Welcome, New Poly Faculty and Staff!

Jenine Almahdi will be Poly’s first-grade teacher this fall. Jenine has been with Poly for 15 years. She started as our second-grade teacher and, after seven years, took on the role of Academic Dean, where she collaborated with other teachers to set goals and develop best practices, supported grade-level teams with curriculum and pacing, and provided academic intervention to low-performing students. Jenine is excited to return to the classroom, where her heart has always remained, and have an opportunity to share all she has learned with her new students.

We are excited to share that Laila Jaffer ’15 will be joining the Upper School faculty as Poly’s new Upper School Assistant Librarian. Laila returned to Poly in August 2025 as our Archive Intern. She came to us from UCLA Library Special Collections, where she served as an Archival Processing Scholar and was trained in processing archival materials, including the Donna Santisi collection of photographs and ephemera, through the Center for Primary Research & Training. Laila earned her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. We are delighted that Laila will continue to be a part of our Poly community.

We are pleased to announce that Marie Munoz P ’34 ’37 will take on the role of Lower School Academic Dean for grades 3-5, expanding on her previous role as Academic Dean for grades 4-5. Marie has been part of the Poly community since 2001, teaching in various capacities and demonstrating a deep commitment to nurturing each student’s individual talents and growth. In Marie’s own words, “Seeing students experience their ‘a-ha’ moment is priceless.”

We would like to share that Yvette Pompa will be Poly’s K-5 Lower School Library Teacher, expanding her previous role, which encompassed grades 3-5. Yvette came to Poly in 2018, where she shares her passion for the written word with our youngest minds. That enthusiasm also shapes Yvette’s approach to teaching. She pairs her commitment to social-emotional learning with a desire to create “joyful, lasting experiences” that resonate with young readers.

We are very pleased to announce that Debbie Silva will be Poly’s new Associate Director of Admission. Since arriving at Poly in 2021, Debbie’s influence within Admission and the community has been significant and meaningful. Debbie continues to take on a larger role in the department, now overseeing non-entry Lower School admissions for grades 1-5 in addition to her Middle School responsibilities. Debbie served on the Evaluation and Compensation Task Force Committee this past year, where her contributions were invaluable. She is an integral member of the Admission team and has proven to be a very thoughtful supporter and collaborator. We look forward to another successful year for Admission.

Kate Argue joins our Lower School faculty as Poly’s new K-1 Teaching Fellow. Kate comes to us from Downtown Value School in Los Angeles, where she taught sixth-grade English language arts and social studies. In these roles, Kate designed engaging curriculum and incorporated strategies to support English language learners. Kate also served as a Teach for America Corps Member, committing two years of teaching in under-resourced public schools and participating in professional development focused on student learning and achievement. She earned her B.A. from California State University, Los Angeles. Please give Kate a warm welcome when you see her on campus.

Karla Cienfuegos joins our Lower School faculty as Poly’s new Academic Dean for grades K-2. Karla comes to us from International Community School in Singapore, where she served as the Director of Teaching and Learning. In this role, Karla partnered with Pre-K-12 faculty to strengthen instructional practice through observation, reflective feedback, co-planning, and classroom modeling. She also coached teachers in designing student-centered, developmentally appropriate lessons and led curriculum review and alignment across divisions. Karla’s foundation is in early elementary education, where she spent much of her career teaching kindergarten and first grade. She served as a founding kindergarten teacher at KIPP Empower Academy and Lou Dantzler Preparatory (two high-performing Title 1 schools in South Los Angeles), as a founding kindergarten teacher at The Primary School in East Palo Alto, and as a first grade teacher within the IB Primary Years Programme in South Korea. Karla earned her M.A. from Loyola Marymount University and her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Please say hello to Karla when you see her on campus.

Helen Foley ’05 P ’30 ’34 joins our Upper School faculty as Poly’s new Biology teacher. An alumna and current Poly parent, Helen has deep roots in Pasadena and the Poly community. She brings extensive teaching and research experience, having taught at both Caltech and USC. At USC, Helen assisted with a large introductory biology course and taught smaller sections, while at Caltech, she helped design and lead Bi1X, an experiment-based introduction to biology. She also supported biology instruction for undergraduate and graduate students. Helen’s broad scientific background includes experience in public health and epidemiology, neuroscience, primatology, and genetics through a range of laboratory and research experiences. Helen earned her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. Please say hello to Helen when you see her on campus.

Valerie Gratias joins our Poly community as Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing. She is a senior media and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience shaping high-impact storytelling and media strategies for major news organizations and NASA mission communications. Most recently, Valerie worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she led strategic communications for JPL-managed missions, partnering with senior leaders to translate complex initiatives into clear, compelling narratives for broad audiences. Valerie collaborated across NASA, JPL, and global partner organizations to produce live media briefings, press events, mission videos, and digital content leading up to mission launches. Prior to joining JPL, Valerie worked in broadcast journalism, most recently as Executive News Producer of Today in LA at KNBC, where she oversaw the editorial and visual direction of the three-hour morning newscast and led a team of anchors, reporters, producers and writers. Valerie earned her B.A. in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach. Please say hello to Valerie when you see her on campus.

Peter Lifland ’06 joins our Upper School faculty as Poly’s new Computer Science teacher. Peter most recently worked at Microsoft, where he used data analysis, modeling, and machine learning to help the Windows and Office product teams better understand customer usage patterns and assess the impact of new features. He also served as a performance analyst for Windows, developing solutions to improve features, and mentored junior data scientists and colleagues in new technologies. Peter earned his B.A. in Computer Science at Harvard, where he was one of three lead teaching fellows for the then-new 200-student Intro to Computer Science course. In that role, he contributed to the creation of CS50 AP, a computer science curriculum for high school students. Please give Peter a warm welcome when you see him on campus.

