About Susan E. Wagner Day Schools
Based in the Bronx, NY
The Early Beginnings of The Agency
The Susan E. Wagner Day Care Center was founded in January 1961 by Daisy George and a group of community members, primarily women, who saw a need to create a program to serve families in the newly developed low-income Edenwald housing development in the Northeast Bronx. At its inception, the goal was to support the new families with quality care for their children, and out of this collaboration, the first Center was opened at 1140 E 229th Street. The Center was named after the late grandmother of the then Mayor of New York, Susan E. Wagner.
The registered name is Northeast Bronx Day Care Center, Inc.
The collaborators soon recognized the need to serve the families of the children in their care, and they began forming linkages with other community agencies to assist families in their search for resources to meet their medical and mental health needs, including job training, high school equivalency programs, teen and youth programs, and other services.
Later History
On October 1, 1975, Dr. Joyce James was invited by the Board to join the Susan E. Wagner schools as Executive Director; at the time, there were 75 children enrolled.
At the time, capacity was 115. Dr. James' vision was to create an agency with more than 115 children, so she walked through the projects, dropping flyers and inviting parents to bring their children to Susan Wagner. By January of the following year, the 1140 center was over capacity.
The need was identified for another center, so in short order, the 4102 White Plains Road Center was opened with the Special Education Program added, followed by the Universal Pre-K Program. Susan E. Wagner Preschool was among the first special education sites in the Bronx to receive full programmatic approval from the New York State Department of Education.
A year later, another center was opened at 5401 Post Road (also called Riverdale), which also offered the Special Education Program and the Universal Pre-K Program.
In 2009, Dr. James was invited to take over two schools that were closed: one located at 1732 Davidson Avenue (also called Grow With Us), which offers only the Special Education Program, and the other at 3440 White Plains Road (also called Victory Day Care).
Victory Day Care Center, the oldest center, had its genesis in 1942, and today is still one of the oldest day care centers, still offering excellent care for children in the Bronx. Victory Day Care was started by a small group of innovative mothers who organized a cooperative nursery to care for their children because their husbands were drafted to serve in World War II and it was necessary for them to seek employment to meet the needs of the family. The name Victory Day Care was adopted to signify a spirit of triumph. Today, the Center serves 54 children and their families, delivering the New York City Department of Education 3K and Pre-K programs.
Dr. James remains actively engaged in the day-to-day running of the organization, with the support of the Special Education Coordinator, Chief Fiscal Officer, and an Education Director at each site.
Schools where amazing things happen
Among its many accolades, the Susan E. Wagner Day Schools have been awarded several times as "Outstanding Early Childhood Programs" and continue to be recognized as the premier child-care agency in the Northeast Bronx.
The Susan E. Wagner Family of Schools has been able to grow and accomplish this not only because of its leadership but also because of the commitment and quality of our teaching and support staff, many of whom have been with the organization for over 20 years. Our teaching staff participates in continuous educational courses that expand their professional skills. They also attend workshops that enable them to keep abreast of new teaching strategies and methodologies, allowing for the enhancement of the quality care our children receive.
The cultural and ethnic composition of our staff is reflective of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the children and their families. Our program is designed to honor and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the members of our community.
Today, the Susan E. Wagner Day Care Center has evolved into a multi-service agency and continues to increase its services to support the developing needs of the communities in which it operates.
The Susan E. Wagner Family of Schools is Hiring!
Join our passionate team at Susan Wagner Day Schools! We're currently on the lookout for friendly and compassionate individuals who are eager to make a difference in early childhood education. At our schools, you'll have the opportunity to work in a supportive and dynamic environment, nurturing the minds and hearts of young learners.
If you have a love for teaching and a desire to contribute to a child's foundational years in a meaningful way, we would love to hear from you. Become a part of our family, and help us continue to provide exceptional care and education. Apply today to start your rewarding career with us!
People Love Our Schools!
"My two kids went to this school, very nice staff and the teachers are very intelligent and helpful, kids learn a lot here."
Ali A.
"What could I ever say about this school? Amazing school, amazing principal, amazing staff, amazing teachers. They are helpful. Your child in this school is in safe hands."
Shadha A.
"Amazing School. Great teachers fantastic Principal. The teachers really care and go the extra mile to help your child. This Pre-K helped my child so much, and I am very grateful for them. I would highly recommend this Pre-kindergarten to parents.
Melissa C.
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