As we reflect on a milestone year at The Parkside School, our alumni continue to remind us that the work of these forty years lives on far beyond our classrooms. The updates in this issue—spanning early career milestones, college acceptances, graduations, performances, published poetry, public art, athletic achievements, and creative pursuits—reflect the breadth of paths our graduates take and the lasting impact of their Parkside education. We are especially grateful to those who returned to celebrate the school’s 40th Anniversary this year, both at our first-ever All Alumni Reunion in November and at the 40th Anniversary Gala in April.

A Look Back: Our First All Alumni Reunion

On Sunday, November 16, Parkside hosted its first-ever All Alumni Reunion at SLATE—a landmark moment in our 40-year history. Nearly 160 alumni, alumni parents, and former and current staff gathered to celebrate the relationships that have carried forward across generations. Former students reunited with the educators who guided them, shared stories from their time at Parkside, and reflected on the lasting influence of the community we’ve built together. Special thanks to alumni parent Heidi Green, whose photography beautifully captured the spirit of the afternoon.

Read the full recap and view the photo gallery →

1990s

Abraham Schneider ’95 is working as a coordinator for administration at the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute. After Parkside, he attended Browning and then Brandeis. Sharing a special message for the school’s 40th Anniversary, Abraham writes that “Parkside will always have a special place in my heart.”

Brian Haher ’98 continues to be one of Parkside’s most enthusiastic ambassadors as the school marks its 40th anniversary. This spring, Brian sent Co-Heads Albina Miller and Leslie Thorne a heartfelt 40th anniversary gift: AI-generated tributes inspired by his Parkside memories, including remastered images from his school years and original artwork in homage to childhood favorites. Brian’s deep affection for Parkside, and his pride in being part of the community, comes through in every note he sends.

2000s

Zurie Ferguson ’00 is currently teaching STEAM at the Horace Mann School, where she guides students in exploring the connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and math through hands-on, creative projects. Zurie shares that she continues to draw inspiration from her time at Parkside.

Amanda Morales ’02 recently wrote to Ms. Miller and Ms. Thorne to share her disappointment at missing the All Alumni Reunion in November and to send her warm wishes to the Parkside community. She is doing well and currently living in Florida, and hopes to reconnect with longtime friend Jonathan Mercado. Amanda also looks forward to visiting Parkside on her next trip to New York to see her father.

Nina Godridge ’05 has returned to where it all began—and we could not be more grateful. Nina graduated from Smith College in 2017 and earned her Master's in Library Science from Syracuse University's iSchool in 2024. Fittingly, she now volunteers in the Parkside library every Friday, bringing her training and care back to the community that helped shape her own early years. Nina remains close friends with Andrea Zambrano, whom she met during her first year at Parkside—a friendship now spanning two decades. In her spare time, she enjoys doodling and drawing, reading, and photography, and she is a devoted cat owner. We are so thankful for Nina's dedication, and for the way she shows how the Parkside community stays connected across the years.

Elliot Hightower De Niro ’08 was recently featured in Page Six after attending the Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory with his father, Robert De Niro, to view his artwork on display at Galerie Gmurzynska. His red-and-black abstract painting, Caribbean Colors, marked his U.S. debut and sold before the fair officially opened. Elliot has previously shown his work in Germany and continues to build a promising artistic career.

2010s

Sarah Holsberg ’10 is currently a third-grade public school teacher in Queens. In 2021, she completed two bachelor’s degrees—a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English—graduating with honors, and in 2024 she earned a Master’s degree in English Literature at Fordham University, all while teaching full time. Sarah has three poems published and regularly attends poetry readings, concerts, and museums. This summer she will travel with her family to Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia, where they have ancestry. Sarah writes that she is “deeply grateful” for her education at Parkside, adding, “I use the skills I learned here every day and teach them to my students. I hope that I am anything like the teachers I had at Parkside.”

Sylvia Guerrero ’11 is currently working at Bright Horizons preschool and is completing her second year there. She plans to pursue a master’s in special education in the near future, with the goal of becoming a lead pre-K teacher. Sylvia sends “a huge thank you to Ms. Miller and Ms. Thorne for believing in me and supporting me and seeing me grow.”

Kai Burridge ’12 began a two-year role in August 2025 as a Skills Trainer for the women’s basketball team at Emmanuel College in Boston, where he is also enrolled in a master’s program in Business Analytics. Working as the right hand to the head coach, Kai’s responsibilities include recruiting, scouting, assistant coaching, player development, and team administration. After Parkside, Kai attended Lowell School in Queens for middle school, Mary McDowell in Brooklyn for high school, and spent a post-graduate year at the Forman School in Connecticut. He played point guard throughout his college career, first at Vermont State University–Lyndon and then at Lesley University in Cambridge, where he graduated with a major in Business Administration. Alongside his college playing career, Kai coached AAU travel teams and began running his own basketball camps and clinics for kids K–12 across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine—a venture he continues to grow. Kai shares that his interest in working with kids was first sparked when he assisted the Parkside gym teacher one summer after graduation.

