The Philadelphia School educates children for a future that is impossible to know but not impossible to shape. Learn here. Go anywhere.
ABOUT TPS
The first day of school for TPS was over 50 years ago. Today, we remain a leader and whole-hearted champion for the preschool through 8th grade progressive education on which we were founded. We know that when children and teachers are partners in their learning, it brings a deeper understanding and appreciation to their studies. It helps create confident, curious, and compassionate children who advocate for themselves and others. Together, each child progresses forward and finds their place as a learner and as an individual.
And this learning happens EVERYWHERE – in our city, in the country, and in the classroom. Connecting our lessons to the real world helps children connect the dots and understand how they fit into the big picture. It’s how lifelong learners are born. It all happens in a community built upon meaningful relationships that help us all listen, learn, and welcome diverse perspectives. We wonder together, we discover together, we laugh together, we make mistakes together, and we learn together. TPS graduates emerge as confident leaders with a true sense of self and confidence to take on what’s next. We’ve always thought outside of the classroom. We’ll be doing the same for the next 50 years.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Philadelphia School’s progressive educational approach has deep thinking, innovation, and agency as its guiding principles. We encourage children to explore and push the boundaries of possibility to fulfill their academic, social, and civic potential. We approach learning through inquiry, projects, and community. Core values and new research inform the school’s program and pedagogical practices. Our interdisciplinary, theme-based approach provides the foundation for mastering academics and prepares students for the challenges they will face in the future.
As an urban, preschool–8th grade school, we address specifically how young students develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. Through our commitment to diversity, we seek to nurture each student’s moral compass, sense of personal integrity, and respect for individuality. Learning in the city, country, and classroom affirms our founders’ goal of educating children to become responsible and active stewards of the urban and natural environments.
DEAR TPS COMMUNITY,
Last year, The Philadelphia School embarked on the exciting first phase of renovations and upgrades with our new Lombard Yard, Lombard Commons, and Teaching Kitchen. Students, faculty, and staff are thriving in these new spaces, and it’s been a joy to see them come alive during the school day. This past summer, we completed our second phase, the STEAM “Collaboratory” (see pages 13-15). We are so pleased to see integrated learning expand as students dive into hands-on exploration, tinkering, building, and imagining the future. This new space perfectly complements our mission to foster curiosity and creative problem-solving in every child. We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to the Ours to Shape Campaign to make these renovations possible.
As always, our program, led by our amazing faculty and staff, continues to push our students to grow academically and as leaders in our community. This year’s all-school theme, Inciting Joy, is being celebrated in and out of our classrooms. From our preschoolers discovering the wonder of nature in our outdoor garden to our middle schoolers leading Family Circles, our students are finding joy in every aspect of the TPS experience. Whether it’s through play, academic challenges, or quiet reflection, our students and teachers know that joy is the key ingredient to meaningful learning.
We were delighted in October to honor TPS Class of ‘84 alumnus Daniel Spielman with the first annual Alumni Award (see page 22-23). Currently a professor of applied mathematics and computer science at Yale, he has demonstrated incredible influence, impact, and integrity in his fields, including winning the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics in 2023 for multiple discoveries in theoretical computer science and mathematics. It is truly inspiring to see the work of Dan and many other alumni changing the world.
The success of TPS, both past and present, is only made possible by the unwavering support of our community. A special thanks to Bob and Marta Adelson, whose generosity throughout the years has helped to transform our school. Their dedication to TPS is extraordinary, and we were proud to honor them with the Founders Award in October. You can read more about their contributions and the event on page 20.
Finally, we’re celebrating a record-breaking year for the PA Tax Giving program. Thanks to your contributions, we’ve not only met the goal for tuition assistance this school year, but are now poised to expand the program to support even more students in the future.
To all our donors, your generosity powers everything we do here. Whether you have supported us with a financial gift or by volunteering your time, we are immensely grateful. You’ve made it possible for us to shape our school in ways that truly reflect our shared values and honor our mission. Together, we’ll keep inciting joy and sparking learning for years to come.
With deep appreciation,
Alyssa Rickels
INTERIM
What a monumental year of advancing our mission through your philanthropic support!
618
Total Gifts to the TPS Fund (up 58% from PY)
$520K
Raised for the TPS Fund
$1.38M
Raised for tuition assistance through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
$1.3M
Raised for the Ours to Shape Campaign
$118K
Raised for EATS
Excellent Educators
At TPS, teachers nurture creativity in every student and work as partners in learning about the world around them. Through a collaborative team-teaching approach, they work together to exchange ideas, challenge one another, and grow as educators. Our dedicated faculty are ready to engage students with unique learning experiences, offering academic guidance that empowers each child to thrive on their learning journey at TPS and beyond.
The Board of Trustees is committed to sustaining and improving The Philadelphia School. Through committee work, the Board engages with and involves our school community in important decisions and projects.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Supports the care of the school’s physical plant and growth initiatives.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE
Supports initiatives that assist the school in meeting its fundraising goals and that improve communication between the school and its constituencies and the broader community.
Assists in the preparation of the annual operating budget and oversight of the school’s investments and audits.
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Designs and implements the rules governing the Board of Trustees and nomination of trustees and officers.
Leaders Committed to Our Future
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
Supports efforts to build and maintain a diverse and inclusive community.
Snapshot of our Year
Take a look back at our school year by the numbers. Each figure highlights our faculty and staff’s commitment, our students’ achievements, and the joy of learning that defines our community.
In Review
September
First Day of School
October
8th Grade Backpacking Trip
Student Council Elections
November
Fall Festival
Thanksgiving Feast
December
Winter Sing-along
New Lombard Yard Completed
January
1st Annual TPS Spelling Bee
MLK Day of Service
February
8th Grade Shakespeare Play
TPS takes 3rd Place in Mathcounts Competition
Talent Show
March
TPS 7th Grade Robotics competes in State Championships
Alumni Basketball Game
8th Grade Puerto Rico Trip
April
7th Grade Rock Band
Earth Day Celebration
Grandparents & Great Friends Day
Mini Courses
May
EATS 2024
Kindergarten & 3rd Grade Plays
JU Olympics
Middle School Spring Fling
Rainbow Day
June
Graduation
TPSA
PRESIDENT
Melanie Pontz
VICE PRESIDENT OF SCHOOL SUPPORT
Ju lia Frayman
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMITTEES
Ian MacMillan
TREASURER
Sun Park
ADMISSIONS AMBASSADORS
Lauren Ravitz & Rowie Villanueva
ALLERGY SUPPORT GROUP
Jordan Chazin
BOOK FAIR
Marni Fogelson & Lindsey Albenberg
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Michael Albenberg & Lauren Freedman
EVENTS & HOSPITALITY
Carrie Siegel & Crystal Casazza
FAMILY DIVERSITY
Monique Curry-Mims
GREEN & HEALTHY
Sun Park, Brenna Herpman, & Jen Goldberg
PARENT EDUCATION
Gayle Chesley & Tammi Inscho
PHOTO BOOK
Lauren Harel & Ellie Marrazzo
PICTURE DAY
Holly Murphy
THANKSGIVING FEAST
Tricia Bruning
BIRTHDAY TABLE
Stephanie Orphanides
TPS SWAG
Julia Frayman, Lauren Harel, & Hilary Verbuch
Welcome to the Collaboratory
We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new STEAM Collaboratory, which is part of Phase 2 of the Lombard Renovation Project.
The Collaboratory is an innovative space designed for handson, interdisciplinary learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math—with the exciting possibilities of integration with music and robotics. This state-of-the-art facility reflects our commitment to fostering creativity, curiosity, and collaboration, empowering our students to become the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
A VISION FOR INTEGRATED LEARNING
The STEAM Collaboratory aligns our school’s progressive pedagogy, to create an educational experience where subjects are interconnected, just as they are in the world beyond our campus. Here, students can experience how science and art blend, how technology can amplify music, and how engineering projects come alive with the help of robotics. While this has always been part of the TPS ethos, in this space adjacency is important, so that our students can more easily dive into complex project-based learning activities.
Matt Murray, Director of Educational Technology says, “Our goal is to create an environment where students see the
connections between disciplines and understand how these fields can work together to solve real-world problems.”
The Collaboratory provides a space where students can experiment, tinker, and let their imaginations soar.
