And the Winner is.... the Scarsdale Adult School

An 87 year-old program that offers something new each year has been recognized by the Scarsdale Foundation Bowl Committee as the winner of the 2025 Spotlight Award. The Scarsdale Adult School (SAS), established in 1938, will be honored at the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner on Thursday April 24 and you are invited.

To learn more about the Scarsdale Adult School we contacted SAS Executive Director Jill Serling who told us about the inner workings of the organization and the extraordinary breadth of their curriculum.

Here is what she shared:

Tell us about the early years of the Scarsdale Adult School. When and how did it get started and what were the most popular course offerings in the early days? Where did they meet?

SAS was established in 1938 by Scarsdale group of residents. Five classes were offered, each cost $10. Bridge, Exercise, and Finance for Women were some of the offerings. Classes met at SHS.

What are some of the most popular classes you offer today?

SAS strives for the right blend of brand new timely topics with recurring fan favorites in a wide array of disciplines to meet student interest and scheduling preferences. An award-winning source of affordable quality adult enrichment, SAS offers a diverse selection of subject matter taught by high caliber instructors, all while instilling a sense of camaraderie among its students, even in the virtual classrooms.

How many different classes do you usually offer per semester – and what are the subjects?

We offer well over 250 classes each semester – that is over 1000 classes annually! We offer classes in all areas of continuing education. Our assortment of classes, lectures, special events and walking tours has something for everyone. Our categories include: Art and Architecture Appreciation, Arts and Crafts, Computers, Technology and the Internet, Current Events and Politics, Financial and Retirement Planning, Fitness and Dance, Food and Beverage, Games, Health and Wellness, History and Culture, Hobbies and Edutainment, Home and Garden, Languages, Literature, Film and Television, Museum Preview, Music Appreciation, Performing Arts, Walking Tour, and Writing.

Are you aware of any other adult schools that are as robust as Scarsdale’s?

No I am not! Scarsdale Adult School is unique in our breadth and depth of our class offerings. Simply, we are the Best of Westchester and have been awarded by Westchester Magazine with this distinction!

Who are some of the leading teachers and lecturers that offer classes at SAS?

All of SAS instructors are leaders in the field of expertise. I could not single out a leading instructor.

How many people work at the Scarsdale Adult School? Tell us about your organization.

SAS has a staff of 6. We have two registrars who assist students with registrations and inquiries about the classes we offer. We have a business manager, publicity manager, and a community outreach manager. I have been Executive Director since 2009. Our small, but mighty team is dedicated to providing the best continuing education experience for our students. Customer service is our #1 priority.

What happened to the program during the COVID epidemic. How did you pivot?

SAS was one of the first programs in the nation to pivot to online learning via zoom in early April 2020. We realized early on that we could recruit instructors from all over the globe which expanded our curriculum significantly. We gave virtual tours in France and Italy from natives of those countries. We offered classes from regional experts in art deco, mid-century architecture, and art appreciation to name just a few while continuing to utilize our local experts. Our student body expanded as well as we garnered students from all over the country and internationally as well.

What are the demographics of your students … please tell us what you know about their average age, sex, where they live? etc.

Our students range in age from 18-100. After the pandemic we retained many of our online students, though primarily our students hail from the Tri-State region.

What surprises you about the response to your course offerings – both the good and the bad?

I’m never surprised by the response to our offerings as we have something for everyone! Our students look to us for quality programming at affordable prices and we deliver that on a consistent basis. While not a surprise, it is fun to watch the games category to see which games are trending! (Right now, it’s Mah Jongg!)

What would you like our readers to know about the adult school that they may not be aware of?

Newer residents to our town aren’t as familiar with our program as I’d like them to be. I’d like for them to be aware that we are Westchester County’s lifelong learning hub. We host award-winning authors, offer discussion groups that tackle hot topics, literature, and more, provide creative outlets for novice and experienced artists, offer beginning to advanced language opportunities, provide outstanding fitness classes for all ages, and offer many classes in the performing arts. Students join us for our outstanding walking tours which we offer in Westchester, Connecticut and NYC.

Can you share a memorable story about something humorous or unexpected that happened at an SAS class?

One of my most memorable moments working at SAS demonstrates the dedication and hard work of the SAS staff. When a pipe burst at SHS, we were forced to cancel our evening classes within 2 hours of the start time of evening classes. With ‘all hands on deck’, we as a team called over 100 students before they left their homes or headed to SHS. Customer satisfaction is critical to our mission, and the SAS staff works tirelessly to meet this goal.

Looking into the future, how do you think the program will evolve in the next ten or twenty years?

That’s a great question! Our mission statement provides the best roadmap for the future. Scarsdale Adult School (SAS) is a pre-eminent, independent, not-for-profit adult education organization, offering a wide range of intellectually stimulating, best-in-class courses, lectures, and cultural activities along with skill-enhancing and recreational classes. By serving the needs of adults locally, regionally, and internationally, SAS continually strives to innovate, create a high-quality curriculum, and grow our community of lifelong learners.

Purchase your tickets to celebrate the Scarsdale Adult School and Scarsdale Bowl winner Andrew Sereysky at the Bowl Dinner on Thursday, April 24th at Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club at 6:30 pm. Learn more here.