History Faculty AJ Blandford has been part of the Poly Prep community since 2019, teaching history across all Upper School grades and has become a teacher that most students encounter before they graduate. While Blandford is a familiar presence in the hallways, their life beyond the classroom reveals a far more layered story than many students know, shaped by parenting, travel, activism and an evolving relationship with history itself. “Outside of a teacher, I pri- marily think of myself as a parent,” Blandford shared. With a 14-year-old ninth grader at home, their identity is shaped by family alongside their role at Poly. History Faculty AJ Blandford has been part of the Poly Prep community since 2019, teaching history across all Upper School grades and has become a teacher that most students encounter before they graduate. While Blandford is a familiar presence in the hallways, their life beyond the classroom reveals a far more layered story than many students know, shaped by parenting, travel, activism and an evolving relationship with history itself. “Outside of a teacher, I primarily think of myself as a parent,” Blandford shared. With a 14-year-old ninth grader at home, their identity is shaped by family alongside their role at Poly.History Faculty AJ Blandford has been part of the Poly Prep community since 2019, teaching history across all Upper School grades and has become a teacher that most students encounter before they graduate. While Blandford is a familiar presence in the hallways, their life beyond the classroom reveals a far more layered story than many students know, shaped by parenting, travel, activism and an evolving relationship with history itself. “Outside of a teacher, I primarily think of myself as a parent,” Blandford shared. With a 14-year-old ninth grader at home, their identity is shaped by family alongside their role at Poly.
Blandford’s own high school experience took place in Colorado in the early 1990s. Sports, in her life, was a fundamental part of Blandford’s high school experience. “I was a big soccer player… we won the state championships.” The most transformative experience came senior year, when they left the U.S. entirely. “I went to Germany as an exchange student and lived in Berlin,” Blandford recalled. “I really encourage you, and everyone that has the opportunity, to embark on an expenditure of that sort… It was just a great experience.” Their choice to go abroad stemmed from a deeper restlessness: “I felt like I wanted something different.” Curiosity, for Blandford, has always been a defining trait, in their pursuit in both under- standing and e x p e r i e n c i n g the structures of the world.Blandford’s own high school experi- ence took place in Colorado in the early 1990s. Sports, in her life, was a funda- mental part of Blandford’s high school experience. “I was a big soccer player… we won the state championships.” The most transformative experience came senior year, when they left the U.S. entirely. “I went to Germany as an exchange student and lived in Berlin,” Blandford recalled. “I really encourage you, and everyone that has the opportunity, to embark on an expenditure of that sort… It was just a great experience.” Their choice to go abroad stemmed from a deeper restlessness: “I felt like I wanted some- thing different.” Curiosity, for Blandford, has always been a defining trait, in their pursuit in both under- standing and experiencing the structures of the world.
The transition wasn’t easy, but it was definitely impactful. While Blandford admits they are no longer fluent in German, they still value what the experience taught them. “I learned real humility…it’s hard to be a new person, it’s hard to depend on other people.” Living abroad forced Blandford to navigate unfamiliar systems, rely on others and dive headfirst into the world with an openness to growth through discomfort, discovering what they still have to learn. “There was so much about European history… that I didn’t know,” they said, showing how curiosity evolved into intellectual passion.
“I thought history was just names and dates,” Blandford explained, “and I wasn’t interested in that.” It wasn’t until seeing art and architecture and studying Berlin that history began to be more engaging. Creativity still plays a role in Bland- ford’s life, though it has shifted over time. While they once imagined a ca- reer as an artist and worked with sculp- ture, they now indulge in this passion in a more intimate manner, integrating art into their personal life rather than working for profit. “I’m more interested in doing those things for my- self than professionally,” they shared.
Outside of the classroom, learning remains constant in Blandford’s life, as they continue to expand their knowledge frequently through podcasts and docu- mentaries, often tying what they learn back to their teaching. “I’ll frequently try to pick a podcast that is somehow related to whatever I’m teaching,” they explained. For Blandford, a compelling story is one grounded in “details and context,” emphasizing the importance of relevance, noting that even a sto- ry about a “small beach town,” can be immensely resonant and impactful on one’s worldview when its connections to larger global systems become clear.
When asked about their life philosophy, Blandford shared her overarching mentality for teaching, parenting and simply living. “People, especially young people, should listen, first and foremost, to themselves,” they said. To students, she recommended: “don’t worry too much about the long term… there’s time for you to get to everything,” revealing a deeper value of openness and flexibility that has appeared in their own life, as she has been shaped by exploration, change and creativity. Ultimately, Blandford is more than just a history teacher; they are a parent, a lifelong learner and someone deeply shaped by curiosity and experience.
