| Elizabeth C. Gilkeson | 1936 - 1949 |
| Elizabeth
Whitney |
1949 - 1950 |
| Eveline Omwake | 1950 - 1952 |
| Henry Haskell | 1952 - 1959 |
| David Clarkson | 1959 - 1961 |
| Marguerite Strehlau | 1961 - 1963 |
| Hillis Howie | 1963 - 1965 |
| Leonard
Opdycke |
1965 - 1972 |
| John Zilliax | 1972 - 1977 |
| Richard E. Hanson, Jr. | 1977 - 1985 |
| Frederick W. Heinrich | 1985 - 1990 |
| Josephine A. Spencer/Acting | 1990 - 1991 |
| Tony Buccelli | 1991 - 2001 |
| Mary Jane Yurchak/Acting | 2001 - 2002 |
| Mary Jane Yurchak | 2002 - 2005 |
| Elizabeth Vinogradov/Acting | 2005 - 2006 |
| Josie Holford | 2006 - |
Did you know?
- Early directors had two jobs: they served as the head of Poughkeepsie Day School as well as held faculty status in the child study department at Vassar College.
- Elizabeth C. Gilkeson--known as Ibby--left PDS to work at Bank Street College's School for Children in New York, where she was instrumental in growing the school.
- Tony Buccelli, appointed in 1991, was the longest serving director in the school's history; his tenure was abruptly ended with his untimely death at age 54 in 2001.
- The PDS board of trustees changed the title of "director" to "head of school" during Mary Jane Yurchak's headship.
We'd love to hear your personal recollections of the Day School's inspirational leaders. Contact us!
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PDS director Leo Opdycke is shown at left in the "new building" (39 New Hackensack Road) with student Josh Weinstein. |