Meet Head of School
Dave Monaco

BA Hamilton College, NY 
MA Teachers College, Columbia University

How long have you worked in education?  21 years

Tell us about your educational philosophy.
“Engage the mind, connect to the heart”. In the best of circumstances, if not in every case, the most successful teachers do both with and for their students.

What book would you recommend for parents?  
Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives is a must read for any parent who is looking for a broader perspective on the madness which is the college admission process. Part of my attraction to CTCL is the parallel between their philosophy and ours - finding the right school to cultivate the unique possibilities of each student.

What are your interests outside of Parish?  
Fitness, outdoor recreation activities, following my beloved New York Mets and New York Giants

What you are excited about for this school year?
The way we are building a cohesive and strong pre-k through 12th grade program guided by and built around our Parish Principles of Integrity, leadership, Innovation, and Preparation

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
Serving as Founding Director of Wake Summerbridge, an outreach program for under-served middle school students which uses high school and college students as the teachers. (1993-1998)

...and greatest personal accomplishment?
Partnering with my wife, Mollie, to build a cohesive, happy, family with my three boys

Tell us about your family...
I have been married to my beautiful wife Mollie for 16 years, and we have three sons - Thomas, Robert, and Sam - all proud Parish Panthers!

Most importantly, name your all-time favorite dessert.
I would have to say anything baked or made by Mollie Monaco.