A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING SPACE
The Collaboratory is equipped with 3D printers, robotics kits, and new microscopes, beakers and science supplies. We will also we be adding a new kiln to our art studio in the coming weeks, which will allow for an expansion of ceramics in our art program. This diverse range of resources allows students to bring their ideas to life, whether they’re building a prototype, designing a piece of art, or solving complex problems like the ones that seventh grade students will wrestle with during this year’s FIRST LEGO Robotics Challenge.
Flexible workspaces encourage students to work in groups, making teamwork central to every project. Our goal is to support all students—from those just beginning to explore basic concepts to those tackling complex, interdisciplinary projects.
Robotics Lab
7th grade students dive deep into their robotics study to prepare to compete in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge, an international competition that tasks young thinkers to generate a solution to a thematic problem with an innovation of their own. This year’s competition theme, Submerged, is centered on what lives beneath the sea’s surface.
Science Lab
Exploration meets discovery in our new Science Lab, where students engage in hands-on experiments, fuel their curiosity for the natural world, and make connections to their outdoor learning experiences.
Technology and Engineering Lab
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
We plan to build partnerships with local organizations and invite experts from various STEAM fields to offer workshops, guest lectures, and professional connections. These partnerships will enrich our students’ experiences and broaden their perspectives on what’s possible in the field of STEAM.
And this is only the beginning! The STEAM Collabotory is not just a space for our current students but also a place where we can welcome alumni and community members. By hosting events, showcases, and community nights, we hope to make the Collaboratory a hub of innovation and education, reinforcing The Philadelphia School as a leader in progressive, forward-thinking education.
Opening the STEAM Collaboratory is a major milestone for us. It represents our unwavering commitment to providing an education that prepares our students for an ever-evolving world. We are excited to see the incredible projects, ideas, and solutions that will emerge from this space and look forward to watching our students explore the endless possibilities within science, technology, engineering, visual and musical art as well as math.
Students engage in building the future in our new Engineering and Technology Lab, where students bring ideas to life through innovation, problem-solving, and collaboration. Currently the lab is mostly used with Junior Unit students who are exploring circuitry and being introduced to robotics. What’s
Art Studio
In our new Art Studio, creativity takes center stage as students express themselves through diverse mediums and explore their artistic potential.
We are grateful not only to all who have contributed to the Ours to Shape Campaign to make these renovations possible, but also to Lisa Sun for her hard work and steadfast commitment during her tenure to ensure the vision for these beautiful classrooms was realized. Let’s celebrate the Collaboratory as a place where inspiration and innovation come to life. We invite our entire community to explore this new space and witness the future of learning at The Philadelphia School.
As we move into Phase E (for Energy Efficiency) of our renovation project, we’re excited to take significant steps toward energy efficiency across our campus. This phase centers around critical upgrades to our electrical systems, HVAC, and the integration of renewable energy sources, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact.
A major component of Phase E will be the electrical upgrades to our Lombard Building. We’re transitioning our electrical systems to Phase 3 Power, which will provide enhanced capacity and reliability. This upgrade is essential as it allows us to support future technology needs while improving energy management and overall operational efficiency.
In addition, over the next few years we’ll be updating our HVAC systems to modern, energy-efficient models. These upgrades will not only improve the comfort and air quality within our facilities but also reduce our energy consumption, further supporting our sustainability goals. Lastly, we’re thrilled to announce the installation of solar panels at our South Street Campus. By generating our own renewable energy, we’re taking a significant step toward reducing our carbon footprint and embracing cleaner energy sources.
Together, these efforts in Phase E mark a vital milestone in our ongoing mission to create an eco-friendly and energyresilient campus.
Welcome to new administrators, faculty, and staff members
Jared Susco
Jared Susco joined the TPS leadership team this summer as our new Director of Finance. Over the last few months, Jared has been working alongside many different departments and getting to know the TPS community.
With a Master’s degree from Emory and a bachelor’s degree from Wharton, Jared brings a diverse background of experience and knowledge. Most recently, Jared served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Radiology Oncology Department of Penn Medicine, and prior to that role, he worked for many years in the nonprofit community as the Chief Finance and People Officer of Benefits Data Trust and the Chief Operating Officer of Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers. Jared and his husband Chris are the proud parents of 9-year-old Ezra, and they love traveling and hiking together.
When asked about his time at TPS so far, Jared reflected, “I feel that I have found a new home with fabulous co-workers, working together towards an inspiring mission. I am enjoying partnering with them and the Board to use the tools of finance and Human Resources to advance our collective progress in achieving that mission.”
Francis Atemo
Francis Atemo joined our team this summer as the Director of Grades Preschool-3rd. He has become an integral part of our community, working with teachers and supporting students over the last few months.
Francis brings 15 years of educational experience, most recently as the assistant head of the lower school at Saint Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, VA. There, he fostered studentdriven projects, DEIB programming, and strong support for teachers. Prior to that, he served as a Spanish teacher, department head, and service learning coordinator at the International School of Kenya. Francis holds a B.S. from Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya as well as an M. Ed. and Principal’s Certification from The College of New Jersey. Francis, his wife Laura, and their son Julian moved to Philadelphia this summer and have been hard at work renovating their new home and exploring all of the wonderful opportunities for salsa dancing in their new city.
Reflecting on his time here, Francis said, “One of the students recently told me, ‘It feels like you have always been here.’ A colleague shared a similar sentiment not too long ago. These reflections remind me of the strong sense of community and how warm and welcoming the school is. This environment provides a solid foundation for student learning and meaningful family interactions.”
New
Faculty & Staff for the 2024-2025 School Year
ADMISSIONS ASSISTANT
Shane Achenbach
DIVISION DIRECTOR GRADES PS-3
Francis Atemo
KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT TEACHER
Elizabeth Bruner
SEVENTH GRADE TEACHER
Susanna Coates
SIXTH GRADE TEACHER
Sofia David
AUXILIARY ASSISTANT
Telise Davis-Carter
PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATE TEACHER
Max Frantz
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE COORDINATOR
Natalie Johnson
JUNIOR UNIT TEACHER
Diane Luckman
BUILDING SUBSTITUTE
Isa Mojares
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Jared Susco
SYSTEMS ASSISTANT
Damesha Tull
HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT COORDINATOR
Miriam White
Inciting Joy 2024-2025 All-School
Theme
During the first week of school, the eighth grade class helped reveal the all-school theme for the 2024-2025 school year! A long-time TPS tradition, the all-school theme is a unit of collective study that all grades participate in, both in their classrooms and in cross-grade collaborations. Throughout the year, students will approach many of their lessons through the lensof the theme.
Lynne Berman who passed away in September 2021, and her husband Peter, (deceased 2016) referred to The Philadelphia School as their “fourth child.” They were so committed to the success of TPS that they have made a legacy gift that will help to transform the school for future generations. The gift to TPS is unrestricted, which means that Lynne wanted the school to decide how to best allocate the funds to advance our mission.
This year, the all-school theme is Inciting Joy! The eighth grade class led the Encuentro (“meeting” in Spanish) and started with a skit about cheering on basketball players to hype them up. Then the students were asked to guess a letter. If they guessed one of the letters in the theme, it was revealed by the eighth graders. After a few rounds, the theme was revealed and the students had a dance party!
With the theme revealed, eighth graders explained what it means:
“When Lynne and I first spoke about her vision of how she would like to give back to TPS, I was truly humbled,” said Lisa Sun, Head of School. “Lynne’s love and commitment to TPS was truly exceptional. She understood the incredible impact that an unrestricted gift would have in ensuring TPS’ future.”
Incite: to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action.
Joy: a feeling of great pleasure, delight, and happiness.
Devoted to an urban life after growing up in the suburbs, Lynne and her long-time friend Caroline (Cal) Simon wanted to find a way to keep families of school-age children in the city. As Lynne’s oldest children, John and Liz and Cal’s oldest child, Tony reached school age in the early 1970s, Lynne and Cal sought a place where their children and others could learn about the history, culture, and natural beauty of Philadelphia as well as the traditional subjects taught in elementary and middle schools.
Inciting joy does not mean we are pretending life doesn’t sometimes feel hard. Life can feel hard, for some more than others, but there is usually some kind of joy we can remind one another of or find ways to lift one another up. Our theme asks, “How can we bring joy to each other, ourselves, and to the people around us?”
