New Faculty and Staff: Moving Around, Moving In 2022-2023

2022-2023 Bios 

Moving Around

Jared Christensen came to Poly in the 2021-2022 school year as an interim Upper School History teacher and we are very pleased to announce that he is now a permanent member of our Poly community and will continue his role in our history department. 

Cynthia Crass moves into a new role at Poly as 10th grade Dean and Coordinator. Cynthia has been an integral part of the Polytechnic School landscape as she has been at Poly for 32 years where she has served as a teacher, coach, director, advisor, chaperon, Director of Performing Arts, 9/10 Dean and 9th Grade Coordinator. Cynthia will take on this new role with her customary commitment, passion, and dedication to her students and the community as a whole.

Emily Fischer came to Poly last year as our Interim Director of Alumni and Community Relations. We are happy to announce that Emily has a new role with our Advancement team in 2022-23 as Executive Director, Alumni and Community Relations. We are excited to take this new journey with Emily and welcome her into this new role.

Cynthia Garcia-Macedonio will be stepping into a new role at Poly as 11th grade Coordinator. Cynthia came to Poly in 2015 to teach Upper School Spanish. In her impressive career, Cynthia has designed and guided numerous language and cultural immersion programs to both Spain and Mexico. Cynthia is dedicated to providing students with an unforgettable experience that will provide them with the language skills necessary to flourish in today’s increasingly interconnected world. She has also been involved in The Lily Project which is a local grassroots organization that serves women in rural Nicaragua ensuring equal access to healthcare. Cynthia will bring her traditional devotion and enthusiasm for students in this new role.

Cyril Hicks ’16 officially joins our Technology team as an Information Systems Associate. Cyril’s love for Poly is unrivaled as he has only wanted to work in Technology and be part of his alma mater. Cyril has been working for John Yen in Technology since he was in the eighth grade and was our Summer School Teaching Assistant. He taught two to four introductory computer science classes each summer for young students in grades three through sixth. Cyril has assumed a multitude of increasing responsibilities in the Tech Department that include direct technical support to teachers and administrators. Cyril earned his B.S. in History and Politics from Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH and was on the Dean’s List in the spring semester of 2020. 

Serra Leroy will be taking on a new role at Poly as 12th Grade Coordinator. Serra came to Poly in 2015 to teach English in our Upper School. It did not take Serra long to become an integral member of our community as she was selected to be part of a group in 2018 called the Honor Code Exploration Committee, made up of students and faculty to help write the school’s Honor Code. The Honor Code was officially adopted by the community in 2019. Soon after, in 2019, Serra founded a Poly Moms Support Group after having a child earlier that year. The group quickly grew across all divisions and included both faculty and staff. We’re confident that Serra will bring that same thoughtful and sensitive approach in her new role.

José Melgoza was appointed Upper School Director in January 2022. José came to Poly in 2004 to teach Economics, World Culture and ultimately AP US History. José also served as Poly’s site director for Partnership for Success (PFS) and moved into the Executive Director position overseeing four campuses. José’s broad experience as a teacher, mentor, executive director, and member of the community uniquely prepared him to lead the Upper School.

Jaclyn Ryan will be taking on a one year role for the 2022-2023 school year and will be serving as the Lower School Dean of Academics for K-1. Jaclyn came to Poly in 2013 to teach our younger students in the first grade. Jaclyn has been an integral part of the Lower School and our students have benefited from Jaclyn’s expertise in the classroom and will continue to do so in her role as dean.

Andy Schneider will be taking on the role of Middle School Dean of Student Support in the 2022-2023 school year. Andy arrived at Poly in 2014 where he served as a long-term substitute teacher for fifth grade. After completing his one-year assignment, Andy moved to the Middle School to teach Mathematics and ultimately became a Seventh Grade Dean. We wish Andy the best in his new assignment and know our students will benefit from Andy’s counsel and assistance.

Debbie Silva joined our Admissions team last year (2021-2022) as Interim Assistant Director of Admission for Middle School. We are very pleased to announce the position is now permanent. Debbie has over 20 years as an educator in the independent school world having worked at High Point Academy, Crestview Preparatory, and Campbell Hall. We are thrilled to have Debbie as a permanent member of our Admission team.

Nathan Stogdill moves into a new role as 9th Grade Dean & Coordinator and Program Director of JumpStart. He brings extensive experience teaching English and working with colleagues to support students and create transdisciplinary experiences in both higher education and in independent schools. Nathan came to Poly in 2013 as an Upper School English teacher and is an active participant in the Outdoor Education Program for Middle and Upper School. His committee work includes roles with Admissions, the Global Initiatives Program, and Upper School DEI, to name a few. We welcome Nathan to his new role.

