TRANSFORMATIVE
TEACHING
Report of Giving 2021-2022
WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR OF
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dear Poly friends,
The 2021-2022 academic year was a landmark time. We had 1,064 individuals apply to Poly, a record number and an increase of 9% from the prior year. Ninety seniors graduated, all of whom received offers of admission to top four-year colleges and universities. And the Poly Fund, a critical source of funds for all of our operations, reached an impressive $4.5 million, thanks to the generosity of all of you.
These accomplishments both inspire and humble me. I’m honored to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors and to partner with Head of School John Bracker. The pandemic tested all of us in profound ways, but the collective commitment to Poly’s mission of each and every member of the Poly community has never been more evident. Most importantly, the faculty and staff truly rose to the occasion, dedicating themselves to create the conditions for our students to thrive and pursue their passions while navigating an unpredictable landscape.
All of which leads me to ask that we all take a moment to reflect on the importance of our community—its traditions, multi-generational support, transformational teaching, and relentless focus on preparing each student to lead in an unknowable future. These foundational elements all rest on your financial support and personal engagement.
With gratitude,
Todd Molz
Chair, Board of Trustees (2021-present)
P ’14, ’17, ’23
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2021-2022
Todd Molz, Chair, (2021-present)
Mohsin Ansari
Koko Archibong ’99
Kwame Brathwaite
Ezra Callahan ’99
Rosalina Cardenas
Kristin Ceva
Priya Desai
Mark Holdsworth ’83
Ming Hsieh
Alexander Hudnut
Stanley Liu
Roberto Longoria
Lori MacPherson ’85
Judith McDonald
Todd Molz
Denise Nelson Nash
Maricruz Prado
Peter Rice
Elisa Rodriguez ’01
Anthony Russo
Maggie Sabbag ’87
Sonia Singla
Courtenay Valenti
Click here to meet the new trustees who joined the board during the 2021-2022 school year.
FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Poly community,
In third grade, my teacher presented a reading challenge to the class—everyone would read as many books as possible in one month. She put a poster in front of the room that tracked our progress, and the competition was on. Like most great teachers, she knew exactly what she was doing. The class rose to the challenge, and we read and read and read. I did not win, but I discovered the Concord Public Library’s biography section and my love for history.
My life and choices have been framed by transformative teaching at all levels of my education. Similarly, our students at Poly are challenged, supported, cajoled, and inspired by their teachers daily. While the results in the classrooms and art studios, on the playing fields and the stage are more obvious, the quiet moments—when something clicks for a student and a whole new world unfolds—are what distinguish transformative teaching from mere instruction. These slivers of time ignite curiosity and become the foundation for the lifelong impact of a Poly education.
In this Report of Giving, we share examples of transformative teaching, generosity, new ways of thinking, and how we investigate and approach the world we live in. Among the philanthropic stories presented here, we spend time in Dr. Bala Selvakumar’s classroom to learn about the Poly Research Initiative that has allowed our students to publish their research at the national level and also consider how Brandon Takahashi’s ’22 service to Japanese American elders was nurtured during his time at Poly and beyond.
I encourage you to dive into these meaningful stories from our community to learn more about our commitment to transformative teaching.
Thank you for your dedication and generosity to Poly.
Enjoy!
John W. Bracker
Head of School
2021-2022
ALUMNI BOARD
Elisa Rodriguez ’01, President
Anton Anderson ’85
Katie Antonsson ’11
Robynn Brathwaite ’94
Pradip Chandrasoma ’05
John Coogan ’07
Daniel Cunningham ’91
Marisa Echeverria ’96
Richard Kim ’98
Elise Kuo ’07
Cindy Lam ’02
Ankarino Lara ’93
Caitlin Latta ’07
Joseph Masters ’18
Katrina Kuehn Onderdonk ’93
Jennifer Rho ’00
Jethro Rothe-Kushel ’99
Andrew Schwartz ’96
Sarah Schoellkopf ’92
Natalie Kolawa Stone ’03
Amit Sura ’00
Emily Williams ’86
Alexander Wyman ’05
Student Representatives
Aleena Bhatti ’22
Alexis K. ’23