Employee Directory

Patti Smith

• Special Subject Teacher, Art
• Email
• Park Slope
• Lower School

“Every child is an artist; some are natural renderers, some are great at sculpture and 3D work, others have a great sense of design. Our goal is for every child to be successful in an area of visual art.”

Patti Smith, who has been part of the faculty since 2007, teaches visual arts to Grades 2 and 4. One of the highlights is the Grade 4 Art Stool project, a yearlong process in which students choose a well-known artwork and replicate it in paint on the seat of a stool, which becomes a memento of their Poly experience. Patti earned a bachelor’s in mass communications from Boston University. She says the Lower School visual arts approach is to expose students to a variety of mediums and concepts, adding an infusion of art history and some fun, as well. Patti is also an accomplished felter and has published a book, Fido Felts! Make Your Own Needle-Felted Dog. During the summer, Patti runs a sleepaway camp in western Massachusetts.