Aquita Winslow came to Poly in 2011 as the Upper School Librarian and was immediately tasked with helping the school in its renovation and reimaging of an entirely new library in a completely new space. Aquita was up for the challenge and was very “hands on” in the development of this new space that has become, in many ways, the touchstone of the Upper School for students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors. In 2018, Aquita moved from the library to become our 9/10 Grade Dean and 10th Grade Coordinator, but she has come full circle and will now serve as Poly’s Dean of Library and Learning Commons. 

Lisa Wu arrived at Poly in 2018 as our Director of Enrollment and has been appointed Poly’s Assistant Head of School, Enrollment and Strategic Initiatives. Lisa most recently served as Poly’s Director of Enrollment and Strategic Communications and has had several title changes during the past four years at Poly to reflect her ever increasing roles in responsibility and leadership. 

Moving In

Cesar Angel is a new member to our Operations team and comes to us from Statewide Enterprises, Inc., where he served as a Maintenance Technician. Cesar is extremely proficient in all matters relating to plumbing (troubleshooting, moving or re-routing lines, fixture installations, etc.) and is also well versed in resolving electrical issues (moving outlets, rewiring, etc.) as well as tile installation, painting, and welding. Cesar was awarded “Employee of the Month” twice at his previous position. 

Kendall Brimhall will be joining the Middle School faculty team as Poly’s new Sixth Grade English Teacher. Kendall is experienced with Poly as she has served as a substitute teacher since 2021. She has assisted in grades K-12 helping to facilitate lessons and performing all other duties of the classroom teacher in their absence. Kendall also assisted the Middle School Learning Specialist by providing small group and one-on-one instruction to students in need of additional support. Prior to working at Poly, Kendall worked as a Seventh Grade English teacher at College Station Middle School in College Station, TX where she collaborated with colleagues to build lessons and also sponsored the cheerleading squad. Kendall earned her Master of Education from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX and her B.S. from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. 

Gillian (Jill) Bush returns to Poly for one year as Upper School Mathematics instructor.  Jill was part of the Poly community from 2004-2017 where she served as the Science Department Chair, Upper School Science teacher, Assistant Cross Country Coach, Outdoor Education and Global Trip Leader, and PFS Executive Director. Jill most recently worked at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, CA as the Head of the Upper School, and Mathematics instructor. Jill led a division of 360 students in grades 9-12 and 60 full-time faculty during a global pandemic and, additionally, supervised an administrative team including assistant division head and dean of students, educational support specialist, counselor, and college counseling team. Jill also taught Algebra 2 Principles. Jill earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA and her B.S. from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. 

Jenny Cashman will be joining the Upper School library team as Poly’s new Upper School Assistant Librarian. Jenny comes to us from TutorMe where she served as a virtual librarian and online subject tutor. She provides service to students at the University of Arizona Global Campus, and also Middle School and High School students across the country who are learning at home. Jenny also worked at Crossroads School in Santa Monica as the Director of Learning Resources. She has an extensive background in libraries and archives in educational and research institutions, including the Getty Research Institute, Arizona State University, and the University of Oxford, as well as archival work at Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Jenny earned her MLIS from the University of California, Los Angeles, CA and her M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, CA. 

Jennifer Cardillo will be joining our Upper School faculty team in the fall as Poly’s new Dean of Students. Jennifer comes to us from Harvard-Westlake where she has been serving as an Upper School Dean. In this role, Jennifer provided academic advising and college counseling to 100 students a year, as well as managed office publications including multiple newsletters for families. Jennifer brings experience in a wide range of roles at independent schools. She began her career as a Teaching Fellow at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA before accepting a faculty position at Thayer Academy in Braintree MA. Jennifer subsequently moved to Concord Academy in Concord, MA where she spent many years of her career. Jennifer was also the faculty advisor to Umoja a (black student affinity group), MOSAIC (social justice discussion and activism group), and MESO (multi-ethnic student organization). Jennifer earned her B.A. in History and Literature from Harvard College, Cambridge, MA. 

Becky Chadwick returns to Poly to teach Mathematics part-time in the Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year. Becky taught at Polytechnic School from 1999-2003 where she also taught Middle School Mathematics to the sixth grade. At that time, Becky decided to leave Poly so she could focus on being a full-time parent. Most recently, Becky taught pre-algebra at the St. Rita School in Sierra Madre. Becky earned her B.S. in Education from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. 

