Susan Lukianov has dedicated her career to education, with a particular focus on making learning experiences both effective and enjoyable. She has worked across various roles in the Orange School District since 2002, including as a second-grade teacher, curriculum facilitator, and math science specialist at Peck Place School. With a deep passion for ensuring that students thrive, she strives to make learning meaningful, especially when it comes to subjects like math.
Over the years, Susan has worked at several schools before joining the Orange district, including Greenwich Country Day School and Rye Neck Union Free School District. She has earned numerous awards, including the Mural Green Award for excellence in teaching science and recognition as a Connecticut State finalist for the Presidential Award in Mathematics and Science. Additionally, she spent two years at the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan, developing educational programs and curriculum guides.
Her broad experience, especially in the realm of making educational systems more efficient, led her to adopt a unique dismissal solution that has transformed how Peck Place School handles student pickups. The introduction of the Pikmykid platform has significantly improved both the safety and efficiency of the school’s dismissal process. Let’s take a closer look at how this change is benefiting the school and its community.
A Shift in Dismissal Process
Peck Place School is part of a K-6 elementary district serving 1,200 students. Prior to the implementation of Pikmykid, the dismissal process was a bit chaotic, especially during the summer learning program. The district’s summer program, funded by grants, was unable to provide busing for students. This situation triggered a sudden surge in car pickups, requiring the dismissal of over 300 students in a short period. With just two weeks to prepare, Susan and her team turned to Pikmykid.
The transition to this platform was seamless, with the app managing the logistics of car line dismissals and walkers in ways that were previously impossible. Once the summer program concluded, the success of the Pikmykid system led to its permanent adoption across all four schools in the district for regular dismissals.
Flexibility for All Schools
Different schools in the district have unique needs when it comes to student pickup. At Peck Place, the school is lucky to have a spacious parking lot, allowing for 16 cars to load at once. However, other schools in the district don’t have this luxury, leading to different configurations. For example, the Pre-K and Kindergarten school can only handle five cars at a time due to space constraints. Another school can load about 10 cars at a time.
At the district’s fourth building, where there is no available space to pull cars in without risking student safety, the app helps facilitate a parent walk-up system. Parents park and then walk into the building’s cafeteria to pick up their child. Regardless of the method used, the Pikmykid app is flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of all schools.
A Game-Changer for Safety and Efficiency
The new system has brought several key improvements, particularly in terms of safety. In the past, parents would often enter the building to wait in the gym, which created confusion and delays. Identifying which child belonged to which parent was sometimes difficult, especially when parents didn’t have their ID or car tag.
With Pikmykid, the app has streamlined the process. If a parent lacks the app, the system will not release their child to them. This policy ensures that only authorized individuals can safely dismiss children. As a result, we have reduced dismissal times to just 12 minutes, even with 80 to 100 kids being picked up by car each day.
The app also makes it easier for parents to monitor their child’s whereabouts. For walkers and bikers, Pikmykid sends a notification to parents when their child leaves the school. This allows parents to track their child’s journey home and gives them peace of mind knowing when their child is safely on their way.
Empowering Parents and Reducing Office Work
One of the most impactful aspects of Pikmykid is how it shifts responsibility from the school to the parents. In the past, school staff had to manage last-minute changes to pickup plans. Parents often panicked and called the office to clarify whether their child should go on the bus or be picked up by car.
Now, with the app, parents are solely responsible for inputting and updating their child’s dismissal plan. If a child’s plan changes, it’s the parent’s responsibility to make the change in the app. This has reduced confusion and relieved school staff from the burden of managing pickup details, allowing them to focus on more important tasks.
Clear Deadlines and Expectations
To ensure smooth operations, Peck Place School has set a firm deadline for changes to be made in the app. Parents have until 2:30 PM to make any changes to their child’s dismissal plan. After that time, any last-minute changes need to be handled directly with the school office in case of emergencies.
Additionally, Susan advises classroom teachers to check the app midday to ensure that students are aware of any changes to their dismissal plan. This helps prevent unnecessary stress, especially for younger children who may get upset if they see unexpected changes to their end-of-day routine.
Stellar Customer Support
Beyond the app’s functionality, Susan emphasizes the incredible customer service she’s received from Pikmykid. The team is always ready to assist when there are issues or questions. Whether troubleshooting problems with the app or addressing tech issues, Pikmykid offers prompt support that ensures the system works smoothly for the school community.
Susan recalls how quickly the platform was able to adapt to the district’s needs, whether it was transitioning between regular school days and the summer learning program or addressing unexpected changes. She credits much of the program’s success to the fantastic customer service, which has been crucial in maintaining a seamless experience for both staff and parents.
The Future of Dismissal Systems
Looking ahead, Susan is hopeful that her district will adopt more Pikmykid tools that benefit the school district beyond dismissal. The ease of use, safety improvements, and time saved have all contributed to a positive experience for students, parents, and staff alike. In Susan’s words, it’s been a “game changer” for Peck Place School, and she is excited to see how other schools in the district and beyond will continue to embrace this innovative solution.
By providing a solution that combines efficiency with security, Pikmykid is making school dismissals safer and more organized, giving both parents and school staff peace of mind. This example shows how technology can improve everyday school operations and create a better environment for students and families.
