New York City’s educational system is dysfunctional, but some of its schools offer reason for hope. Last month, I visited the Queensview Nursery School and Kindergarten (QNSK), a wonderful preschool in Astoria, and met with a remarkable group of women who have worked or volunteered at the school for decades.

The preschool was founded in 1951, the same year that the Queensview Co-Operative, a multibuilding complex of more than 700 owner-occupied apartments, opened its doors. The late Helen Varsam, one of the program’s early directors, designed the school’s educational program, which has satisfied generations of parents and remains in place today. Her daughter, Stephanie Varsam Saris, is now the educational director; one of her granddaughters is also on staff.

A former Queensview parent who later taught at the preschool recently wrote of the ties between the school and the community:

Queensview is unique because it helps its students and parents form long lasting relationships in Astoria. Raising children in New York can bring with it the added hardship of inconsistency as many families move to neighborhoods and out of the city. Many families do not have a larger support system of grandparents nearby and it can be difficult to form lasting friendships with families within a big city community. . . . the ties that my family made in preschool are still present and strong.