacher and classroom aide.

It’s clear when speaking with Malone that she couldn’t be happier with her Pawling experience.

“I’ve taught in other schools before but this is different,” she remarks. “We use New York City’s Pre-K for All Curriculum which works very well, but we’re also encouraged to create lesson plans based on our students’ interests.”

So far this approach has led to customized daily hands-on activities and class projects (Malone’s students are currently working on a giant milk bottle igloo). The benefits even extend to field trips; a child who expressed sadness over missing her cousin inspired Malone to organize a walk to the post office, where the class mailed handwritten letters to their families.

Another feature that sets the pre-k program apart is the location: Pawling’s elementary school building, where students will attend kindergarten the following year. They learn their way around and are even given a complete menu of “big kid” specials.

“Our goal is to get our students socially and emotionally ready for kindergarten,” Malone adds. “Our location definitely helps with that!”

Interim Principal Michelle Rivas, who also acts as the pre-k program coordinator, expressed her pride in being able to offer pre-k education through the district.

“Our pre-k program is a fantastic opportunity for Pawling families who otherwise could not afford to send their children to school,” she said.

“Seeing the pre-k students each morning as they come off the buses is such a joy,” Rivas continued. “Their enthusiasm and free spirits brighten our school.”

Pawling’s pre-k initiative was springboarded by a 2021 grant from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Though the grant’s budget limitations posed major challenges, the district got creative with existing resources to fill the gaps and offer the best pre-k services possible.

“It was a great opportunity but the budget was nowhere near what we needed to properly staff the classrooms,” says Pawling Superintendent Kim Fontana.

Fontana has made it her mission to champion refined funding for programs like this. She represents Dutchess County in the Lower Hudson Education Coalition (LHEC), a project that brings together school leadership throughout four counties to advocate for public education.

“The advocacy is about putting more money and flexibility into the system, which is what schools statewide need in order to offer quality education,” she explains. “So far things are going in the right direction and I’m feeling very positive about the progress.”

Time will tell if New York State is listening hard enough to make the funding changes necessary to sustain initiatives like the pre-k program. In the meantime, between their talented educators and dedicated school leadership it’s certainly safe to say that all of Pawling’s pre-k students can consider themselves “lucky ducks” every day – and in more ways than one