Upper School Dean Francesca Walker will be ending her time at Poly and transitioning to the Spence School in Manhattan. In light of this significant change, Walker shared insights into her decision, the factors behind the transition, and a message for the Poly community, especially the students in her cohort.
On July 30th, Walker will officially leave Poly and begin her new role as Associate Director of College Counseling at Spence. She explained that a ‘professional development opportunity’ changed her perspective. By observing a woman leading a school, she imagined herself in that role, something she hadn’t previously considered. The experience sparked her interest in school leadership and made her think about what that path could look like for her.
Her aspirations extend beyond the title itself; she expressed a strong interest in who she would be leading. “I’ve always wanted to work at an all-girls school.”
Rewinding to 2022, Walker recalled that she had previously interviewed at an all-girls school, though not Spence, that she “loved,” but ultimately turned down in favor of joining Poly. “I was intrigued by Poly,” she noted. However, when the opportunity to join Spence arose, she saw it as a rare second chance to pursue her interest in working in an all-girls environment.
Discussing what drew her to all-girls education, Walker reflected on a pattern she noticed throughout her career: a tendency to give more attention to male students. In both college-level and high-school counseling roles, she found that boys were often more forthcoming in seeking support, while female students leaned more towards “working individually and independently,” thus asking for less support. This dynamic led her to feel that her girls were, unintentionally, getting less of her support. The opportunity at Spence, she explained, felt like a way to give back what she might not have fully provided before.
As her time at Poly comes to a close, Walker expressed deep gratitude for her experience, particularly for her colleagues. “I am so in love with my Dean team,” she said, adding that her supervisor, Upper School Dean Emily Gardiner, was “the best boss [she’s] ever had.” She made clear that there was no dissatisfaction pushing her to leave Poly, but rather the pull of a unique opportunity she felt she could not pass up. “Ms. Walker was such a wonderful addition to our team, and we wish her the best,” said Gardiner.
Walker also emphasized that her future supervisor at Spence is a Poly alum, which eased the transition. “She totally gets what I do here…and I know I will have a really good experience there because she gets it,” Walker remarked.
Addressing the cultural shift between Poly and Spence, Walker noted that while Spence does have athletics, it is “certainly not at the level of Poly.” Still, she observed a shared drive among students at both institutions: “They both have ambitious kids who want ambitious college outcomes.”
In response to concerns from students in her cohort, particularly those in the middle of the college application process, Walker offered reassurance. “They’re not actually starting from scratch,” she explained, crediting the strength of cohesion within Poly’s Dean team. “Every single college lost that a student is building, every single Dean is looking at it. I know they’re in good hands. I learned everything I know about college counseling from this team, so I really am not worried.”
Students echoed this sense of confidence in the transition. Charlie Garner ‘27 noted that. Walker had been “very helpful, as a mentor, particularly.” While current sophomores expressed trust in the support system, junior members of her cohort acknowledged the stress but expressed understanding. “While the news has brought some stress, I understand that she is doing what’s best for her career, and as a student, I have to respect that,” said Sergio Abboud ‘26.
Looking ahead, Walker reflected on the most important lessons she will carry with her to Spence. “Having a great team and a great supervisor makes all the difference,” she said. “Even on my hardest days, I feel so supported and valued on my team…it’s transformational.”
Although the Poly community will deeply miss Walker, her next step marks a meaningful progression toward her long-term goals. The entire community thanks her for her service and wishes her continued success at Spence.