Elaine Chiu returns to Poly to teach fourth grade this fall. Elaine was part of our Lower School faculty team in 2020 and taught fifth grade. Elaine has extensive experience in the independent school world and has taught at Sequoyah School in Pasadena and St. Luke’s School in New York. While at the Sequoyah, Elaine worked as the fifth/sixth grade lead teacher and she developed and taught humanities curriculum driven by student interest and current events. Elaine began the Students of Color Affinity Groups for students aged 10-13. Prior to joining the Sequoyah School, Elaine served as an Associate and Lead Teacher for third grade at St. Luke’s School. Elaine earned her M.A. in Intercultural Studies from Hunter College, City College of New York and her B.A. in English from Binghamton University, State University of New York. 

Monica Dolan will be joining our Lower School faculty team as Poly’s new Science teacher. Monica has worked in education for 17 years at some of the most prestigious and innovative schools in southern California. Through the STEAM Professional Development Certificate Program at Pacific Oaks College of Education, she has taught Integration of Engineering and Simple Robotics, STEAM thinking, Reasoning, and Discovering Mathematics, Integration of Teaching and Learning STEAM Mathematics, and STEAM Integration of Science and Technology. Monica was an instructor at Walden in Pasadena where she taught interactive and hands-on Science classes for the pre-K through sixthgrade students through focus areas such as, trees, and weather, plant and animal adaptation, local watersheds, astronomy, ecosystems, and energy. Monica is currently an adjunct faculty member at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena where she teaches STEAM courses. Monica earned her master’s degree from Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, CA and her B.A. from California State University, Northridge, CA.

Adam Feldmeth ’04 will be joining our Upper School faculty for one year as Poly’s Film Instructor. Adam is a familiar face on the Poly campus as he has filled a myriad of roles since 2008.  Adam has been an ongoing instructor for the Poly Summer Program, has served as lead chaperone for both the Kern River and Klamath River Trip which are part of our Outdoor Education Program, and taught “The Post 1945 World Through Art and Text” class and was a long-term substitute teacher for Ceramic, Architectural Theory, Game/Toy Design. Adam earned his BFA from the California Institute of Fine Arts, Santa Clarita, CA and is expected to earn his M.A. this year from the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. 

Norman Frazier will be joining our Upper School faculty in the fall teaching history. Norman is currently a PhD student in History at Brown University in Providence, RI. Through history, and learning strategies of the humanities, Norman’s mission is to be an effective educator. Norman’s teaching experience includes working for the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University where he taught a course entitled “Bubbles & Crashes,” an Introduction to Economics and Investing for grades six through eight wherein students argued the causes for various financial crises and developed a portfolio for a new investment company. Norman also worked as a Teaching Assistant at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago and the lectures he taught included: “The Harlem Renaissance” and “Latinx Literature of the American Twentieth Century.”  Norman earned his M.A. in History at Brown University, Providence, RI and his B.A. in History from Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL. 

Connie Garcia joins our Advancement team as Poly’s new Associate Director of Annual Giving. Connie comes to us from Johnson Controls, Inc. where she served as an Associate Sales Engineer. In this role, Connie trained in the Building Efficiency Sales Training (BEST) program and was instructed by subject matter experts focused on company organization knowledge, product knowledge and sales skills. Connie partnered with internal and external customers who ultimately helped her to achieve personal goals and objectives. Prior to joining Johnson Controls Inc., Connie worked at Cal Poly Pomona as their Annual Fund Program Supervisor. Connie also oversaw the shift leader and a student group of 16 callers in order to maintain a productive shift. Connie held multiple positions at Cal Poly Pomona that included Annual Fund Program Supervisor, Annual Fund Shift Leader, Senior Class Gift 2018 Co-Chair and Student Philanthropy Club, Scheduler. Connie earned her B.S. from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA.   

Anna Helm joins our Visual Arts team for both the Middle and Upper School. Anna is a multidisciplinary working artist represented both in Los Angeles and New York, who for more than eight years has shown work throughout the country and abroad. Anna’s work has been featured in publications such as Cultured Magazine, Hyperallergic, Contemporary Art Daily, and Harper’s Bazaar Italia. In addition to studio work, Anna has experience in arts education, both as a private art tutor to elementary-age and high school students as well as experience in higher education, where she has spent time as a visiting artist at Rice University working with the undergraduate students on their artistic process while helping create course syllabi. Anna recently taught two elective classes at The Archer School for Girls and was a substitute teacher at Campbell Hall. Anna earned her B.F.A. from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.   

