A Message from our Superintendent

A Message from our Superintendent - Dr. Emily Hersh

Welcome to the Mt. Pleasant Blythedale website that belongs to a district responsible for educating patients of Blythedale Children’s Hospital. Mt.Pleasant-Blythedale UFSD was chartered by the New York State legislature as a Special Act Program in 1971. In 2004, SED approved a 4410 Preschool Program to provide educational services to medically fragile children. We are the only public school district in New York created to educate a hospital population.  Our students are inpatients and day hospital children and adolescents receiving rehabilitation and medical services through Blythedale Children’s Hospital.

Education is a vital component of the rehabilitation program.  This multidisciplinary approach is used to ensure that students receive coordinated services.  Attending a full day of school every day sends a very important message.  Even though they are patients in a hospital, our students are encouraged to pursue the primary tasks of childhood and adolescence: having fun and growing emotionally, socially and academically.

I am proud and honored to have been granted the opportunity to serve this district as Superintendent commencing the 2016-2017 school year.  I have served children as a teacher and school leader for over twenty five years.  After spending 16 years a Special Education elementary and secondary teacher at the Mt. Pleasant Blythedale School, I became an assistant principal at Peekskill High School.  I returned to the Mt. Pleasant Blythedale Union Free School District in 2011 and was named Principal. In 2016, I was appointed as Superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Blythedale UFSD.

MPB is a special place with a very special students and faculty.  I hope you find our website informative.  For further information please do not hesitate to email at ehersh@mpbschools.org