2024 Spring Impact Report

MEET BIOLOGY RESEARCHER, FUTURE DOCTOR,
AND ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN

Priya Ghanta

Pine Crest Upper School student Priya Ghanta ’24 has devoted the last four years to scientific research and music.

A singer with the chorus and a violinist with the orchestra, it is difficult to comprehend how Priya has found the time to complete her many accomplishments!

MEET

Coach Newbold

"The biggest impact of athletics for Middle School students is instilling a sense of pride in their school. Sixth grade is the first time students compete while representing Pine Crest. Participating in athletics enhances the student experience.

As coaches, the opportunities we receive for professional development are significant. This is an evolving field with new techniques and concepts to keep athletes safe and help them achieve their goals on the field, court, or pool. It is critical for us to stay up to date with the newest innovations in athletics, and being able to learn from others is a big part of that."

- Chris Newbold, Middle School Athletic Director, Boca Raton Campus

Eight members of the Pine Crest Lower School faculty from the Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale campuses attended Stanford University this fall for a course designed for math teachers. Youcubed, the program offered by Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, focuses on creative solutions to solving mathematical equations for students in second through fifth grade.

Miranda Butcher

3rd Grade Teacher

Boca Raton

Sarah Izquierdo

4th Grade Teacher

Fort Lauderdale

Wendy Wilson

2nd Grade Teacher

Boca Raton

Cari Lau

4th Grade Teacher

Fort Lauderdale

Preneat Wu

3rd Grade Teacher

Fort Lauderdale

Pami Zelaya

3rd Grade Teacher

Fort Lauderdale

Kristen Dunn

3rd Grade Teacher

Fort Lauderdale

Alison Lee

5th Grade Teacher

Boca Raton

“Being able to learn, in a hands-on way, with other teachers is invaluable. It puts us in our students’ shoes, completing challenges just as they do in our classrooms. We then get to bring that experience back to the classroom and guide students while they explore, grapple, and challenge themselves to dive deeper into math and numbers.”

Cari Lau

4th Grade Math & Science Teacher, Fort Lauderdale

“We were able to visualize, play, and investigate just like our students! We were able to learn how to bring this method into the classroom just like we would expect our students to complete these math ideas.”

Sarah Izquierdo

4th Grade Math & Science Teacher, Fort Lauderdale

"The Youcubed workshop was an inspiring experience! Pine Crest School's commitment to teacher development is truly invaluable. Attending workshops like this, along with many others over the years, has allowed me to continuously grow as an educator and refine my classroom practice. I'm incredibly grateful to be part of a learning community that prioritizes and supports teachers' professional growth beyond the classroom walls."

Wendy Wilson

2nd Grade Teacher, Boca Raton

"Professional development opportunities open educators’ minds to new ways of thinking. Expanding our pedagogy fuels the possibility of our students' growth!"

Miranda Butcher

3rd Grade Teacher, Boca Raton

"My favorite part about the Youcubed coursework is how interactive it is for teachers. There were many hands-on opportunities to grapple with the same problems our students may grapple with to help us understand their thought processes. There was also an emphasis on group work, mathematical discussion, and a growth mindset. What I was most excited to bring back was the concept of a math wall where mathematics was multidimensional—expressed in numbers, words, and pictures."

Preneat Wu

3rd Grade Teacher, Fort Lauderdale

"I appreciated the opportunity to learn about new teaching methods that I could incorporate into my own teaching practice. It is extremely important to be able to attend workshops like this, and I am grateful that I gained new perspectives and reinvigorated my excitement for teaching math. Professional learning supports my continuous commitment to lifelong learning."

Allison Lee

5th Grade Teacher, Boca Raton

"I believe that teachers need to go beyond their textbooks and teachers’ manuals and continue their education. By attending workshops, like Youcubed, we can let our students experience different avenues of learning."

Pami Zelaya

3rd Grade Teacher, Fort Lauderdale

"I was given opportunities at Stanford to explore and engage in math challenges through my students' eyes. I came back empowered to increase student agency, turn possible fears of math into enthusiastic desires to learn, push my students to think more deeply, and give children the validation to be comfortable in their “math-skin. Pine Crest shines through as a leader of independent schools with its dedication to professional development."

Kristen Dunn

3rd Grade Teacher, Fort Lauderdale

Meet Ms. Amy Chandler, Upper School sculpture and ceramics teacher. A new member of the Pine Crest School Fine Arts faculty, Ms. Chandler, was the subject of an Upper School broadcast package by Chloe Straker ’26, Parker Frost ’26, and Abigail Isaacson ’26.

PURSUING PASSIONS

Ms. Chandler's Art Classes

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE

EMERGENT LEADERS!

At Pine Crest, students are offered unique course options centered around emergent leadership. These courses aim to nurture emergent leadership abilities, with a particular focus on developing skills essential to becoming entrepreneurs and leaders. Students learn valuable skills such as collaboration, the art of public speaking, resiliency, and adaptability.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IT

All of this and more is possible because of your generosity.

Thank you for being a part of Pine Crest Giving.

MAKE A GIFT

For inquiries, please contact:

Theresa Reisner

Office of Philanthropic Engagement

Manager of Donor Engagement and Communication

954.492.4114

theresa.reisner@pinecrest.edu