It's not too late!
Stream Parenting Scene 2026
Heads of Horace Mann and Avenues New York with Dr. Aliza Pressman (with live Q&A):
A conversation about resilience, raising good humans, and teaching life
Missed NYC-PIA Parenting Scene 2026? It’s not too late!
We recorded the event and have made it available for streaming for the next 30 days. Register today for access to this incredible event!
Tickets are $25. Financially supported tickets are available.
Dr. Thomas Kelly
Head of Horace Mann School
Todd Shy
Head of Avenues New York
Dr. Aliza Pressman
Psychologist and Host of Raising Good Humans
Parenting Scene 2026 brought together NYC Heads of School, Tom Kelly (Horace Mann School) and Todd Shy (Avenues New York), with developmental psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning host of the Raising Good Humans podcast, Dr. Aliza Pressman. Our panel tackled a wide range of themes, including:
Parental Anxiety & Children’s Wellbeing
The panel explored how parental anxiety filters down to children, and encouraged parents to reflect on their own emotional state as an act of care for their kids.
Technology & Screens
Panelists discussed the unique challenges facing children who have grown up as digital natives, offering guidance on setting intentional, confident boundaries around screen time.
Artificial Intelligence
The group examined AI’s growing presence in children’s lives, urging a cautious, go-slow approach while acknowledging its potential to support learning in meaningful ways.
Raising Good Kids (Not Just Accomplished Ones)
A recurring theme was the distinction between “résumé virtues” (skills and achievements) and “eulogy virtues” (the kind of person your child will be remembered as). Panelists encouraged parents to resist the pressure of doing more simply because others are, and instead ask: Am I raising a good, happy, inclusive kid?
Navigating Divorce
The panel offered compassionate guidance for families going through divorce, emphasizing the importance of shielding children from adult conflict and keeping open communication with school staff.
The Value of Raising Children in NYC
The city gives our children the chance to experience a vibrant spectrum of cultures, perspectives and diverse experiences, enriching their understanding of the world from a young age.
Thank you again to our panelists and to The Trinity School for hosting.
Our Panelists:
Dr. Aliza Pressman
Dr. Pressman is a developmental psychologist with nearly two decades of experience working with families and the health care providers who care for them. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans, and host of the award-winning podcast, Raising Good Humans. She is the co-founding director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center and is an associate clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Teacher’s College, and Columbia University. Dr. Pressman is surrounded by four teenagers: her two daughters and two stepchildren.
Dr. Thomas Kelly
Dr. Kelly is Head at Horace Mann School, an independent day school in Bronx, NY. In addition to his administrative duties, he is a member of the Upper Division faculty where he has taught both Ethics in School and Society and Advanced Placement Psychology. Beyond the walls of Horace Mann, Dr. Kelly’s commitment to the community at large includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Early Steps, Riverdale Senior Services, Inc., The IDEAL School and the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. He is also a member of the advisory boards serving the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Pre-College Program at Columbia University.
In addition to his N-12 duties, Dr. Kelly has held the rank of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education at several graduate programs, including Teachers College, Columbia University and City College of New York. He holds M.A. and M.Ed. degrees in education, as well as M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in behavior disorders and research.
Todd Shy
Shy joined Avenues New York in 2012, the school’s first year of operation, as a humanities instructor for the middle grades. He went on to become the director of the Mastery Program and program director of High Intensity Practice in Writing. During the 2017-18 school year, Shy served as an upper school head at Town School For Boys in San Francisco, California. Avenues New York had the pleasure of welcoming him back in Fall 2018 to assume the role of Head of the Upper Division.
Prior to Avenues New York, Shy taught social studies at Cary Academy in Cary, North Carolina; philosophy at North Carolina Governor’s School in Raleigh; and history at Rocky Mount Academy in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, completed graduate coursework at King’s College London, and obtained a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Coming up next from NYC-PIA:
Wednesday, April 22, 12-1pm on Zoom
How do screens affect children’s brain development and mental health? What are practical strategies for healthy digital habits? Join Dr. Jodi Gold and moderator Geoffrey Golia as they discuss helping parents manage and prevent compulsive online behavior.
Wednesday, May 6th, 7-8:30pm on Zoom
We’re hosting something special: An intimate group gathering that we at NYC-Parents in Action call Parent Talks where LBGTQ+ parents can sit together and speak freely about their parenting journey with others walking the same path. Join us for an evening of honest conversation and shared experiences in a warm, welcoming space designed just for LGBTQ+ parents.