James Maloney joins our Upper School faculty as Poly’s new Physics teacher. James is a student-centered physics educator with a Caltech research background and experience teaching high school science across physics, biology, and engineering. He comes to us from Alliance Levine Charter High School in Los Angeles, where he designed and taught physics and robotics curriculum incorporating hands-on labs and project-based learning. James also differentiated instruction for diverse learners and used technology and data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction. During his time at Caltech, James developed and managed the Caltech Summer Research Connection program, pairing high school students and teachers with Caltech researchers for inquiry-driven summer research. He also co-developed and led summer STEM programs through Community Science Academy, teaching subjects ranging from physics and chemistry to biotechnology, programming, and engineering design. James earned his Master’s degree from the California Institute of Technology and his B.S. from the University of Florida. Please say hello to James when you see him on campus.

Amandine Nélaton joins our Upper School faculty as Poly’s new French teacher. Amandine has 18 years of experience teaching French in academically rigorous independent schools. Most recently, she taught French 2 through AP Honors at Harvard-Westlake School, using communicative and thematic instruction to encourage student autonomy, confidence, and cultural understanding. Amandine has designed French curricula focused on authentic cultural content, diverse Francophone voices, and real-life language use. She describes her teaching style as student-centered, proficiency-based, and deeply connected to culture, noting that representation and diversity are not “add-ons” in her curriculum; rather, “they shape how and why I teach.” Amandine earned an M.A. in Secondary Education and an M.A. in French and TESOL from West Virginia University. Please give her a warm welcome when you see her on campus.

Christina Rozario takes on a new role at Poly as our Lower & Middle School Library Assistant. Christina is already a familiar face on campus through her work with the Poly Extended Program (PEP), where she created a positive and inclusive environment for students, built meaningful connections, and designed engaging enrichment activities that fostered critical thinking and social-emotional growth. Prior to joining Poly, Christina worked at The Posse Foundation in Los Angeles, where she served as a Senior Trainer supporting a large caseload of scholars. Christina earned her B.A. from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Please say hello to her when you see her on campus.

Becky Weinstein-Sanders joins Poly as our new Upper School Learning Resources Specialist. Becky comes to us from KIPP SoCal Public School in Los Angeles, where she held several roles in special education, including Founding Education Specialist, Assistant Special Education Program Manager, Regional Special Education Program Specialist, and most recently, Regional Associate Director of Special Education. In her current role, Becky provides coaching and professional development on special education topics for school leaders, faculty, and special education teams, and also leads data analysis, planning, and problem-solving meetings. Becky has led compliance initiatives and supported a cohort of Regional Case Managers, focusing on leadership development, team culture, and best practices in IEP writing and facilitation. Becky also serves as a Board member for Soleil Academy and previously served as an adjunct professor at Alder Graduate School of Education. Becky earned master’s degrees from the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University. Please give Becky a warm welcome when you see her on campus.

George Silva joins Poly as our new Lower School Music Director. George is a dedicated music educator and performing artist with more than a decade of classroom and ensemble experience with students from preschool through eighth grade. He comes to us from Granada Preparatory School in Granada Hills, where he served as Music Specialist, providing daily music instruction in vocal development, rhythm, note reading, music history, appreciation, and ensemble performance. George also planned, rehearsed, and directed major school productions, including holiday concerts and end-of-year performances, and created original arrangements and recordings to support rehearsals and live performances. A skilled collaborator with teachers, families, and Performing Arts colleagues, George is committed to culturally diverse repertoire, equitable instruction, and student-centered creativity. He earned his M.F.A. and B.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. Please give George a warm welcome when you see him on campus.

Cynthia De La Torre takes on a new role at Poly as our fifth-grade Teaching Fellow. Cynthia is already a familiar face on campus, having served as a substitute teacher for grades K-8 since 2025. In this role, she taught across multiple grade levels and provided individualized and small-group academic and behavioral support. Cynthia has also worked with students through the Poly Extended Program (PEP) and PolySummer, leading art classes for K-5 students focused on creativity, collaboration, and self-expression. She also served as Poly’s long-term substitute Lower School Art teacher, teaching visual arts to students in grades K-5 through interdisciplinary, inquiry-based instruction. Cynthia earned her M.F.A. from California College of the Arts and her B.F.A. from California State University, Fullerton. Please congratulate Cynthia when you see her on campus.

Yolanda Yu Qing Wu joins our Upper School faculty as a part-time Mandarin teacher. She comes to us with experience in elite high schools and charter schools. Most recently, Yolanda served as a long-term substitute teacher at Castelar Elementary School in Los Angeles, where she planned and taught lessons in both English and Mandarin and collaborated with colleagues to support the school’s dual-language program. Previously, Yolanda served at Marlborough School as a long-term substitute teacher, where she taught Chinese language to students in grades 8-11, as well as Chinese poetry and cultural appreciation. She also collaborated with colleagues to organize Chinese cultural exploration activities. Yolanda brings 10 years of language teaching experience in Hong Kong secondary schools. She earned a Master of Education from the University of Hong Kong and a Postgraduate Diploma of Education in English from The Education University of Hong Kong. Please say hello to Yolanda when you see her on campus.