The 2024-2025 school year has already given us so many opportunities to find and incite joy for ourselves and each other! In Family Circles, students choose a Box of Joy, each time they meet. Each box contains an activity meant to bring joy to the group! There may be giant jenga, a walk to the park, bubbles, or a book to read together. We have also hosted Encuentros that bring joy through music, stories, and dancing. We can’t wait to see what else the year holds for us!
OUR PAST THEMES
PRESENTING THE 2024 FOUNDERS AND ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS
Founders and Alumni Award Winners
On October 10th, TPS presented its second annual Founders Award and its first ever Alumni Award during a celebration at The Deacon.
The Founders Award was presented by Sandy Dean, Principal Emerita to Marta & Bob Adelson, who have been actively involved with TPS for over 30 years. Parents of three alumni (Carlin ‘01, Daniel ‘05, and Leah ’08), Bob served on the Board of Trustees for 14 years including two terms as Board Chair, where he chaired two capital campaigns. Marta was active in TPSA leadership and led admissions tours for many years.
The depth and breadth of the Adelson’s service and philanthropic commitment to TPS showcases their profound devotion to progressive education and our school. They played a pivotal role in helping TPS acquire and build our Early Childhood Education Center, most notably helping to bring to life the beloved Garden. They helped to shape our music program by establishing the Sandy Dean String Ensemble Fund, which provides lessons and instruments for budding musicians.
The Alumni Award was proudly presented to Daniel Spielman, class of 1984, by none other than his brother Darren Spielman. He attended TPS from kindergarten until he graduated eighth grade and then attended Germantown Friends School for high school. Dan has demonstrated incredible influence, impact, and integrity in mathematics and computer science.
You can read about Dan and his award on pages 22-23.
The evening was full of student and alumni music performances, decorations inspired by our all school theme of Inciting Joy, and special remarks from the awardees. The Founders & Alumni Award dinner successfully raised over $200,000, which will support academic programing at TPS that directly aligns with Bob, Marta and Dan’s areas of interest including: the music, mathematics, science programs as well as tuition assistance.
The dedicated community in attendance spent their evening reminiscing about time spent together, shared experiences, and celebrated the accomplishments of our TPS staff, leaders, and volunteers.
Thank you to those who made this possible:
HOST COMMITTEE
Carlin Adelson
Daniel Adelson
Leah Adelson
Michael Berman
SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS
Marta & Bob Adelson
Leah Adelson & Avi Rafalson
Mort Branzburg & Wendy Branzburg
The Deacon
Sandy & Mike Dean
Alisa Field & Alan Sandals
Mort Branzburg & Wendy Branzburg
Sandy and Mike Dean
Alisa Field & Alan Sandals
Lisa Heller & Harry Roth
Mike Kerlin
Lisa Heller & Harry Roth
Hollenstein Ross Family Foundation
Ruth & Rick Horowitz
Mike & Meeta Kerlin
Deborah & Zach Klehr
Susan & Leonard Klehr
Beth & William Landman
Deborah & Zach Klehr
Susan & Lenny Klehr
Jennifer Rice & Michael Forman
Darren Spielman
Jennifer Rice & Michael Forman
Alyssa & Mike Rickels
Liza Sherretta
Barbara & John Stanley
Andrew & Megan Townsend
Starr Restaurants
Dan Spielman with fellow classmates Justin Pearlman, ‘84, brother Darren ‘86 and Michael Berman ‘84.
Marta and Bob Adelson, 2024 Founders Award Recipients.
Alumna Eliana Yang ‘14 performed at the event. Eliana was part of the Sandra Dean String Ensemble during her time at TPS and now is studying music at Julliard.
Enjoying the festivities (From L to R): Alyssa Rickels, current head of school, Rebecca Shapiro, current parent and former board member, Diane and Bruce Luckman, alumni parents. Diane is also a current Junior Unit teacher at TPS.
Principal Emerita Sandy Dean and time-honored teacher Janet Weinstein were present to honor The Adelson’s and Dan.
ALUMNI AWARD WINNER
Daniel Spielman (‘84) found his love of learning at TPS
The Philadelphia School is pleased to introduce the inaugural Alumni Award, created to honor alumni dedicated to living TPS’ mission and values. Whether through leadership, service, philanthropy, or contribution to TPS, the award seeks to honor the many achievements and notable impact that alumni have made since graduation. This year, we are thrilled to honor Daniel Spielman, Class of 1984.
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Oh, we have evidence of this! When TPS moved to 25th Street. I was in first grade, and we made a time capsule, and all the kids wrote something. We opened it fifteen years later, when I was twenty-one. It said, “I will be a scientist and work in a scientist lab” and it had a picture of me in a lab coat. These days I think of myself as a mathematician who mainly works in applied math and computer science.
WHICH MAKES MORE SENSE TO YOU, “GIVE BACK,” OR “PAY FORWARD” AND WHY?
Lynne Berman who passed away in September 2021, and her husband Peter, (deceased 2016) referred to The Philadelphia School as their “fourth child.” They were so committed to the success of TPS that they have made a legacy gift that will help to transform the school for future generations. The gift to TPS is unrestricted, which means that Lynne wanted the school to decide how to best allocate the funds to advance our mission.
Dan is best known for his breakthrough work in mathematics and computer science. He has demonstrated incredible influence, impact, and integrity in the field and serves as an inspiration to his fellow classmates and young aspiring mathematicians. Dan attended TPS from kindergarten through eighth grade at a time when progressive pedagogy was not well known or understood. He thrived in this environment, as the teachers helped peak his curiosity and helped him excel well beyond the normal capability of students his age. While at TPS, Dan even took courses at University of Pennsylvania and found strong mentors in his TPS teachers. During his acceptance speech of the award he stated, “I was the beneficiary of a nearly perfect education at TPS. TPS is where I was taught a way of learning for the sake of enjoyment, how to be a better communicator, and understanding my identity in the world.”
“When Lynne and I first spoke about her vision of how she would like to give back to TPS, I was truly humbled,” said Lisa Sun, Head of School. “Lynne’s love and commitment to TPS was truly exceptional. She understood the incredible impact that an unrestricted gift would have in ensuring TPS’ future.”
Devoted to an urban life after growing up in the suburbs, Lynne and her long-time friend Caroline (Cal) Simon wanted to find a way to keep families of school-age children in the city. As Lynne’s oldest children, John and Liz and Cal’s oldest child, Tony reached school age in the early 1970s, Lynne and Cal sought a place where their children and others could learn about the history, culture, and natural beauty of Philadelphia as well as the traditional subjects taught in elementary and
Dan Spielman serves as an inspiration to his fellow classmates and young aspiring mathematicians. Most of his research involves the design of algorithms and the development of the mathematics that allows us to understand and analyze them. His work has also helped revolutionize the field of errorcorrecting codes, which has made communication faster and more reliable and has been used for broadcasting highdefinition television, as well as for the design of quantum computers. He has also introduced algorithms for data analysis, for data compression, and for optimizing clinical trials.
Dan’s brother, Darren gave remarks before bestowing the award on behalf of TPS. He noted that previously, in an acceptance speech for a major award, Dan thanked his mentors, including Carter Fussell, his former teacher at TPS. Darren pointed out that his brother is the epitome of what it means to “learn through failure” as “the computer scientist who parlays failures into breakthroughs for solving something else altogether.” He noted his brother’s deep humility and humanity. Upon receiving his award, Dan remarked that his highest hope is that TPS students, like his own, grow up to lead full lives and warned against schools who measure its success based on the achievements of its most successful alumni.
NOTABLE AWARDS
The Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics for multiple discoveries in theoretical computer science and mathematics
MacArthur Fellow and Simons Investigator
Rolf Nevanlinna Prize winner, one of the most prestigious awards in mathematics
2X Gödel Prize winner, awarded for outstanding papers in the field of theoretical computer science
Sterling Professor of Computer Science
Statistics, Data Science, and Mathematics Professor at Yale University
WHAT LASTING LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN AT TPS?
