The last five summers of PFS take place at Polytechnic School. PFS high school academic courses offer PUSD-eligible credit that allows students to complete their elective requirements during the summer. While we continue an emphasis on math, reading, and writing skills, students also begin to focus on college preparedness and the admission process. To round out their high school summer experience, all students take one elective course taught by a college intern at each grade level. With the help and supervision of a teacher, our interns develop a course that ties in with a passion or interest that goes beyond our curriculum to expose our students to new ideas, fields, or skills. In the recent past, the Polytechnic program offered electives in everything from computer programming, hip hop dancing, spoken word, photography, music appreciation, and even lifeguard certification. Aside from enriching our academic offerings, our elective program allows for our interns to serve as role models that offer students mentorship and guidance through the path to college from someone who recently completed the journey.

Courses Offered

• 9th Studio Art Fundamentals

• 9th English Literature

• 9th Fundamentals of Algebra & Geometry

• 10th Global Issues & Human Rights

• 10th African American History from the Civil War to the Present

• 10th Sustainable Climate Change 2030

• 11th Mathematical Logic, Puzzles, and Riddles

• 11th Chinese Language and Culture

• 11th Reading/Writing across the curriculum

• 12th College Counseling

• 12th Intro to Computer Science

• 12th The Power of Your Voice

Arnor Bieltvedt
Polytechnic School
Visual Arts Department Chair & Visual Arts Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Studio Art Fundamentals

Krystal Rodas
Pasadena High School
Career and Financial Aid Advisor
PFS Subject/Class: 12th Grade College Counseling

Tim Cook
Former Blair School Faculty
Retired Math Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Sustainable Climate Change 2030

Michael Dakan
Blair High School
English Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Reading/Writing Across the Curriculum

Dr. Robert Farrar
Polytechnic School
Social Studies Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: African American History from the Civil War to the Present

Stephanie Monteleone
Polytechnic School
Human Development
PFS Subject/Class: Human Development

José Herrera
Pasadena High School
Math/ELD Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Mathematical Logic, Puzzles, and Riddles

Kaz Iptchilar
Former Marshall School Faculty
Retired Secondary Math Teacher & Department Chair
PFS Subject/Class: Fundamentals of Algebra and Geometry

Laura Layton Pendorf
Former Polytechnic Teacher
Retired Upper School Spanish Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Global Issues/Human Rights

Bonnie Pais Martínez
Westridge School
Dean of Student Support and Spanish Faculty
PFS Subject/Class: The Power of Your Voice

Maggie Munsell
Sierra Madre Middle School
English and History Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: English Literature

Cris Monroy
University Prep
College Counseling, 9th-12th Grade
PFS Subject/Class: College Counselor

Ying Shang
Westridge School
Mandarin Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Chinese Language and Culture

Serra Leroy
Polytechnic School
Upper School English Teacher and 12th Grade Coordinator
PFS Subject/Class: College 1

Dominic Rosato
Polytechnic School
Upper School Science Teacher
PFS Subject/Class: Intro to Computer Science