Poly faculty and staff had the opportunity to step outside their usual environments and learn together this past summer through two unique trips, thanks to generous philanthropic support. While the trips to Alaskan tundra and Kenya offered very different experiences, both created opportunities for professional growth and fostered stronger connections among colleagues.
For ten faculty members who traveled to Alaska through a donor-funded partnership with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), the weeklong backcountry expedition was an immersive professional development experience focused on leadership and collaboration. Director of Outdoor Education Laura Marion P ’19, ’22, ’22 shared, “NOLS came to us with an exciting proposal, and we loved it. A philanthropic grant enabled us to make the trip possible, and we’re
so grateful.”
The faculty cohort brought together teachers from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Upper School Science Teacher Rachel Dragos shared, “I love backpacking. This trip was an incredible chance to take my skills to the next level and spend more time with colleagues across divisions.”
Poly’s hope is that the camaraderie and conversation faculty experienced on the trail will make a positive impact on campus. Middle School Math Teacher Nicole Luque and Rachel found the opportunity for cross-divisional conversation. Together, they realized a solution to ease the eighth to ninth grade transition. “Oh my gosh, I’m going to put scientific notation into the eighth-grade curriculum to better help [our students] in ninth grade,” shared Nicole.
A similar exchange of perspectives happened during the trip to Kenya. With support from Poly’s endowed professional development funds, seven faculty and staff spent nine days in Kenya.
“It was an excellent opportunity to build connections between staff and faculty,” Middle School History Teacher Paul Johnson P’15 said. “Experiences like this strengthen Poly’s ability to provide a broader perspective on the world to the students we teach.”
Paul returned with new knowledge and experiences that he expects to bring into his world geography and cultures classes. An immersive market and cooking experience in Nairobi gave him a firsthand look at everyday life and local traditions, while conversations and excursions deepened his understanding of Kenya’s history and its connections to other parts of the world.
Kindergarten Assistant Teacher Raleigh Young ’80, P’13, ‘16 described the experience as an opportunity to form deeper relationships with colleagues she had worked with for years but rarely had the chance to know outside their usual roles.
"This experience has left us all far richer and more interesting individuals. Never could we have imagined the power and magic that we witnessed while on safari. I will cherish my memories of the Kenya Poly trip for the rest of my life.”
Together, these experiences demonstrate how philanthropy can support professional development as well as the collegial relationships that strengthen a school community. As Rachel put it, these trips were
“a strong investment in our faculty, in our programs, and collaboration.”
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FACULTY AND STAFF PARTICIPANTS
Kenya Trip: Sherlyn Burns P’12 ‘15, Lena Etoka, Paul Johnson P’15,
Nicole Luque, Kathy Phung, Audrey Wu ’16, and Raleigh Young ’80, P’13, ‘16
NOLS Alaska Trip: Amber Bocquin, Rachel Dragos, Paul Johnson P’15,
Marge Kenny P’20,’22,’24, Alex Lessie, Nicole Luque, Stephanie Monteleone, Avery Ruth, Lillian Stott, and Julia Zapata