The notion of motivation. Sending your kid to TPS was seen as a radical thing to do back in the day, no grades or tests, people wondered if we were learning anything. We were learning quite a bit. It set me on a different path to education, where I was learning without external motivation. It was more intrinsic, which is very important for the things I chose to do. When I look at TPS now, it looks so different. Is the experience the same? There are spaces built for purpose! have to tell you that the “MPR” is a very important concept for me. I made the office of the Institute for the Foundations of Data Science (FDS) at Yale build an MPR. I definitely took that idea; things need to be rearrangeable.
WHAT DO YOU THINK TPS DOES DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER SCHOOLS?
I know what it did, so I am hoping it still does some of that. When I look back at my education, letting us go at our own pace, figure out your interests, being in an environment where that was enabled. It was low pressure, which gives you more time to develop your interests and find things you care about. By calling my teachers by their first names, I learned how useful it is not to impose social hierarchies. People put too much emphasis on hierarchy. It’s important to establish some equality if you’re going to have a productive conversation. In some cultures, that [deference] is what’s normal. Some of my students were not comfortable with using first names. The Harry Potter generation loved calling people ‘professors’. I let them call me “Professor Dan” if “Dan” makes them uncomfortable. The only people who call me “Professor Spielman” are telemarketers.
To me, it’s instinctively paying forward. I try to go towards causes where I am helping people in need that not everyone else is focused on. When I won The Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics in 2023 for multiple discoveries in theoretical computer science and mathematics, I donated a lot of the proceeds to initiatives supporting women’s reproductive health and some food banks. A lot of what end up spending my time doing is educating and teaching others. try to be a role model, so they will emulate that behavior. A lot of my students don’t go into academia, so I am just trying to set them up with the best future for them.
WHAT SHOULD BE MORE OF A BIG DEAL THAN IT IS?
I feel like a lot of systems in our world, be they economic, medical, political, etc., are the result of things converging towards equilibrium where each part makes sense. I think that current technology is going to make our current equilibrium infeasible. For example, every day you read about data breaches, and we are not going to be able to fix this with the current system. No data will be private! We need a whole different system. The system of how we establish identity is fundamentally broken because it assumes that we have private information or secrets that others don’t know. Bad actors are always going to get private information. The answer is more human interaction, not less.
DAN, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE?
The only way human society will survive and create a level of trust is if we learn to talk to each other again instead of watching little videos on our phones.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG MATHEMATICIANS TODAY?
Keep doing it, don’t get caught up in the math competition business. That drives me nuts.
AT THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I have become who I want to be. It’s basically more of the same. Getting old is like playing a video game. I get injured, it takes me a year to get back in shape, and then get injured again. Stay healthy, keep doing what am doing, that’s the goal.
ALUMNI IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Political Pioneers
In the heat of yet another historic election season, we wanted to take stock of how The Philadelphia School educates and empowers the future leaders of the city, the state, the country, and the world. What better way to do that than to talk to TPS alumni who have worked in the trenches of public policy, government, and politics. Their stories are unique in their own ways. But they all have something in common: a connective thread from a TPS education to a life of public service.
Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA). Her other roles included First Deputy Revenue Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia, where she dealt with revenue policy, regulation, and communications. She has worked in various roles with the City of Philadelphia, New York City Department of Finance, the US Department of the Treasury, and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia.
HOW DID TPS HELP SHAPE YOUR PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE?
“Family groups were such an exciting opportunity to have roles and responsibilities, it instilled a sense of community. There was an expectation that even though you were kids, you could do things. You weren’t waiting for someone else to do it, you had to figure it out.”
MARISA
“Inter-grade learning and experiential learning were transformational. Being a sixth-grader at a table with seventh and eighth graders gave a sense of accountability. It lifted my standards and built my confidence. I remember being in Primary Unit, and someone from the Clinton administration coming to talk to kids about the future — about infrastructure, roads, and Smart Cities. I remember going to Washington, and learning how the Vietnam War had been impactful for our teachers. TPS planted the seed for civic engagement.”
PABLO
Secretary of the Budget in Governor Tom Wolf’s Cabinet and had previously served the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget as Special Advisor to the Budget Secretary since December 2016. Gregory has also held positions as Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel and was Senior Transition Advisor to Governor Tom Wolf’s Transition Team.
Director of Policy for Flock Safety, a public safety technology company. Previously, she was Director of Legislative Policy at Bird, where she worked on legislation around the world to get people out of cars and onto shared micro mobility. Prior to her private sector work, she held public sector roles in Santa Monica, as well as the New York City and Washington D.C. Mayor’s Offices.
Policy Advisor for Policy & Program Impact for Inflation Reduction Act Implementation, Office of the Deputy Secretary, at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Prior to joining Treasury, Pablo worked at the Biden Institute where he developed programming to cultivate democratic citizenship through civil discourse and civic engagement among college-aged students.
“ TPS taught me the ability to listen to other people’s point of view, to try to figure out what is best for the collective good. The importance of civic engagement and being involved. I remember meeting Ed Rendell at TPS. I remember when Denise Goren (mother of Marisa Waxman!), the deputy mayor, came to speak about transportation in the city. We had unbelievable access.”
GREGORY
“I grew up in the city, and I didn’t think about what that meant until I went to high school in the suburbs. I encountered people who questioned my city-based childhood. I started defending it: the walkable community, the diversity, so much culture and art and opportunity. That experience got me interested in policy and urban communities. I got face-to-face with inequality more often. That got me passionate about urban policy, and how you use policy to make cities better.”
ANDREA
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE CURRENT TPS STUDENTS WHO MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE A LIFE IN PUBLIC SERVICE?
“Engage in your community however it makes sense. Pick something close to you that affects your daily life. If you’re annoyed with something, ask why that came to be, and get to the point where you can incorporate understanding of others’ points of view. Public service is incredibly rewarding, it feels worth it when you know you are improving the lives of others in your community.”
MARISA
“Enjoy being a kid and share your lunch! It’ll help you connect with people. Understanding others and building relationships will carry you through life and will be useful no matter what you end up doing but especially if you go into public service.”
PABLO
“A lot of activities and tasks don’t make sense to you now, but those skills you don’t even realize you’re learning will serve you over the years. Civic involvement is really important, you have to figure out what you want to do, and how to do it. Embrace doing small things: volunteering, writing emails, knocking on doors. Show up, and keep showing up. Change is hard, and it takes time. ”
GREGORY
“Try a lot of things. Work on campaigns, at a legal clinic on neighborhood issues, work directly with community members, learn many different city agencies. Try things before deciding if you’ll go to grad school, a lot of different things can prepare you for a career in policy.”
ANDREA
As many alumni and current students know well, TPS incorporates lessons about personal identity, civic responsibility, and being agents of change at every grade level. The kindergarten learns how to be “upstanders” for important causes and those in need. Third grade zooms out, and connects students’ personal experiences with their nation’s history, exploring how to build a “more fair USA.” In 7th grade, the “Seeds of Change” project is a highlight every
year that builds on the students’ personal interests and helps them explore and articulate solutions for social justice issues. It is no wonder that our graduates go out into the world, ready to make it a better place for all. Their sense of self is deeply rooted in a sense of community, the city of Philadelphia, and the ways in which they can affect change in the world around them.
Marisa Waxman
Gregory Thall
Andrea Korb
Pablo McConnie-Saad
Alumni Notes
Sarah Dry ‘87
Sarah is an historian of science. She is currently writing a book on the history of systems thinking and sustainability, based on the life of Dana Meadows. She writes: “my early experiences of learning outside of classrooms and across disciplines at TPS continue to shape how I see the world.” She lives in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Philip Arouca ‘99
After TPS, Phil and his family moved to Chicago. He returned to Philadelphia when he attended St. Joseph’s University and played on the golf team. Upon graduation, he became a professional golfer, but later retired and joined E-Z Go Golf Carts, a golf management firm, where he is now a regional sales manager today. He lives in Lake Forest IL with Kari and his children, Julianne (8) and Colin (2).
David Arouca ‘01
David is a union chief lobbyist at Transportation Communications Union (TCU), a union with mostly railroad workers (plus Disney World!). Dave lives in Washington, D.C. with his longtime partner, Andrea Wohleber.
Jesse Weinstein Gould ‘01
Jesse is the vice president for basketball operations for the Oklahoma City Thunder and in August 2024 was named one of 40-Under-40 NBA executives, coaches, and influencers in The Athletic.
Molly Frank ‘02
Molly is a yoga instructor and mother to two girls, Poppy (4), and Georgie (18 months). She is currently in “busy mom mode” and looking to get back into teaching yoga, or going back to school, once her youngest is in school full time.