Tiffany Henriquez joins the Lower School faculty team as a Lower School Teaching Fellow and will be assisting Sherlyn Burns in the kindergarten classroom. Tiffany comes to us from the Hollywood School House in Hollywood, CA where she provided Spanish lessons to children ages two-five years old. Tiffany also taught at Kids R Kids in Shanghai, China where she managed and taught a kindergarten class of 12-15 students. Tiffany created relevant English lessons focused on building fluency, listening, and speaking skills while designing creative interactive activities to help build confidence in young learners. Tiffany earned her M.Ed. from Hope International University, Fullerton, CA and her Bachelor’s in Spanish degree from California State University, Northridge, CA.   

Patrick Jackson joins our Visual Arts team as Poly’s Middle School/Upper School Wood and Art History instructor. Patrick comes to us from Rolling Hills Prep where he was part of the Visual Arts Faculty and as such, taught 3D Design I: The Total Work of Art. Students in this class created a life size figurative sculpture made up of ceramic feet, plaster head, wooden armature and assemblage body. Prior to joining Rolling Hills Prep, Patrick spent 10 years at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA where he developed extensive experience teaching sculpture, fibers, woodworking, ceramics, painting, and drawing, and other 3D mediums. Additionally, Patrick served on graduate thesis committees, organized student shows, established new student exhibition spaces and organized an ongoing lecture series. Patrick earned his MFDA from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA and his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA.

Kamiko Johnson joins our Athletic team as Poly’s new Physical Education Instructor.  Kamiko comes to us from Odyssey Charter School where she worked as a Physical Education teacher and planned, designed, and implemented fitness and exercise curriculum and activities for K-8 students. Kamiko directed sport specific middle school electives (football, basketball, volleyball, soccer) during school and coached basketball and soccer after school. Kamiko served as a Middle School advisor and mentor working with students in academic, weekly study hall, high school athletic workshops and more. Kamiko is also familiar with the independent school world as she was the Varsity Assistant Soccer Coach at La Salle High School and was the Head Varsity Soccer Coach at Pasadena High school. Kamiko earned her B.A. from the California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA and her M.S. from the California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA.   

Peter Johnston joins our Advancement team as Poly’s new Director of Advancement Services. Peter comes to us from The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA. Peter has held numerous positions with The Huntington and the most recent role was as Advancement Services Director. Peter was fully responsible for management of the donor database for the Advancement Division and supervised data management and research staff to the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Peter was co-leader for division prospect meetings for guiding the movement of prospects through the pipeline. Peter created and managed the integration between Raiser’s Edge and ticketing and email databases. Peter held other positions at The Huntington such as Advancement Services Associate Director, Advancement Services Supervisor and Information Systems Coordinator for Advancement. Peter earned his B.S. from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.  

Ivana Kovacevic joins our Lower School faculty team as Poly’s new Dean of Teaching and Learning this fall. Ivana comes to us from the International School of Denver where she served as the Middle Years Program Specialist. In this role, Ivana designed and implemented instructional strategies and supported and observed teachers on how to implement diverse accommodations and align curriculum to individual student’s needs. Prior to joining the International School of Denver, Ivana worked for the Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts in Los Angeles as a Special Education Specialist/Case Manager. Ivana managed and coordinated the caseload of 30+ students (pre-K through sixth grade) and administered formal test assessments using WJIV Woodcock Johnson, Brigance, etc. Ivana tracked student progress via diverse software to monitor student progress and the use of data to develop new instructional strategies. Ivana earned her Master’s degree in Special Education and Rehabilitation from Belgrade University, Serbia and her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Rehabilitation from Belgrade University, Serbia.  

Eric Lifland ’12 returns to Poly for the 2022-2023 school year as our Upper School/Middle School Performing Arts Instructor. Eric comes to us from the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus located in Pasadena, CA. Eric served as the Director of Apprentice Choir and in this role, taught vocal technique, music literacy, and choral artistry to fourth-sixth grade singers and conducted concerts at venues across Los Angeles, including Disney Hall. Eric also served as an Assistant Director of Young Men’s Ensemble and taught a specialized vocal pedagogy for the changing tenor/bass voice. Eric was the Musicianship Teacher and Technology Lead and taught advanced skills such as chromatic solfege, modes, and the circle of fifths while also designing and implementing a comprehensive online infrastructure for all choirs, mentoring the entire staff on how to adapt to online teaching. Eric earned his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.    

