Michal Hershkovitz, the current chair of the History Department, has been appointed to a new position as the Assistant Head of School, Academics. This job will provide her with opportunities to refine Poly’s academic curriculum and improve it for both students and teachers.

She said, “Poly already offers our students so many incredible learning experiences. My aim is to build on those and continue to innovate means to expose our students to new paths to knowledge. Students benefit most when they push the boundaries of their understanding, explore unfamiliar frameworks for analysis, and become inspired to learn new things, in new and different ways.”

Upper School Dean Sarah Bates said “She’s absolutely the right person for the job. She’s student-centered in the way that she believes that you guys are all capable of achieving to the highest of your ability. She will ensure that you are challenged but also finding joy and meaning in what you’re learning. I am really excited to work with her next year.”

Hershkovitz believes in exploring new ideas, themes, and topics. She said,“students benefit most when they push the boundaries of their understanding, explore unfamiliar frameworks for analysis, and become inspired to learn new things.”

Having served as the chair of Poly’s History Department since 2011, Hershkovitz has had quite a few years of experience at Poly. She has become an integral member of the community and worked to better the school. For instance, she started the Poly Context series, which are lectures that expose audience members to journalism and politics.

She said that it has been a pleasure serving as the chair of the History Department.

“I feel so privileged to have worked with our extraordinary history teachers. Teachers have the ability to serve so many different students and work to make everyone contribute their best selves,” she said.

Current and potential students of Hershkovitz are worried that her acceptance of this position means that she will not be teaching students anymore. However, she hopes to keep teaching even after assuming her new position.

Hershkovitz believes that “teaching is inexpressibly joyful and meaningful” and something that is truly “magical.”

Moreover, Hershkovitz believes that it is the students that make teaching a magical opportunity and that if she cannot teach, she “will have to seek out the magic of learning from students in other ways.