Alfonse Mandese ‘04
Alfonse and wife Caitlin recently welcomed their first child Cole Henry Mandese. They are enjoying reconnecting with family and friends after moving back to Philadelphia. Alfonse is the global head of sales and business development at Talos, a financial technology company dedicated to building trading infrastructure for the digital asset world.
Emily Bach ‘06
Emily is in the last year of her PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Northern Colorado. She is a doctoral intern in health services psychology at the University at Albany Counseling and Psychological Services.
Nathaniel Harlan ‘07
Nathaniel lives in Boston where he attended Berklee College of Music and now works as a professional musician and teaches percussion/drums in private lessons to children and adults. He is getting married this summer.
Molly Marcus ‘10
Molly received her BS in criminal justice, Masters in forensic mental health counseling and is now a therapist with Crozer, based in Chester, PA. She’s a licensed professional counselor currently practicing in community mental health.
Hartrich Zack ‘13
Hartrich is a PhD candidate at The University of Chicago in Integrative Biology, and is conducting research at the Field Museum of Natural History. They have published two papers related to their work and have presented at multiple professional conferences. Hartrich also helps to connect TPS students and teachers with scientific experts from the University of Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, and University of Minnesota for the classroom studies.
Dominique Regli ‘16
Dominique recently completed her B.S. in Engineering Mechanics and minors in robotics, computer science, and philosophy. She is now pursuing a masters and PhD in mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is a member of the Model-Based Embedded and Robotics Systems (MERS) Group, where she is working on human-robot interaction for healthcare applications. She was also selected as a recipient of an MIT School of Engineering Fellowship and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship for her continued work in robotics.
Sebastian Picht ‘19
Sebastian is currently in his second year of undergraduate studies in Piano Performance at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He recently graduated from the Young Scholars Program of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation during which he performed at the opening concert in Vitznau, Switzerland. He also performed at Spanish Lake Elementary School as an ambassador of the Foundation’s Keys of Inspiration outreach program and attended the Aspen Music Festival and School this past summer.
Samantha Lerner ‘20
Samantha just started her freshman year in Italy at the Temple University Rome campus, Klein College of Media and Communication.
Bryce Moleski ‘20
Bryce recently graduated from Friends’ Central School this spring and spent the summer traveling in Italy and serving as a camp counselor at Camp Tockwogh. He is currently attending Tufts University in Boston where he is studying political science, philosophy, and history. His brother, Luke Moleski, graduated from Benchmark School and now attends The Haverford School where he is enjoying playing football and lacrosse.
Desmond Maggione ‘22
Desmond is a Junior at Science Leadership Academy and is doing additional studies in the Digital Video CTE Program.
Tristyn Howard ‘23
Tristyn is a sophomore at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and is excited to serve as a TPS class representative for the class of 2023. She continues to be passionate about robotics and social action, cultivated during their time at TPS.
IN MEMORIAM
JOSEPH MOONEY
Joseph was the husband of longtime TPS teacher Diane Pepe Mooney, and the father of Michael ‘99 and Brian ‘02.
TOM GILMORE
He was the father of Walker ‘87 and Justin, and the grandfather of Beckett ‘26 and Avery ‘20.
JOSH ABBELL
He was the father of Julian Abbell ‘21 and husband to Amy White, who was an active class rep for many years.
CLIFFORD PEARLMAN
He was the father of two “generations” of alumni, Justin Pearlman ‘84 and Zach Marks ‘01. His wife, Lynn Marks, served on the TPS board for several years.
BOB PRISCHAK
He was the father of Onyx Acker ‘11.
SANDY MOZES
He was the father of Dan ‘00, Eric ‘04, Jonathan ‘04, husband to Clare and grandfather to Henry ‘31 and Max ‘33.
ALUMNI
Please help the online Alumni Directory. When classmates are seeking to contact each other it is helpful to have an up-to-date directory. Send all contact information updates or questions to alumni@tpschool.org.
Sarah Dry Molly Frank David Arouca
Sebastian Picht
Lifetime Giving Honor Roll
THE FOUNDERS SOCIETY
Honors those who have chosen to make a positive impact on TPS’s future through thoughtfully planned bequests or other estate gifts.
Lynne and Peter Berman
Robert T. Foley
Caroline Simon
LIFETIME GIVING CIRCLE
We honor those donors who have made our mission possible for the last 50 years by contributing over $100,000 in lifetime gifts to the school.
Jeffrey L. Abrams and Margaret Barry
Marta and Robert Adelson
Steven and Robin Altschuler
Lynne and Peter Berman
Michael and Mona Berman
Ira and Stacey Brind
Comcast Corporation
Matthew and Gabrielle Canno
David and Nancy Colman
Jacob K. Cooper and Natalie Aronson
Cooper
Sandra and Michael Dean
Jeffrey and Mayva Donnon
Paul and Cecie Dry
Igor and Julia Frayman
Robert T. Foley
Anna Forrester and Mitchell Young
Roberta Gausas and Allen Model
Susan Green
Irwin and Linda Gross
Lisa Heller and Harry Roth
Alexis and Tristan Jones
Michael and Meeta Kerlin
Deborah and Zachary Klehr
Leonard and Susan Klehr
Deborah and Eugene Lefevre
Stephen Leitzell
Jeffrey and Elinor Marrazzo
Alan and Jill Miller
Gina M. Moore
Dorothy Novick and Peter Kenney
Osage Scholarship, LLC
Sun Park and James Nam
Roy and Rosalind Neff
Jared and Melanie Pontz
Kate and Michael Riccardi
Jennifer Rice and Michael Forman
Alan Sandals and Alisa Field
Schafer Family Philanthropic Fund
Ellen Schwartz and Jeremy Siegel
Daniel and Rebecca Shapiro
Suzanne Simons
Barbara and John Stanley
UHS of Pennsylvania, Inc
Alex and Hilary Verbuch
Jami and Ken Young
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If an error has occurred, please accept our sincere apology and contact advancement@tpschool.org so we can adjust our records and publish the correction.