Kate Malay joins our Advancement team as Poly’s new Director of Events. Kate comes to us from the University of California, Los Angeles where she worked as the Director of Regional Networks. In this role, Kate managed 22 regional alumni networks with 150 volunteer leaders for 200,000 UCLA alumni and parents. Kate planned, wrote and designed marketing campaigns for 30-40 events per month, including admissions events, sporting events, community service projects, museum tours, tasting, lectures, mixers, plays, concerts, and networking meetings. Kate staffed events, wrote contract reports, updated alumni records, archives guest lists, and responded to general inquiries. Kate also served as the Residence Manager at UCLA where she served as the personal assistant to the Associate of the Chancellor. In this role, Kate planned 80-90 events annually for the Chancellor at the official university residence, including centennial campaign milestone dinners, business meetings, donor stewardship gatherings, visits with public figures, and recitals. Kate earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.    

Avigail (Avi) McClelland-Cohen is a new member to the Upper School History team who will be joining us in the fall. Avi comes to us from The Buckley School where she served as the Upper School Social Science and Humanities Teacher. In this role, Avi taught History, Social Science and English at this college preparatory school. Avi focused on skill-building including historical reasoning, close reading, and critical thinking. Prior to joining The Buckley School, Avi was a Teaching Associate and Teaching Assistant at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Avi developed and taught courses as Instructor of Record including Theories of Communication, Organizational Communication and Organizational Membership. Avil also mentored more than 15 students in research, academic writing, and professional development. Avigail earned her PhD in Communication from the University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA. and her B.A. from American University, Washington, D.C.  

Sebastien Merle joins our Upper School faculty team as Poly’s new French teacher.  Sebastien comes to us from the Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, CA where he has taught all levels from sixth grade introduction to French to Advanced Placement.  Sebastien led and oversaw the development implementation of French, Mandarin, and Spanish courses’ curriculum, pedagogy, and assessments in grades sixth through 12; managed the departmental budget; led language teachers’ evaluation and development; facilitated hiring of new faculty members and supported and advised five cohorts of students during their Junior and Senior years. Sebastien also planned and led language immersion and international travel programs. Sebastien earned his M.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA and his B.A. from the Universite de Toulouse Le Mirail, France.   

Gaelle Mounioloux joins our Middle School faculty team as Poly’s new French instructor. Gaelle comes to us from both Citrus College in Glendora, CA and Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA where she has been serving as an Adjunct Faculty instructor for French. Gaelle has been teaching French I and French II at both institutions and conducts workshops for French I and French II at Chaffey College.  Gaelle is also familiar with the Pasadena area as she has taught French for the McKinley School in their summer program, beginner classes for ages eight to 14. Gaelle is a native French speaker and is also fluent in German and Spanish. Gaelle earned her M.A. in French Studies from the University of Le Mans, Le Mans, France and her B.A. in French Studies from the University of Le Mans, Le Mans, France. Gaelle also earned an additional M.A. in Literature and Languages from the University of Lorraine, Nancy, France.   

Justin Riddle joins our Upper School team as Poly’s new Upper School Counselor and Human Development teacher. Justin comes to us from Maranatha High School in Pasadena. Justin worked as Maranatha’s Freshman and Sophomore College Counselor and in this role managed a caseload of 250-280 students with their course schedule, academic advising, and, college advising. Justin created and implemented ninth and 10th grade college preparation curriculum for students and planned/supervised student trips to local colleges for tours and information sessions. Justin also created and implemented and taught a Freshman Seminar course which aided students in their adjustment to high school, taught them life/academic skills and covered college preparation material. Justin was a member of the Culture, Race, & Ethnicity (C.A.R.E.) team which engaged the Maranatha Community (students, teachers, staff, parents, and alumni) in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Justin earned his M.A. from Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA and his B.S. from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.  

David Rosales joins our Operations team and comes to us from Precision Landscape Services. David has extensive experience in the landscaping field (both residential and commercial) that ranges from lawns, plants, tree/trimming and the installation of irrigation systems. David also served as an Account Manager in his prior position as he provided proposals and cost assessments when required and maintained customer files and records for payment. David possesses outstanding problem solving and customer services skills and we are very fortunate that he is now part of our Poly community.  

Adrian Sanchez is another new member of our Operations team and comes to us from Alex Cervantes Painting. In this role, Adrian’s duties included interior and exterior painting to all structures including buildings, hangars, watersheds, gates, and fences. Adrian is conversant with many types of finishes, varnishes, enamels, and lacquers. Adrian is also a seasoned landscaper and is knowledgeable in matters related to mulching, edging, mowing, and more. Adrian also possesses experience in setting up for large events which he learned when working for Caltech.  

Samantha (Sam) Schreiber joins our college counseling team as Poly’s new 11/12 Grade Dean. Sam comes to us from Milken Community School in Los Angeles, CA. In her role at Milken, Sam taught weekly courses to junior and senior cohorts about college counseling and served as an expert for families and students on the college admission process. Sam advised students at all grade levels on academic curriculum and graduation progression. Sam was a co-adviser in the Entertainment club; served on the school’s marketing committee and was a member of the Faculty Care Team. Sam also acted as the office liaison for the College Kickstart Platform. Prior to joining Milken Community School, Sam worked at Pomona College Offices of Admissions in Claremont, CA where she hired, traveled, and managed 50+ campus tour guides. Sam planned two on campus yield events, hosting 400 people annually and traveled to and read 725 applications from China, Washington, Oregon, and Los Angeles and served on the communications team to create and monitor communication streams throughout the recruitment, reading, and yield cycles. Sam earned her M.S.W. from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, and her B.A. from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.  

Michael Taylor joins our Upper School faculty team and will be teaching Mathematics. Michael comes to us from Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, CA. Michael taught mathematics and physics and designed effective and engaging instruction fostering the development of student’s problem solving and critical thinking skills. Michael excelled at differentiating instruction for diverse student populations, including English Language Learners. Michael implemented AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C courses at Bishop Alemany and utilized technology, such as Alemany’s 1:1 iPad program to plan and implement effective instruction. Michael also served as the Assistant Coach of the award winning Alemany Academic Decathlon Team. Michael earned his B.A. in Mathematics from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 

Edwin Tobar will be joining our Middle School faculty for the first part of 2022 as our seventh grade Science teacher. Edwin comes to us from Scoot Education and will serve as our short-term substitute teacher. Edwin is familiar with Polytechnic School as he has been a substitute teacher for grades kindergarten through eighth in multiple subjects such as Spanish and Algebra. Edwin understands the independent school world as he taught Upper Elementary Spanish at the Curtis School and worked as a substitute teacher at the Oakwood School in North Hollywood. Edwin is fluent in Spanish and excels in lesson planning, classroom management, and technology. Edwin earned his Masters Degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.

Briana Tracy joins our Lower School faculty team as a teaching Fellow for first grade. Briana comes to us from the Sylvan Learning Center where using the Sylvan Learning Plan, she worked primarily with younger students from grades kindergarten to fifth grade and students from sixth to eighth grade as needed. Briana’s main focus was academic reading consisting of vocabulary and sight words and sentence structure, long/short vowels, and more. Prior to joining Sylvan, Briana worked as a Writing Tutor for Pasadena City College where she assisted students within the Black Student Success Center and the Writing Support Center with their essays across multiple subjects. Briana is currently enrolled at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena where she is earning her M.A. in Elementary Education and earned her B.A. at the University of California at Los Angeles.   

Jonathan Michael Vegamora joins our Advancement team as Poly’s new Assistant, Advancement Services. Jonathan comes to us from First To Serve, Inc. in Los Angeles where he served as an Administrative Assistant. In this role, Jonathan was responsible for monitoring and recording operating expenses of shelters and allocating operating expenses across general ledger accounts and social service programs. Jonathan also screened, scanned, and recorded invoices and receipts provided by the purchase order manager and prepared and submitted profit and loss reports of social service programs. By taking advantage of various discounts, Jonathan was able to save the organization $800.00 per month in utilities expenses. Jonathan also serves as a Volunteer Tutor at the Azusa City Library and was a volunteer for the 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. Jonathan earned his B.S. from the University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines.   

Roxanne Wu joins our Lower School faculty team as Poly’s new first grade teacher.  Roxanne is a well-rounded and richly experienced elementary instructor who recently taught Kindergarten for four years at Shanghai American School. Her diverse and impressive resume includes the International School of Kuala Lumpur and the American School of Madrid. She has experience teaching grades K-4 and is also familiar with the independent school world as she attended Westridge School in Pasadena, CA.  Roxanne is fluent in both Chinese and Spanish and she earned her MEd from the University of California, Los Angeles, CA and her B.A from Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA.   
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