Poly will celebrate the awarding of the 2023 精神奖 to Chair of the Math Department 玛丽亚·迪卡洛，23岁 2023年10月21日星期六的返校节.

The 精神奖 is presented annually by the 校友会理事会 to a Poly faculty or staff member who embodies the values and spirit that Poly seeks to represent as an institution and encourage in its students, and who has worked at Poly for at least five years.

Maria joined the Poly math faculty in 1995 and left in 2001 while she was working on her doctoral dissertation for an Ed.D. 从圣. 约翰的大学. Maria returned to Poly in 2014 and was named Chair of the Math Department in 2015. Anyone who has ever visited the math office can see that Maria leads a really tight community of teachers who work hard, 相互尊重, 祝大家玩得开心, 太.

在保利的这些年里, Maria has had an indelible impact on her students and on her colleagues in the Math Department.

Eileen Ahasic-Bierig ' 01 who will be speaking at the 精神奖 reception, 在提名玛丽亚时写道, “It’s rare to have a teacher mean so much to you that they have a lifelong impact. I was fortunate enough to have that in Maria DiCarlo. Maria cares for her students in a way that I have never seen before. 我是她第一堂SAP数学课的学生. We had the pleasure of being taught by her in seventh grade and again in ninth grade. The same group went on to AP Calculus senior year. 在我高三的最后一周, 当时我正在准备大学预修课程考试, 玛丽亚发现我在走廊上学习, 坐在我旁边说, ‘I heard you’re having problems with one section of the test prep. 我能帮什么忙??’ I was confused as to how she knew I was struggling. 当我问她, she explained that she would regularly check in with the AP Calc teacher to see how her beloved first SAP class was doing. She would ask about each of her former students and when our current teacher would report back with any problems or concerns, 她会伸出手来试着帮忙. 记住, she had her own full teaching load and a family to take care of outside of school including a young baby at home and another on the way; yet, she would take the time to help her former students.”

“She imbued all of her students with a passion for math; but in particular she impressed upon the young women in the class the importance of girls succeeding in mathematics and gave us the confidence to do so.”

“90年代中期，玛丽亚是我的老师,Ahasic-Bierig继续说道,  “years before Women in 阀杆 became a societal movement. You can argue she was one of the pioneers of that movement, as she always championed and advocated for the young female mathematicians in her classes. I was one of a handful of girls in her SAP math classes. 虽然我们是少数, I always felt as though we were a priority — if not celebrated by Maria. She imbued all of her students with a passion for math; but in particular she impressed upon the young women in the class the importance of girls succeeding in mathematics and gave us the confidence to do so. I ultimately majored in economics in college and grad school, 追求高度量化的职业生涯. I have Maria to thank in large part for my career as she fostered my love of math and gave me the confidence to pursue it academically and professionally.”

数学老师 凯特琳定律 says, “Maria is the kindest and most supportive leader, colleague, and friend. She goes out of her way to ensure everyone feels heard and comfortable, but also sets an impeccable example as a well-respected math teacher. 她平衡教学的能力, 领导部门, and living life astounds me and I look up to her for that.”

“Maria is a master teacher who connects with all of her students,” said Sabina Laricchia P ' 21, 中学 math teacher and a past recipient of the 精神奖. “Her students know that she cares about them and their life both inside and outside the math class.  She advises them when they are experiencing difficulties and she also shares their victories.  She has served as a mentor for all of the teachers in her department and has established math as one of the strongest departments here at Poly. She stays in touch with her students after graduation and she is one of the first teachers alumni look for when they come back to visit.  Maria is so deserving of this award and we are so proud of her.”

“Maria is so worthy of the Poly 精神奖 because of her commitment to both her faculty and her students,高中数学老师说 Dr. 斯蒂芬·贝茨. “Maria ensures that her teachers are well supported and cared for, 专业地对待每个人, and is always open to helping anyone who needs it. She also ensures that every decision we make as a department is always in the best interests of our students. She serves as a role model to her department and students alike, truly embodying what it means to be a successful and impactful woman in 阀杆 education, 也是保利预科的遗产.”

祝贺玛丽亚·迪卡洛, our 2023 校友会理事会 精神奖 recipient. Join us when we celebrate Maria at a reception at Homecoming on October 21 at 4:00 PM.

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