With gratitude, we recognize our Leadership Circle Donors. Through their generous gifts through the TPS Fund, EITC/OSTC, Sponsorship and the Ours to Shape Comprehensive Campaign, this group of donors provides invaluable leadership within our community. The following reflects gifts made to The Philadelphia School between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
1972 PACESETTERS
CIRCLE $50,000+
Bene Archbold-Hart and Brian Hart
Lynne Berman
The Builders Initiative
Jeffrey and Mayva Donnon
Igor and Julia Frayman
Alexis and Tristan Jones
Michael and Meeta Kerlin
Deborah and Zachary Klehr
Susan and Leonard Klehr
Eugene and Deborah Lefevre
Jeffrey and Elinor Marrazzo
James Nam and Sun Park
Jared and Melanie Pontz
Ellen Schwartz and Jeremy Siegel
CITY,
COUNTRY, CLASSROOM CIRCLE
$25,000-49,999
Robert and Marta Adelson
Michael and Mona Berman
Matthew and Gabrielle Canno
Comcast Corporation
Christopher and Leah McTiernan
Roy and Rosalind Neff
Osage Scholarship, LLC
Stephen Starr
Alex and Hilary Verbuch
Jami and Ken Young
TIGER TRAILBLAZERS
CIRCLE $10,000-24,999
Carl Park and Jane Ahn
Jenny and Luca Bogoni
Ira and Stacey Brind
Jacob K. Cooper and Natalie Aronson
Cooper
David and Nancy Colman
JJ Shirley and Raphael Cunniff
Adam and Stacy Douberly
Maria and Kevin Dugan
Jennifer Goldberg and Robert Ferrante
Michael Fields and Frances Middleton
Jennifer Rice and Michael Forman
Goldman Sachs
Iddo and Lauren Harel
Lisa Heller and Harry Roth
Stephen Kastenberg & Robin Ireland
Jessica Kasten and Nicholas Kerr
Ann Rosewater and Robert Kronley
Franc and Katie Marmero
Zachary F. Meisel and Courtney Schreiber
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company
Michael and Alyssa Rickels
Daniel and Rebecca Shapiro
Cal Simon
Barbara and John Stanley
Lisa and Peter Sun
Andrew and Megan Townsend
University of Pennsylvania
Janet Weinstein
FAMILY GROUP LEADERS
CIRCLE $5,000-9,999
Michael and Lindsey Albenberg
Jane Lawson-Bell and Edward Bell
Jeffrey and Kristen Block
Christopher and Crystal Casazza
Colman Family Foundation
Christine Reardon and Michael Davidson
Elliott-Lewis Corporation
Michael and Haley Fiebach
Joshua Lehrer and Laura Gessman
Dr. Alexandra Greco
Greco Orthodontics
Judd P. Greenberg and Michelle Henning
Greenberg
John Jackson and Deborah Thomas
Dorothy Novick and Peter Kenney
Allison Kirshner Oz and Sahar Oz
James Mitchell
Mahbod Mohazzebi and Merriam
Seyedain
Philip and Katie Neff
Alexander and Julie Nemeth
New York Life Insurance Company
Andrea Toy Ohta and Brian Ohta
Scott and Lauren Ravitz
Republic Bank
Jane Scaccetti
Rebecca and David Selvin
David and Karen Townsend
Waste Management
Chuck and Barbara Widger
Wolfe Scott Associates
PROGRESSIVE PARTNERS CIRCLE
$1,000-4,999
Aegis Property Group
Pete and Janice Albert
Nicole Black and Romuald Wawszczyk
Dr. Mercedes Blackstone and Matthew Schaenen
Torren Blair
Richard Heiberger and Barbara Bloomfield
Max Branzburg and Sacha Finn
Tanisha and Jermaine Brockington
Shanley and Patrick Campbell
Leslie Rosenberg and Isaac Chalal
Mu Yang and Kai Chen
Robert and Rose Cohen
Carolyn Coleburn and Harry Philbrick
Matthew and Krista Conner
Maryann Connolly and Lyle Ungar
Sandra and Michael Dean
Tom and Anne Degnan
Ashley Feuer-Edwards and Doug Edwards
EisnerAmper LLP
Edu-tech Academic Solutions
Howard and Phyllis Fischer
Fidelity Charitable
Alisa Field and Alan Sandals
Charles Finney and Stacey Trooskin
Anthony and Linda Giorgio
Stephen and Erin Giorgio
The Glenmede Trust Company
Gary and Nancy Gordon
Graham-Pelton Associates Inc.
Virginia Harr and Brian Radic
Mollie and Amos Henderson
Stephen and Susan Huntington
Derek and Jill Jokelson
Mary Ann Kerlin
The Kessler Fund
Samuel Klehr
Leo Korein and Ann Ritter
David and Davida Krupnick
Lamney + Giorgio
Jeff and Jan Leitch
Joyce and Alan Leven
Marc and Caitlin Leven
Bruce and Diane Luckman
Lezlie Madden and Matthew Raalf
Meghan Madeira
Alfonse Mandese, Jr.
Merck Company Foundation
Michael Zimmer and Maureen MirroZimmer
Pia Mohsen and Mansur Rasul
Sanford and Clare Mozes
Julie and Daniel Mozes
James Nam and Sun Park
Nicholas Panasevich and Lori Noll
Northeast Financial Group
PA Partners for Education, LLC
Payal Shah and Mitesh Patel
Karen Pelino
Dr. Maya Pindyck and Tyler Sargent
Julia Pudlin and David Wishnick
Rassler Financial LLC
Steven and Kelli Rettinger
Claire Shubik-Richards and Seth Richards-Shubik
Adrian L. Sam and Marisa Sam
Lynne Schmitt
SeeSharp Eyecare
Betsy and Richard Sheerr
Dr. Kumaran and Mamata Senthil
Andrew and Carrie Siegel
The Sloman Foundation
Emily and Ryan Soloby
The Peter and Nancy Thauer Family Charitable Foundation
Susan B. Thauer
TreeRing Corporation
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Xpanse HR
Elizabeth and Richard Zack
SUPPORTERS UP TO $999
Gayle Chesley and Nicholas Abend
Everett and Valerie Abitbol
Lauren Adams and Justin Pearlman
Rachel Adams-Kaplan and Sean Kaplan
Carlin Adelson
Girna Mendez-Adkins and Timothy Adkins
Jonathan Adler
Adobe
Daniel and Rebecca Alig
Keisha Smith and Derrick Allen
David Altenhofen and Mariette Buchman
Emily Altman
Robert and Patricia Altman
America’s Charities
American Online Giving Foundation, Inc.
Peter and Francesca Ammon
Shing-Yi Wang and Santosh Anagol
Anita and Erwin Andrews
Federico Ramirez Vergara and Carolina Angel Botero
Courtney Apple and William Glaab
Anne and Dennis Arouca
George Arthur and Rachel Moore
A & S Sprinkler
David and Beth Auguste
Calvin and Anastasia Austin
Tutu M. Ayano and Sileshi M. Menkir
Mitchell Bach
Margaret Bailey
Michael Barndt and Eve Barnett
Mary L. Bartlett and Roy Backes
Rachel A. Gross and Herbert P. Baker
Aswin Punathambekar and Mandira Banerjee
Elissa and Craig Barbieri
Maureen Barden and David Othmer
Donna Barnes
Marleen Baron
Kate Barrett and Christopher D’Amore
Sean and Emily Barwin
Kathy Becker
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
Harris Rabinovich and Ilene Block
Marisa L. Block
Debbie Bloom and Michael Price
Catherine Bogart-Rome and Stuart Rome
Jamie Bogert
Laura Bottaro and Phil Galier
Shevaun Brannigan
Jennifer Breslow and Kia Dalili
Tricia Bruning
Peter and Frances Buttenheim
Gabriel Buyske-Friedberg
Melissa Carroll
Amanda Casper and John Orr
Jeffrey and Diane Chalal
John Chase and Jane Rath
Jordan and Rebecca Chazin
Richard and Rosa Ana Chazin
Maryfrances Davis and Ollie
Cherniahivsky
Mika Osborn and Justin Choi
Cigna
Phyllis Cochran
Eric Cohen and Debbie Zak Cohen
Jaclyn Marcel and Christopher L. Cole
Brendan and Annmarie Collins
Lynn Collins
Emma Cottone
Tina S. Cowan
Claudette and Miles Coverdale
Sylvia Cucinotta
Rachel and Hugh Daulerio
Maron Deering and Sandra Mayson
Kathleen Degnan and Stephen Klein
Maria L. Mussa and Alejandro Delgado
Jarett Devaney and Charlene Turi
Jinpian Diao and Henning Piezunka
Martha E. Lucy and Richardson Dilworth
Robert McDonough and Amanda DiNofia
Sophie and Benjamin Doar
Shari Donahue
Anna Donnelly and Jason Rothman
Linda Donnon
Chalon Downs
Mathilda Edmunds and Stephen Groundwater
Samah Elhajibrahim and Bassil Kublaoui
JJ El-Far and Dan Hirschhorn
Marianne Ruby Emmett and Gary Emmett
Ellen Exner and Steven Zohn
Michael Fabius and Laurie Morrison
Mary Beth and Rob Fedirko
T.J. Ferrick
Debra Fickler and Steve Russell
Bob and Betsy Fiebach
Kara Finck and Mark Humowiecki
John and Nancy Fischer
Marco Velis and Maria Fischer
Deborah Kahn and Mark Fischer
Colleen Shanahan and Michael Fischer
Rebecca Fischer and Hal Leshner
Charles and Carol Fishman
Patrick and Marja Fitzgerald
Deborah Fleisher
Brittany Flippen
David Williams and Emily Foote
Sara Forgione and Terry Maguire
David Foster
Philip Franks
Mark and Jennifer Freeman
Jill Garland and John Frisbee
Alison Fritz and Daniel Pohlig
Kara Howland and Nick Frontino
Frontstream
Paul and Megan Gabriel
Francesca and Noah Gans-Pfister
Jeannie L. Wong and Edward Garcia
Larry and Jeanne Gessman
Jennifer and Anthony Giampetro
Tim Gibbons and Jayne Lisbeth
Dennis and Stephany Goloveyko
Patrick and Mary Richardson Graham
Leonard and Adele Greenberg
Elise Greenberg
Hilary Hamilton
Miriam and Jeffrey Harlan
Vivi Hart
Sam and Sean Hartman
Sara Heiberger and Jeffrey Sawyer
Witold and Marcia Henisz
Mark and Jennifer Herczeg
William and Stefanie Hinkle
Lisa and David Hoke
Pam Holland
Kim Horne
Mo and Farzana Hossain
Hanna Zafar and Gregory Hudson
IBM
Independence Blue Cross
David and Tammi Inscho
Richard Jacobsen and Kate Oxx
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Sheri Rider Jobe and Dawda Jobe
Joseph and Carol Jones
Eric and Catherine Jones
Christopher Jones and Emily Weiss
Eric and Debbie Jones
M’Liss Jones
Brian Jordan
Salwa Kablawi
Nina Kalandadze and Ian MacMillan
Janet Kalkstein
Ilene M. Kalter-Lieberman and Jared B. Lieberman
Alexis Pew and Kevin Kaminski
Molly Kane
Dana Karl and Jeremy Lacks
Susan Katsekas
Kimberly and Michael Kearns
Agnes Kelley
Eli K. Klehr
Daniel Lee and Eun Koh
Ryan Kollar
Anish Kumar and Karuna Krishna
Bethany Kruc and Kevin McClellan
Katherine Latta
Catherine Price and Peter Leckman
Mark Leitch
Carol Lerner
Ryan J. Levan
Daniel Stevenson and Helen Levin
Richard and Dale Levy
Andrew and Janice Lieberman
Carol and Rafael Lissack
Nathan Sandals and Michelle Liszt
Beth Lundy and Chris Russo
Daniel Lutes
Maestro Filmworks
Kelvin Luk and Vivian Man
Gerri Trooskin and Joshua Mann
Marc and Mamie Mannella
Lynn A. Marks
Jerry and Laura Marshall
Mathnasium
Dylan and Molly Maxwell
Rebecca Mazar and Ryan McCormick
Celina M. McCall
Elizabeth McCannell
Bernadette McCleary
Terry and Mary McConnell
Robert and Patricia McCory
Kevin and Nancy McKay
Patrick and Michele McKenna
Ted and Ann McKenzie
Bruce and Cathy McNeish
Pablo I. McConnie-Saad
Mark and Karen Methlie
Meredith Methlie and Seth Reichgott
Katie Miller and Ethan Tannen
Gillian E. Moldowan
Dr. Preston and Catherine Moore
Youngja and Mark Moore
Heather and Mehron Moqtaderi
Reza and Susan Moqtaderi
William Morlok Sr.
