Leaders belong here: The Nova Nine

This year’s Nova Nine student leaders are building a welcoming community with creativity, passion and collaboration. This year, the Nova Nine welcome two new positions which include a Head of Academics and a Head of Day Students, who are pursuing advancements in these domains. Their collective vision for the 2024 – 25 academic year is to ensure that all students feel included and can thrive academically, athletically, socially and in all other aspects of life at Porter’s.

01 HEAD OF SCHOOL ⁄ Kinley Simmons

02 SECOND HEAD OF SCHOOL ⁄ Anna Risoli

03 HEAD OF DAY STUDENTS ⁄ Charlotte Kronholm

04 HEAD OF MAIN ⁄ Elsa Poler

05 HEAD OF ACADEMICS ⁄ Hannah Satran

06 HEAD OF ATHLETICS ⁄ Shaelin Gorny

07 HEAD OF NEW GIRLS ⁄ Kate Hebard

08 HEAD OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES ⁄ Anna Gordillo

09 HEAD OF DIVERSITY ⁄ Mary Zheng

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Kinley Simmons

HOMETOWN

Miller Place, New York

ON BEING HEAD OF SCHOOL

I will foster community with a foundation of collaboration, belonging and joy. Through schoolwide events and initiatives, I aim to actualize the “power of us” and continue shaping a changing world.

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

Porter’s will always hold a special place in my heart as it has afforded me a strong sisterhood. I have developed deep friendships with brilliant and kind young women from whom I have received unconditional love and support.

FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS

Keep dorm, my home away from home since 2021, houses many of my fondest memories, such as movie nights, meaningful conversations with friends and late-night phone calls with family members.

SECOND HEAD OF SCHOOL

Anna Risoli

HOMETOWN

New York, New York

ON BEING SECOND HEAD OF SCHOOL

I am deeply committed to strengthening connections with and appreciation for our beloved school by emphasizing the importance of philanthropy and what makes Farmington uniquely meaningful.

WHAT MAKES HER HAPPY

At home, happiness is having big dinners with my extended family and going on trips with my cousins.

HEAD OF DAY STUDENTS

Charlotte Kronholm

HOMETOWN

Chester, Connecticut

ON BEING HEAD OF DAY STUDENTS

I’m excited to foster the sense of community that makes Porter’s such a unique and wonderful place. I want to make Porter’s feel like a second home for all day students on campus.

FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS

The ceramics studio I love making ceramics, and I love all the windows in the studio, especially during the fall and spring.

HEAD OF MAIN

Elsa Poler

HOMETOWN

Medfield, Massachusetts

ON BEING HEAD OF MAIN

I’m really excited to bring art to more people. Art should be accessible, and I want to encourage everyone to embrace being mediocre at something and to try, try again.

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

Porter’s has some kind of spark whether it’s in the sisterhood surrounding us or the traditions that root us. Every second, I realize how much love I have for these girls and how much love they have for me.

FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS

The textiles room in Olin is a peaceful place where I can work and craft for hours on end.

HEAD OF ATHLETICS

Shaelin Gorny

HOMETOWN

Avon, Connecticut

ON BEING HEAD OF ATHLETICS

I will strive to increase school spirit on campus through themed game days, pep rallies, media days and game-day socials with other schools.

HEAD OF ACADEMICS

Hannah Satran

HOMETOWN

Pawcatuck, Connecticut

ON BEING HEAD OF ACADEMICS

My love of school and interest in learning drew me to this position. I want to make my peers feel the same as I do by radiating excitement for academics and ensuring students’ ideas are heard and accepted.

WHAT MAKES HER HAPPY

Hot and sunny weather, going to concerts, hanging out with my friends, making others happy, Chipotle, traveling and Shirley Temples.

FUN FACT

My go-to karaoke song is “American Boy” by Estelle.

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

I know that when I walk into the classroom each day, I will be greeted with kind, happy and curious people. With my friends and classmates, I have gone farther than I ever thought I could in my education.

HEAD OF NEW GIRLS

Kate Hebard

HOMETOWN

Vero Beach, Florida

ON BEING HEAD OF NEW GIRLS

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

I will cherish the connections and friends I have made here for the rest of my

My time at Porter’s has allowed me to grow into myself.

HEAD OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Anna Gordillo

HOMETOWN

New Orleans, Louisiana

ON BEING HEAD OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

I have the opportunity to play a critical role in building a sense of community and belonging at Porter’s. I’m excited to help create some fun!

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

The most impactful experience is being around a sisterhood of other young women who support and challenge each other to be our best.

HEAD OF DIVERSITY

Mary Zheng

HOMETOWN

Chengdu, China

ON BEING HEAD OF DIVERSITY

I hope to help the Porter’s community appreciate the diversity on campus through initiating conversations about the challenges and privileges that come with our identity and organizing activities that encourage students to take pride in their individuality.

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

The past three years turned Porter’s into a place I call home. I will never forget the enthusiastic discussions that happen in the classrooms, the laughter in the hallways and the friends who make me feel valued and loved every day.

FUN FACT

Besides Mandarin and English, I speak the Sichuan dialect, which is a regional variation of Mandarin.

Miss Porter’s School: Education that emboldens diverse young women to excel

Impact of Your Philanthropy

At Miss Porter’s School, our ability to deliver transformational education is strengthened by our broad community of philanthropic supporters. Through gifts of talent, time and treasure, our volunteers and donors help us continue to thrive as a dynamic and innovative academic institution of consequence for girls. Your generosity helps us actualize our mission to empower girls of diverse identities to be informed, bold, resourceful and ethical global citizens who will shape a changing world.

Christine M. Pina, Ed.M. Chief Advancement Officer

*Ivy Society members are donors who make gifts of any size to Porter’s for at least five consecutive fiscal years.

**Moonbeams Circle recognizes individuals who have included Porter’s in their estate plans.

PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED $9M

1,670

TOTAL DONORS

214

VOLUNTEERS

692

IVY SOCIETY MEMBERS*

10

NEW MOONBEAMS CIRCLE** MEMBERS, MORE THAN 200 TOTAL MEMBERS

5

NEW ENDOWED FUNDS

Our Annual Fund is a key driver of every aspect of the Porter’s educational experience, including academics, extracurriculars, facilities, financial aid, faculty salaries and maintenance. In 2024, you gave generously, with 67% giving less than $500 reflecting the incredible power of collective giving.

1,632

TOTAL DONORS

1,097

145

DEIB** & financial aid were the top two donation designations

Donors hailed from 47 U.S. states and 23 countries

ANCIENT PARTICIPATION IN MPS GIVING

Annual Giving Bowl

Awarded to class of 2006 for achieving the most participation in the Annual Fund during a non-reunion year this class achieved a 33% participation rate.

100% participation by board of trustees, alumnae board, and class of 2024

Silver Pitcher

Awarded to class of 1995 for achieving the largest increase in class participation in the Annual Fund from the previous year this class achieved a 10% increase in participation.

*Recurring gifts are monthly, quarterly or yearly donations.

106

$14.9M Annual Fund dollars raised from 2019–2024

1947 Bowl

Awarded to the class of 1974 for achieving the highest rate of participation in the Annual Fund in its reunion year this class achieved a 68% participation rate.

Farmington Give Day

Taking place each April, Farmington Give Day is Porter’s biggest fundraising day for the Annual Fund. In 2024, you showed up for this day in record numbers your contributions represented a 31% increase over 2023!

Annual Fund

Dollars raised in the past six fiscal years: