From the Head of School

In this issue of The Pingry Review, we are pleased to share how Pingry has pivoted to deliver on our promise of academic excellence through the creation of Pingry Anywhere, a best-in-class education and learner-centered experience through a flexible model. While COVID19 presents unprecedented challenges, we rallied together as a community to figure out how we can continue to fulfill our mission in innovative ways, leveraging the talents and expertise of our dynamic faculty and staff, who have stepped up in countless ways to help us remain steadfast in our school motto: “Greatest respect is due students.” What the faculty and staff have collectively implemented is truly remarkable and demonstrates our tireless commitment to strive for excellence in all that we do. The redesign of our campuses, thanks to the skills and talents of our Facilities and Technology Departments, coupled with intensive professional development for our teachers, has enabled us to provide an unparalleled learning experience for our students.

One of the key questions that has driven our progress is how we can ensure that every student is able to thrive in a diverse and inclusive community. In these pages, you will read about our redoubled commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through the late spring and the summer, we engaged in several conversations with students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni to better understand how Black students have experienced Pingry. We recognize that we have much work to do as a community to strengthen a sense of belonging for each student at Pingry. Our DEI team, spearheaded by Mr. Gilberto Olvera, our new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, has jumped into action to examine the ways in which we must design for equitable experiences for all of our students. In partnership with the Board DEI Task Force, the newly constituted Anti-Racism Task Force, and the student-led Pingry Allyship Collective, Mr. Olvera has mobilized our community with a sense of urgency to ensure our commitment to help each student thrive at Pingry.

We have appreciated and valued hearing from alumni and need your voices to help us continue to fortify the student experience at Pingry. You will have a chance to read about the positive impact our alumni are having in the healthcare field during COVID-19. Not surprisingly, we see the enduring impact of the Pingry mission in action. I hope that you enjoy reading about our vibrant community in a time of uncertainty and that you will be as inspired as I am by the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the ingenuity of our alumni.

Sincerely,

Matt Levinson