Jeffrey and Stephanie Mordan
Elizabeth Morrison
Kelly Mulhall
Ralph and Rose Mundy
Rebecca Muntean
Jeff and Holly Murphy
Matthew and Gidget Murray
Dr. Shay Selden and Alyssa Mutryn
Marcio Siwi and Sabina Neugebauer
Jill Neuman and Jason Pawlowsky
Madelynn Nieves-Renz
Thuy Nguyen and Tri Nguyen
Laura Lee Swan and Stephen O’Hanlon
Stephanie Orphanides
Judith Parker
Steve and Joanne Peck
Diane Pepe
Jennifer and William Peranteau
Dr. Keisha-Khan Perry
Aaron and Elina Picht
Amy Phillips
Brian Phillips
Neha and John Plastaras
Emma K. Powers
Lauren and Robert Powers
Madhukar and Mamta Prasad
Matthew and Vanessa Prendergast
Gabriel A. Procaccino
Helen and David Pudlin
Marguerite Weese and Stephen Raab
Selekha Ramos
Kaitlyn Renna
Becca and Aidan Robinson
Giovana and Joshua Robinson
Jessica Rogal
Harry C. Rogers IV and Carolyne Rogers
Jessica Romanucci
Molly E. Swartz and Daniel Rosenthal
Nancy and Peter Rossi
Kyle Rouse
Alex and Nicole Rudolph
Leah Sandals
Frances Sargent
The Schachter Charitable Fund
Kelley and Andrew Seravalli
Dr. Ellen J. Siegel
Delia Solomons and Adam Shapiro
Eric and Michelle Shiffrin
Harvey and Babette Snyder
Allison E. Steele
James and Nancy Steele
Cait Stewart
Anastasia and Tharadon Sumpaopol
Michael and Keren Toledano
Stanley and Estelle Trooskin
Dr. Sean Vereen
Bob and Marlyn Vogel
Kate Weiler
Joshua D. Wheeling
Zach Yuska
Erica and Kevin Zimmer
ORGANIZATIONS
Aegis Property Group
America’s Charities
American Online Giving Foundation, Inc.
BLOCS
Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund
Comcast Corporation
Edu-Tech Academic Solutions
EisnerAmper Advisory Group LLC
Fidelity Charitable
Frontstream
Greco Orthodontics
IBM
Independence Blue Cross
Integrity Funding Advisors (IFA)
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Lamney & Giorgio
Mathnasium
New York Life Insurance Company
Northeast Financial Group
Osage Scholarship, LLC
PA Partners for Education, LLC
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company
Rassler Financial LLC Republic Bank
SeeSharp Eyecare Starr Restaurants The Blackbaud Giving Fund
IN HONOR OF
Rachel Adams-Kaplan
Brenda Austin
Neesa Becker Procaccino
Catherine Bogart-Rome
Kimberly Carter
Anna Cherniahivsky
Kristina Cherniahivsky
Sandra L. Dean
Anna N. Donnelly
Qiana Ganges
Mollie Henderson
Stella Hinkle
Richard N. Jacobsen
Derek E. Jokelson
Brian Jordan
Molly Kane
Michael D. Kerlin
Deborah G. Klehr
Zachary Klehr
Emily B. Marston
Bernadette F. McCleary
Courtney E. Miller
Laurie Morrison
Rebecca Muntean
Je Un Park
Alyssa Rickels
Claire M. Saint-Amour
Julia K. Saint-Amour
3 LLC
Corporation United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey University of Pennsylvania Waste Management
Nicole Schaller
Lisa H. Sun
Megan Townsend
Teyanie L. Watson-Harris
Elizabeth Zack
IN MEMORY OF Lauren B. Kent
ALUMNI
GIVING IN KIND
Jonathan Adler 1983
Michael Berman 1984
Judd Greenberg 1984
Justin Pearlman 1984
Michael Lissack 1991
Emily Altman 1992
Zachary Klehr 1992
Leo Korein 1993
Scott Ravitz 1993
Gillian Moldowan 1994
Andrew Siegel 1994
Allison Steele 1994
Mollie Henderson 1997
Eli Klehr 1997
Dan Hirschhorn 1998
Katherine Latta 1998
David Schiffrin 1998
Molly Swartz 1998
Jacob Cooper 1999
Michael Fiebach 1999
Leah Sandals 1999
Sophie Doar 1999
Rebecca Fischer Leshner 2000
Pablo McConnie-Saad 2000
Dan Moses 2000
Abraham Silber 2000
Joshua Wheeling 2000
Carlin Adelson 2001
Emma Powers 2001
Nathan Sandals 2001
Zach Yuska 2001
Laura Bottaro Galier 2002
Gabriel Procaccino 2002
T.J. Ferrick 2002
Ryan Levan 2002
Max Branzburg 2003
Samuel Klehr 2004
Alfonse Mandese 2004
Celina McCall 2010
Emma Luckman 2011
Sylvia Cucinotta 2020
6ABC
Adam and Stacey Douberly
Alexander and Hilary Verbuch
Alyssa and Michael Rickels
Andreea Dimofte
Andrew and Carrie Siegel
Andrew and Megan Townsend
Anna T. Taylor
Arden Theatre Company
Barnes Foundation
Becca Robinson
Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant
Brian Jordan
Bridget Foy’s
Brooks Tanner
Bruce Benjamin
Catherine Bogart-Rome
Christopher Casazza
Cousins Mike
David and Davida Krupnick
David and Tammi Inscho
David R. Schiffrin
Deborah and Zachary Klehr
DJ Baucom
Edible Philly Magazine
Edwin Bronstein
Elegance Quartet
Elizabeth Zack
Emma Luckman
Garrison Printing Company
Harry and Carolyn Philbrick
Igor and Julia Frayman
J2
Jane White
Jared Pontz
Jeannie L. Wong
Jeffrey Mordan
Jezabel’s
JJ El-Far and Dan Hirschhorn
JJ Shirley and Rafel Cunniff
Josh Herren
Kaitlyn Renna
KAYA Home Organization
Kelly Mulhall
La Colombe
Lauren Harel Photography
Laurie Fabius
Mark and Jennifer Herczeg
Marvin Greenbaum
Mathnasium of Center City
Meera Thomas
Melissa Carroll
Michael and Haley Fiebach
Michael and Lindsey Albenberg
Michael and Meeta Kerlin
Michael Fields and Frances Middleton
Michael R. Lissack
Northeast Financial Group, Inc.