Jake Cohen ’14 is working at the FIFA World Cup, where he supports Team Operations—the biggest endeavor of a career that has already taken him to the Kansas City Chiefs, FC Dallas, the Kentucky Derby, and FIBA EuroBasket. After Parkside, Jake attended Summit for grades 6–12 and went on to Syracuse University, where he studied Sport Management. Following the tournament, he plans to continue building his career in sport operations—"where that may be, who knows!" Reflecting on the school's 40th Anniversary, Jake writes: "Parkside is quite honestly the reason I am in the position I am today, and it holds a special place in my heart. I came in a confused six-year-old, unsure why I was sent to a new school when all of my friends were somewhere else. In hindsight, it was exactly what I needed. Parkside provided the intimate setting that was necessary for me to develop the right way and to be taught both the hard and soft skills I needed to confidently go out and achieve things in the real world."

Maude Lehmann ’15 recently graduated from Vassar College, where she majored in English with a minor in Film. A dedicated and gifted writer, Maude wrote her senior thesis on Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, and she discovered a love of improv during her college years. As she looks ahead, she's drawn to film, art history, and the world of libraries and archives. Her family shares that they could not be prouder of all she has accomplished.

Owen Barbagallo ’16 is a sophomore at Temple University, where he was recently featured in the College of Liberal Arts’ undergraduate newsletter for putting his research into action. As a CARAS Grantee, Owen spent last summer conducting archival research on the history of the NYC public transit system and collected 186 station-based facts designed to make the everyday history of transit spaces more visible. He created a website, Standing on History, and from March 5–11, two of his subway facts were featured on LinkNYC kiosks near their corresponding stations—generating over 8,000 impressions during that week.

Leon Cesana ’17 wrote to us from Milan with warm wishes for the Parkside community. He is studying Humanistic Studies at John Cabot University in Rome, where he has just completed his first year. Leon hopes to visit Parkside this summer during a trip to New York, and shares that he thinks of the school often, counting his years here among the best of his childhood. Inspired by his Parkside teachers, he hopes to pursue a teaching career of his own one day.

Alex Sun ’18 graduated as co-valedictorian from The Lowell School alongside his brother Matthew. Both brothers are now studying at George Washington University.

Simeon Chew ’18 has had a remarkable year. After earning a distinction on his ABRSM Grade 6 organ exam in London in summer 2025, he sat for Grade 7 this past December and earned another distinction. This spring, Simeon graduated from The Birch Wathen Lenox School, and he will spend the summer in London preparing for Grade 8—including a week at the Royal College of Organists, the Creative Oundle for Organists course, and the New Wine festival—before beginning his first year at London South Bank University. As a graduation gift, Simeon is heading to Honduras for a week of diving (he earned his PADI certificate three years ago), where he hopes to swim with whale sharks. He’ll also travel to Amsterdam and Paris with his mother by train. Simeon writes, “I couldn’t have got this far without you. I will always be grateful for my time at Parkside.”

2020s

Santiago Caravia Perry ’19 will study mathematics and computer science—with a focus in probability, algorithms, and economics—at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor next year. He is currently finishing his senior year at Fairview High School in Colorado and preparing to deliver his commencement address as Student Body Vice President. Santiago writes, “Thank you guys so much! You have no idea the impact you guys have had on me.”

Rosie Green ’20 is finishing her junior year at Winston Prep and looking forward to her final summer as a camper at Cedar Lake. She shares, “It was a thrill to perform for over 300 attendees at the Parkside 40th Anniversary Gala. I loved seeing former classmates and staff, and showing off the skills I learned by being in the Parkside plays.” She adds: “Happy 40th anniversary to the most special school. Here’s to 40+ more!”

Preston Tabora ’22 will spend his summer abroad at Oxford’s business program. After Parkside, he attended York Prep.

Callan Dalton ’22 is currently attending The Titus School. She recently tried out and made the AGUA Special Olympics swim team in NYC and is working hard toward state championships. Callan also plays basketball for the Steady Buckets team and got to high-five the Nets on court this year. She writes, “I love Parkside. I am so happy for their 40th year birthday!”

Max Blankenbaker ’24 is finishing 6th grade at The Lang School and plans to stay there through 12th grade. He is also attending sleep-away camp for the first time this summer. His family writes, “Congratulations on 40 years and for the years of support you offered our family. We will always cherish Parkside.”

A Special Thanks to Our Alumni Performers

The 40th Anniversary Gala on April 22 at Capitale was made all the more meaningful by the talents of our alumni performers, who took the stage in front of more than 300 guests. We are deeply grateful to: Jake Bilerman ’23, Patrick Bowers ’15, Annabel Burguieres ’24, Violet Carlin ’23, Simeon Chew ’18, Cameron Cox ’18, Micaela Diamandiev ’21, Julian Douglas ’24, Ruby Glick ’22, Rosie Green ’20, Alexander Inglese ’08, Sevana Kalaydjian ’23, Devon Krishnaswami ’16, Noah Leon-Wales ’22, Max Lennartson ’15, Iris Reyl ’22, Preston Tabora ’22, Joel Weisstuch ’10 , and Ethan Weiss ’21

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Have news to share? We’d love to hear from you. Submit your update—and a photo, if you have one—at parksideschool.org/alumni-update so we can include you in a future Alumni News.

Alumni News, Spring 2026