Patti Tycenski was, in every sense of the phrase, one in a million. As a long-time health teacher at Poly, her role as an educator extended beyond imparting knowledge to students. Simply by being herself, Tycenski created an atmosphere where every student felt seen, safe, and celebrated. Her infectious energy touched everyone she encountered, young or old, and she instinctively knew how to build community wherever she went. This September, Tycenski passed away, however, the spirit and the warmth she brought to Poly will remain with us forever.
Tycenski was born in Wynnewood, just outside of Philadelphia, in 1970. She was a dedicated crew athlete throughout high school, which led to her being recruited to the first female crew team at Temple University. Tycenski earned her Master’s degree at Temple in exercise physiology. In 1997, she married Steven Tycenski, and they went on to have three children: Shane, Patrick, and Megan.
Tycenski, famously known among school community members as “Ms. Ty,” began her career at Poly in 1995. Initially, she ran the fitness facility in the Jordan Center, which had recently been built. Around 1998, she began teaching health classes. In 2001, the same year as the 9/11 attacks, Tycenski transitioned to a role as 6th-grade dean.
History teacher Caesar Fabella witnessed Ty as a 6th-grade dean on the day of the attacks. “In that moment of fear and uncertainty, Patti emerged as a beacon of reassurance,” said Fabella. “With only two semi-working phones in her office, she moved from room to room, helping students contact their parents to let them know they were safe.” On her way home, she drove every Staten Island student to their front door on the way to collect her own child from school.
“Yeah, that’s Ms. Ty,” said health teacher and Ty’s best friend, Phoebe Aberlin. Whether it was tragic events like 9/11 or an issue between two students, Ty always put 150 percent into everything she did for the Poly community and beyond. “She knew every kid in a special way,” said Aberlin. “She took care of them all, even the naughty ones. She could punish you, teach you a lesson, and make you walk out with a smile all at the same time.”
In 1997, Tycenski created the Poly Health interns program. Seniors could apply to become health interns, who would then “mentor” 5th and 6th graders. The health interns met during a class period and planned lessons for the younger students.
“These are the types of bonds and things that she understood were important,” said history teacher Harold Bernieri. “It was this notion about what community means and how you cultivate that sense of community in the school. Ty was able to do that.”
At the start of each school year, Tycenski would conduct a leadership bonding retreat for the health interns. For one year, she invited the health interns to stay at her home. Poly Alumni Daniel Weinstein was a health intern who went to Ty’s house for a retreat. “The retreat to Ms. Ty’s house was one of the highlights of my senior year. It perfectly encapsulated the duality of being a senior in high school; we prepared for impending adulthood by conducting leadership activities and cooking meals for our peers, but played adrenaline-inducing games of tag and manhunt right after,” said Weinstein. The students would sleep in her rooms, eat her food, use her bathrooms, and swim in her pool. There were few boundaries for what Tycenski deemed as her “job.” She did whatever was necessary to produce the best outcome for the Poly community.
In the 90s, a good friend of Ty’s was working for Estée Lauder’s breast cancer campaign (the company is responsible for launching the pink ribbon as the symbol of breast cancer awareness). Based on interactions with students, faculty, and friends who had been impacted by breast cancer in one way or another, Ty knew she wanted to make a change.
Every October, Tycenski and the health interns presented an assembly to raise awareness of breast cancer. Alongside this, she created the Breast Cancer Bow, a tradition where students, dressed in pink, gather in the shape of a bow.
If you walked into Ty’s office, it would be hard not to notice the 100 rubber duckies lined up on her desk. Throughout her career, students gifted Ty these rubber duckies from around the world. Tycenski also gave each of her homeroom students a “birthday duck” and themed ducks on special holidays. 7th grader Ella Shum recalls, “We were throwing a baby shower for Ms. Rauch, and Ms. Ty was one of the teachers organizing it. She passed out blue and pink rubber ducks to everyone.”
Small things like the rubber duckies made students feel connected to Tycenski, whether or not they were her students. One student bought 100 rubber duckies and left one on Ty’s desk every day for a year. Aberlin explains, “We had no idea who the student was until he fessed up to Ms. Ty at the end of the year.” It turned out Ms. Ty had never been this student’s teacher.
As Head of School John Rankin said, “Pattis’s impact on our school and our lives is immeasurable. As we mourn her loss, let us also celebrate the positive influence she has on so many of us. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in the years to come.”
Poly will never be the same without Tycenski; however, it is also what it is because of her. The legacy of Tycenski will be cherished and remembered within our community for all generations to follow.
