Addie Schoenberger
Read More“Learning through wonder! I want to encourage students to learn about the world around them and ask questions. If the wonder about their environment starts at a young age, it will continue into adulthood.”
Akili Tommasino ’05
Read MoreAkili Tommasino ’05 studied art history at Harvard and founded the Prep for Prep/Sotheby’s Art Academy in 2017 “to give high school students of color an earlier window into the art world.”
Alex B. ’26
Read More“[Alex] designs and builds objects for 3D printing in Fusion 360, which is a complex program used in industry.”
Alexandra Fried ’20
Read More“The teachers are the best part of going to school at Poly Prep. They are excited to teach their subjects, which makes it easier for students to be enthusiastic about learning.”
Middle School Trip to Philadelphia
Alexandra Nava-Baltimore ’20
Read More“Being a student at Poly has allowed me to live what I learned. Poly has been my home, my studio, my classroom, and my inspiration.”
Angela Gittens P’23
Read More“The highlight of my teaching career is having alumni return to tell me that seeds for their love of speaking other languages were originally planted in my classroom and that they travel throughout the world using their language skills beyond the walls of a classroom.”
Ann McCartney ’94, P’32
Read More“I was a Poly Middle School student myself in the late 1980s, that’s when I learned to love learning.”
Anne L. ’27
Read More“I love the arts and Poly let’s you express yourself and what you love to do. Not all schools let you be that creative.”
Middle School and Upper School student climate strike 2019
Caesar Fabella P’18
Read More“I want to engage my students through a process of self-discovery and interactive pedagogy. I want their experience of history to come alive through dynamic and hands-on activities that are student driven.”
Channing Austin ’20
Read MoreAll-American athlete Channing Austin, who played on Team NY at the National High School Baseball Championship in Houston in 2019, committed to play for the University of Virginia Cavaliers.
Charlotte Knutsen ’21
Read More“[Charlotte] asks penetrating questions in class and is constantly using the classroom space to test and improve her thinking,
Chris Davenport ’91
Read MoreChris Davenport ’91 has been a reporter for The Washington Post since 2000 and covers the defense and space industries for the Post‘s financial desk.
Grade 5 Journeys to Freedom project
Christy Hutchcraft
Read More“[Ms. Hutchcraft] has constantly supported me and made me feel like I could actually make a real career out of writing. In her classes, she offers insights that have changed my perceptions dramatically and strengthened my creative process.”
Clover G. ’28
Read MoreClover G. ‘28 co-wrote a song called “Not Anymore,” which she performed with classmates at the Lower School Winter Concert.
Daniel Doughty
Read More“I love finding a way to engage students who might not think of themselves as musicians.'”
David Reid
Read More“Teaching is at its richest when it’s not teaching, but learning—learning together, exploring questions without answers, and finding the limits of knowledge.”
Harry Potter comes to Poly
Diahann Billings Burford ’90, P’20
Read MoreDiahann Billings Burford ’90, P’20 was the second girl to serve as president of Poly’s Student Government. “Diahann was a force of nature,” recalled Paul Raso, retired science teacher and former Student Government advisor.
Dr. Neil Schluger ’77
Read More“…I developed a love of learning, even for its own sake, and Paul Raso was one of the teachers who helped to instill that in me.”
Ellen M. Martinez P’08, ’10
Read More“[Middle School] students are interested and enthusiastic about learning. Language is often a new subject for them.”
Emily Giurleo ’13
Read More“I certainly wouldn’t be a software engineer if Ms. Turkenkopf and Ms. Licata hadn’t encouraged my love of math and science.”
Lama Tenzin builds sand mandala in Poly's Dyker Heights library
Eugenia Xiao ’14
Read MoreMulti-talented Eugenia Xiao ‘14 earned a BA from Cornell and then a MS in Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing.
Gauri Purohit ’21
Read More“Poly has given me a vast array of opportunities in both academics and the arts, which have allowed me to immerse myself in math courses beyond the standard curriculum and participate in theatre performances.”
