Pawling Central School District

08/31/2026

🍧REMINDER to all Pawling Pre-K and K Families: Playtime and Popsicles is TOMORROW (September 1) from 5:30-6:30pm at Pawling Elementary School!

Enjoy storytime and a meet and greet with brand new PES Principal Mr. Spedafino as well as playtime with new friends and, of course, a sweet treat. Thank you to our fabulous PTA for organizing this super special event for our Pre-K and Kindergarten students year after year! 🐯

08/19/2026

Welcoming Our New Assistant Superintendent for Finance

Dear District Community,

We are excited to announce the appointment of Ms. Melissa Joyce as our new Assistant Superintendent for Finance. Ms. Joyce fills the role following the retirement of Mimi Heslin. We extend our sincere gratitude to Mimi for her dedicated years of service to our district and wish her all the best in her retirement!

Having previously served as our district's Purchasing Agent, Ms. Joyce knows firsthand what makes Pawling special and was inspired to return. During our search process, she stood out as an approachable, collaborative leader who models honesty, integrity, open communication, and teamwork.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the role, Ms. Joyce shared:

"It is a privilege to rejoin this incredible district. My goal is to ensure our financial resources are managed thoughtfully and strategically so we can directly support our educators and provide the absolute best education possible for our students."

Ms. Joyce’s extensive background in both district business operations and regional educational service organizations equips her with the exact leadership experience needed for this role:

District Business Leadership: As the School Business Administrator at Katonah-Lewisboro School District, Ms. Joyce managed daily business office operations, assisted in developing a $131 million annual budget, oversaw safety initiatives, and served on the team directing a $49.5 million capital project.

BOCES & Special Education Funding: During her tenure at PNW BOCES, she served as Special Education Business Analyst, managing a $50 million special education budget, leading state financial reporting, ensuring compliance, and overseeing billing. She also previously served PNW BOCES as Purchasing Agent.

Education & Professional Credentials: Ms. Joyce holds a New York State School District Business Leader (SDBL) certification. She earned her Master of Science in Education (SDBL) from Pace University, a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Child/Adolescent Psychology.

Ms. Joyce’s comprehensive experience in municipal purchasing, grant administration, capital projects, and special education funding prepares her to guide our district's financial future. Please join us in giving a warm welcome back to Melissa Joyce!

Sincerely,
Elizabeth A. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Pawling Central School District

Our mission is to empower student success through critical thinking, creativity, and respectful discourse, shaping a transformative world that values and elevates their diverse insights and talents, ensuring that every student can thrive.

Go Tigers!

08/14/2026

One Tiger. Many Stripes. One Shared Vision. 🐯📚✨

☀️ As we move further into August, there is so much excitement and energy building across Pawling!

Our Board of Education trustees and District Administrators recently came together to reflect, collaborate, and plan for the year ahead. What stood out most was our shared commitment to one common vision: creating an exceptional school experience for every Pawling student, family, and employee.

Guided by our mission to empower student success through critical thinking, creativity, and respectful discourse, we are united around priorities that will strengthen our school community, build efficient systems, and support innovative instruction. 💡

Behind the scenes, our administrators and staff have been working throughout the summer to prepare our schools, classrooms, programs, schedules, and supports for an incredible year ahead.

And we know that what makes a school year truly special isn't just what happens in our classrooms—it’s the people who come together to make it happen. Our Board, administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and community partners each have an important role to play.

Our leadership is united, energized, and deeply committed to making 2026–27 a truly special year for Pawling—one filled with opportunity, connection, growth, and pride.

And to all of our students: everyone pictured here—and so many more across our district—can’t wait to see you in September! We are counting down the days until our Tigers are back where they belong. 🐯💙

One Tiger. Many Stripes.
Roar Loud. Roar Proud.

📢 More information about the new school year will be shared in the coming weeks.

07/29/2026

🐯 HAPPY INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY! 🧡🖤

Today we celebrate what it means to be a Pawling Tiger—demonstrating courage, resilience, determination, kindness, and pride every day as we learn, grow, and support one another.

Did you know?

🐅 Every tiger has a unique stripe pattern—just as every student brings unique talents, strengths, perspectives, and family stories that make our schools stronger and our community richer.

💦 Tigers are excellent swimmers and actually enjoy spending time in the water. Just like tigers, Pawling students are encouraged to embrace new challenges, build confidence, and keep growing—even when learning takes them outside their comfort zone.

📣 A tiger's roar can be heard up to two miles away! Together, our voices help create a community where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to thrive.

International Tiger Day is also a reminder of the importance of protecting wild tigers and preserving their habitats for future generations. As we celebrate our Pawling Tiger Family, we also recognize the importance of caring for one another, our community, and the world around us.

What makes you proud to be a Pawling Tiger? We'd love to hear your favorite part of our Tiger community in the comments!

07/29/2026

🏆EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE FIELD! 🎓👟

We are thrilled to share that our Pawling Central School District has been officially named a 2025–2026 NYSPHSAA Section 1 School of Excellence!

To earn this prestigious honor, at least 75% of our varsity athletic teams qualified for and received the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award across the fall, winter, and spring seasons.

“We are so proud not only of our students who have worked hard in and out of school throughout their academic careers, but also all of our educators from Pre-K through 12 for the tools and encouragement they provide to our students during each year of their development,” said Pawling Director of Athletics John Bellucci. “All of their efforts to provide an environment where our students feel empowered to thrive in and out of the classroom are key to an acknowledgement like this, as is the support of our Pawling families and community.”

This achievement is a testament to the discipline, hard work, and character of our student-athletes, as well as the unwavering support from our coaches, teachers, staff and families.

Drop a 👏 in the comments to congratulate our awesome student-athletes! 💙

07/17/2026

Have a wonderful weekend Pawling Community...... The latest Superintendent's Corner is Live!!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/13/2026

Pawling Board of Education reorganization and business meeting tomorrow, July 14th, 9:00 am at Pawling Middle School.

07/10/2026

The latest Superintendent's Corner from Dr. Kennedy is LIVE!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Watch it on YouTube here:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/06/2026

Dear Pawling Families and Staff,

Following the storm, the district will reopen tomorrow for summer programs. Transportation will navigate around any remaining blocked roads. Thank you to our local emergency, utility, and district crews for their hard work to keep us safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kennedy, Superintendent

07/05/2026

Dear Pawling Families, Pawling CSD is closed Monday, July 6 due to storm impact. No out-of-district transportation. We expect to reopen Tuesday, July 7 and will send an update tomorrow. Thank you to emergency crews and staff for their hard work. Stay safe! - Dr. Kennedy, Superintendent