Oyster House
Phield House
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philly Pretzel Factory
Presley’s Bar
Queen and Rook
Rachel Daulerio
Rae J. Fishman
Richard Goloveyko
Richard Jacobsen
Richardson Dilworth
Rival Brothers Coffee
Salt & Vinegar
Samuel Mink and Anthony Padilla
Sandra Dean
Sara Forgione
Shanley and Patrick Campbell
Shyamkrishna Balganesh and Irene Lu
Spread Bagelry
Starr Restaurants
Tac Images
The Deacon
The Igloo
The Richmond Bottle Shop
Tor and Anastasia Sumpaopol
Tyler and Maya Sargent
Viniamo Wines
Yards Brewing Company
EITC Donors
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Marta & Robert Adelson
Bene Archbold Hart & Brian Hart
Natalie Aronson Cooper and Jacob Cooper
Kai Chen and Mu Yang
Michael and Mona Berman
Jeffrey and Kristen Block
Jenny and Luca Bogoni
Ira and Stacey Brind
Matt and Gabby Canno
Christopher and Crystal Casazza
David and Nancy Colemon
Comcast Corporation
Adam and Stacy Douberly
Kevin and Maria Dugan
Elliot-Lewis Corporation
Michael and Haley Fiebach
Michael Fields and Frances Middleton
Igor and Julia Frayman
Laura Gessman and Joshua Lehrer
Jennifer Goldberg and Robert Ferrante
Kate Greenbaum Neff and Phillip Neff
Iddo and Lauren Harel
John Jackson and Deborah Thomas
Alexis and Tristan Jones
Judd Greenberg and Michelle Henning
Greenberg
Jessica Kasten & Nicholas Kerr
Stephen Kastenberg
Michael and Meeta Kerlin
Allison Kirshner Oz and Sahar Oz
Robert Kronley and Ann Rosewater
Davida and David Krupnick
Eugene and Deborah Lefevre
Franc and Kathryn Marmero
Christopher and Leah McTiernan
Zachary Meisel and Courtney Schreiber
James Mitchell
James Nam and Sun Park
Roy and Rosalind Neff
Julie and Alexander Nemeth
Andrea Toy Ohta and Brian Ohta
Osage Scholarship, LLC
PA Partner in Education, LLC
Philadelphia Indemnity
Jared and Melanie Pontz
Lauren and Scott Ravitz
Republic Bank
Alyssa and Michael Rickels
Adrian and Marisa Sam
Jane Scaccetti
Ellen Schwartz and Jeremy Siegel
Barbara and John Stanley
Lisa and Peter Sun
Andrew and Megan Townsend
Waste Management
Alex and Hilary Verbuch
Ways to Give
The Philadelphia School is deeply grateful to be supported by our community’s generosity. From time and talent to philanthropic gifts, these contributions make a lasting difference for all of our students.
WHY I GIVE The Pontz Family
CASH, CHECK AND ONLINE GIVING
The simplest way to support TPS.
Consider a recurring gift for a more budget-friendly option.
GIFTS OF SECURITIES AND BONDS
Gift an appreciated investment held for more than one year as a tax deduction and avoid capital gains taxes.
DOUBLE THE IMPACT WITH A MATCHING GIFT
Many companies offer matching gifts. Check out our website to see if your company qualifies.
There are many ways to make a lasting impact at TPS—some incurring no immediate cost, and some that pay income during your (or your designated beneficiary’s) lifetime. Make
GIFT FROM YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are the savviest way for individuals age 70½ or older to use their IRAs to maximize their charitable impact.
LIFE INSURANCE BENEFICIARY
Give a policy you no longer need by making TPS the owner or beneficiary an insurance plan.
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS (DAF)
DAFs are charitable savings accounts that provide tax benefits while giving you the flexibility to decide how much and how often you’d like to contribute.
EVENT SPONSORSHIP AND IN-KIND DONATIONS
Support our Fall Festival and/or EATS fundraisers. You can also consider donating in-kind products or services to support these events or other areas of need.
VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS
Volunteer with TPSA, The Board of Trustees or be an Alumni Class Representative.
PA TAX GIVING PROGRAM
Pennsylvania businesses and individuals can support tuition assistance at TPS through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. Donors may receive a tax credit up to 93% of their gift.
Jared and Melanie Pontz are dedicated supporters of The Philadelphia School and parents to two current students, Ethan and Mya. Actively involved on the Board, TPSA, and the Advancement Committee, Jared and Melanie have made TPS a central part of their philanthropy.
One of the ways they contribute is through TPS’s PA Tax Giving program, known as the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which helps make a TPS education accessible to families who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Thanks to this program and The TPS Fund, nearly one-third of our families benefit from tuition assistance each year.
When Jared and Melanie first became TPS parents and began exploring ways to support the school, the EITC program was a natural fit. They saw it as an impactful way to contribute to the community. “Giving to EITC is an easy and meaningful way to support the school,” they share. “The ability to redirect tax dollars to support our TPS community and receive up to a 90% tax credit feels worthwhile on many levels. And it gives all children, regardless of family income, the opportunity to get the high-quality education that TPS provides.”
The EITC program offers a unique chance to support The Philadelphia School while benefiting individuals and businesses alike. Participants can direct their tax dollars toward education, enhancing the quality of learning for our children. For business owners, the EITC program is particularly advantageous, especially for those considering a business sale in the near future.
The Pontz family is inspired by the opportunities their children have received at TPS and is passionate about making the TPS experience more accessible to others. By contributing to the EITC program, they’re not only able to offset their tax liability but also help extend the magic of TPS to more students in our community.
TPS’ goal is to provide equal access to our progressive educational experience for children in the Philadelphia area. Individual and corporate support through the PA Tax Credit Program, is essential to achieving this goal. Every year, the number of students applying for tuition assistance at TPS increases and continues to exceed available funds. Through last year’s support, TPS was able to provide support to all TPS students with a qualified need. With this milestone met, our goal is to expand the amount of support we can provide so that more students can experience a TPS education.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jared and Melanie for their continued generosity and commitment to The Philadelphia School.
JOIN OUR FOUNDERS SOCIETY
Make a lasting impact by leaving a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. Other options include making contingent or residual bequests.
ENDOWMENT
Donations help us meet the school’s long-term strategic goals and ensure the long-term financial stability of the school.
OURS TO SHAPE CAMPAIGN
Supports capital improvement projects currently focusing on a five phase Lombard Building renovation.
PAVE THE WAY
Purchase a brick with custom engraving to be included in the design of the new Yard.
Jared and Melanie recommend the program enthusiastically. Reflecting on his initial years at TPS, Jared says, “I was thrilled to learn about the EITC and the positive impact it has on our students. It’s reassuring to know that our contributions help fund scholarships and enrich the educational experiences that define The Philadelphia School.”
Giving Stories
“Contributing to the Ours to Shape campaign is my way of helping to create spaces that inspire learning and innovation. I’m proud to support a vision that will serve our students and our community for years to come.”
“Giving back to the school is my way of saying thank you.”
TPS ALUMNUS
“Supporting our school through giving isn’t just about dollars – it’s about investing in a community that nurtures, inspires, and empowers our children every day.”
CURRENT TPS PARENT
“Supporting the school is a gift not only for my grandchild but for every child in this community. By contributing to the TPS fund, I’m helping to create a place where all children can learn, grow, and reach their potential.”
TPS GRANDPARENT
“I give to TPS, because I credit the school for many of my lifelong friendships, and for my son’s love of school. When my kid is excited for school, I know TPS is doing a lot right!”
TPS PARENT AND ALUMNUS
“As a teacher, I see firsthand the impact of the TPS fund on our students’ learning. By supporting it, I’m helping to ensure that we have the tools and programs that allow us to teach in creative and meaningful ways.”