Gigi Georges ’84
Read MoreGigi Georges ‘84, a recipient of Poly’s Distinguished Achievement Award, has had an extensive career in politics, public service, and academia.
Lower School children arriving by bus are greeted by Poly faculty
Guy Devyatkin P’00
Read More“When a student returned for an alumni day and told me that he had become an environmental biologist because of his experiences in my class, that was quite special.”
Hallie Stephenson ’20
Read More“My favorite part about going to Poly Prep was that I was able to find such an incredible group of people who wanted to see me succeed and cared about my future. The mentors I’ve found at Poly have given me confidence and have inspired me to pursue things that I was at first unsure about.”
Hank Schilling ’24
Read More“Poly understands how sports and academics are equally important in students’ lives. We get an hour of PE almost every day and have a wide array of sports to choose from and many teams to join both in Middle School and Upper School. There are facilities and fields for almost every sport you can think of.”
Heidi Zarou ’86, P’22, ’22
Read More“In the Lower School art studios, every day is a journey, an exploration into new and exciting territories with our youngest learners where creativity, imagination, and energy abound.”
Alumni back on campus for Oasis Night 2020
Helena Elko
Read More“One highlight this year has been to see my seventh grade art students fall in love with drawing,”
Ira Feldman ’75
Read MoreSustainability must encompass environmental protection, economic development, and social justice. Educating the next generation of environmental advocates is a priority for Feldman.
Jared Banner ’03
Read MoreJared Banner ’03 played four seasons of varsity baseball at Poly. He was named Executive Director, Player Development for the New York Mets in 2018.
Jean Belford P’24
Read MoreJean’s AP Computer Science Principles class won the AP Computer Science Principles Female Diversity Award that recognizes Poly’s commitment to female diversity, as well as the girls’ interest and enthusiasm for computer science.
Jeanine Smartt Liburd ’88, P’21, ‘24
Read More“I honed my ability to craft my ideas and utilize language to be persuasive and share my perspective.”
Jennifer Nelson P’12, ’14, ’19
Read More“[Music] is an inspiring activity that engages every part of ourselves simultaneously.”
Jesse R. ’27
Read More“At Poly we do a lot of team activities, which will definitely help me prepare for the future when I will need to be a good team player and never say “no, I cannot do this. It’s way too hard.’”
Jill Bolstridge
Read More“The skills learned in drama class—creative problem-solving, risk-taking, and collaboration—are transferable lifelong skills.”
John W. ’32
Read More“John W. ’32 loves P.E. and shows good sportsmanship after each contest.”
Junie Blaise ’24
Read More“Junie is a bright and smart student who goes beyond just academics. She was willing to help other students who were struggling,”
Kahaliah Sandy ’21
Read More“Kahaliah has a great ear and confidence to carry out a conversation in Mandarin.”
Khari Freeman ’24
Read More“There are so many good people around and there is always someone you can ask for help when you need it.”
Kyra N. ’25
Read More“I love looking out the window in my classes and seeing the big willow tree sway across the pond.”
Laura B. Coppola ’95
Read More“I love marrying the academic and scholarly study of art history with the practice of making art so that students really get to exercise their intellect and their creativity in tandem.”
Laura Caldwell
Read More“I live my life as a student, waking each day excited to learn something new, and my goal is to pass that curious spirit along to every student in my class.”
Leslie Grinage ’99
Read More“Being in an educational environment such as Poly prepared me well to live in and value a pluralistic society.”
Linda Aponte P’13
Read More“My goal for my students is that they be scientifically literate… I hope using the education they have they will endeavor to do the right thing.”
Lola Stephens ’21
Read More“Lola S. ’21 is a top science student, always pushing her own boundaries to understand information and concepts at the deepest levels,”
MaKiyah Turner-Hicks ’24
Read More“I decided to come to Poly because of its amazing extracurriculars. I’m really interested in theater, visual arts, language, and sports, and Poly offers all of them.”
Margaret C. ’26
Read More“From a dramatic musical to creating an abstract painting. Poly has so many classes from which you can choose what you really want to do.”
Maria DiCarlo P’23
Read More“My goal for all my math students is that they look back on their math classes and feel that my department has nurtured their abilities to be creative problem-solvers and independent thinkers.”
Matt Durando ’96, P’30
Read More“The energy of our students is contagious and inspires teachers to make each moment as meaningful as possible. Teachable moments sprout up like flowers in the springtime.”
Max P. ’25
Read More“Max is always willing to stop what he is doing to help out a classmate, who may be struggling, and is a great asset in the classroom.”
Max Rose ’04
Read MoreAlum Max Rose ’04 was elected to represent NY District 11 in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.
Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18
Read More“Teaching holds a mirror to the soul,” —Parker J. Palmer
Nick Storz ’17
Poly Blue Devils pitcher Nick Storz ’17, who was listed among the Baseball America 2017 Top 100 Draft Prospects, chose to play for LSU, where he is an imposing presence on the mound.
Nina E. ’32
Read More“Nina E. ’32 brightens our Kindergarten classroom with her luminous spirit and irrepressible enthusiasm.”
Noah Saivetz ’24
Read More“[Noah] has a clear passion for understanding the intricacies of mathematical problem solving, as well as making connections between past and current learning and how all of what we learn relates to the world.”
Nyla Welch ’20
Read MoreWith an exceptional talent for language, Nyla has traveled abroad through Poly’s Academic Travel program twice, to Martinique and France.
Olugbala Williams
Read More“I believe teaching to the whole child, which for the preschool age means focusing on social emotional growth. Children in my class learn to self-regulate, handle frustration, become comfortable with making mistakes, and how to empathize.”
Parsa A. ’25
Read MoreDuring the seventh grade’s reenactment of the Constitutional Convention, Parsa had the leadership role of George Washington and proved to be a fair and responsible president of the convention.
Patti Smith P’20
Read More“Every child is an artist; some are natural renderers, some are great at sculpture and 3D work, others have a great sense of design. Our goal is for every child to be successful in an area of visual art.”
Rowan McAllister ’15
Read More“Art was always my favorite class, but I’ve found I use my math and engineering skills almost as much…to really connect all the dots of my education.”
Ryantony Exuma ’22
Read More“Just like stringing notes together to create music, in French class, Ryantony strings together words, manipulates syntax, and applies grammar to express himself in such a thoughtful and euphonious manner…”
Samantha Chan ’21
Read More“Poly encourages students to seek help from teachers, lead meaningful conversations in class, and voice their opinions at community forums.”
Sarah Ely
Read More“I often say I have my dream job because I am teaching the subject that I wish I could have been taught in elementary school. Getting to teach young students and affirm and uplift our Spanish heritage speakers in the Lower School is a privilege.”
Sonja Lindberg ’16
Read More“I worked more and harder than I ever had in English classes. After a few weeks, I came to love it.
Sophia C. ’31
Read MoreSophia C. ’31 is full of creativity and during choice time, she enjoys working with her classmates to create books about topics she loves.
Stacy Hunter P’15
Read MoreBefore coming to Poly, Stacy Hunter was an architect and a software engineer. “What interested me then and what continues to interest me now is examining the region where design and computer science meet.”
Susan Beiles P’88, ’90, ’95
Read More“I hope they [my students] will love to study the ever-changing story of the United States and to be as excited as I am to study history.”
Tess Sutter ’21
Read More“Tess’ work ethic, values, and ability to be a consummate teammate while striving for excellence have been recognized by her teachers, coaches, and peers.”
Valentina A. ’27
Read More“When I first walked into Lower School, I was a little nervous. I would be the newcomer. However, there I was walking through the doors of the most loving, caring, empathetic, and supporting school ever.”
Wendy Haft ’84
Read MoreWendy has coached every sport from basketball to tennis, but focused on softball. In 2015, she returned to Poly to present the Yale Cup at our end-of-year Athletics Awards Ceremony.
William Ling-Regan ’24
Read More“William dedicates himself to excellence both in and out of the classroom.”
Zoe D. ’29
Read MoreZoe D. ’29 loves to solve puzzles and to create things such as the animations she creates using Scratch (or the Scratch coding environment).