When Johanna Henry ’26 steps into a leadership role, she brings more than just enthusiasm—she brings purpose. Elected Student Council President for her senior year, Johanna knows what it means to work for something and grow through it. After winning class president as a freshman and sophomore, she faced disappointment junior year when she didn’t earn the role she hoped for. Still, she showed up, served as a student council representative and ran again. This time, she won.
Pine Crest School
Recent Posts
Shaping the Future Through Leadership with Heart and Vision
Topics: Upper School, Athletics, Giving, Student Leadership, 2025
For Middle School student Juan Yoshikay ’31, innovation isn’t just something he reads about—it’s something he builds with his own hands. As a member of Pine Crest’s Middle School robotics team, Juan recently traveled to the VEX World Championship, where he and his teammates competed alongside students from around the globe.
Topics: Innovation, Student Life, Middle School, Robotics, Giving, 2025
Innovation and Imagination: Taking Students to Perform at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
When Dr. Alexandra Parsons traveled to London in the summer of 2022 and took her seat on the hard wooden benches inside the Globe Theatre, she had no idea that the performance of Shakespeare’s play “King Lear” she was about to witness what would become a source of inspiration for her classroom in the Pine Crest Upper School English wing. The experience—visceral, immersive and alive—stayed with her. What if her ninth grade English students could feel what she had felt that day? What if they could step inside the Globe, or even onto the stage itself?
Topics: Innovation, Upper School, Student Life, Giving, 2025
The Future is Empathetic: Students Leading with Heart and Purpose
At Pine Crest, students are not only preparing for the future—they’re shaping it. For Charlotte Thies ’25 and Jake Weidenfeld ’25, that future is rooted in empathy, leadership and the courage to connect through shared experiences.
Topics: Student Life, Student Leadership, Social and Emotional Learning, 2025, Student Success
Empowering the Future Through Character and Care
At Pine Crest School, academics or advanced technology don't solely define future readiness. It’s also built through something deeper: character. For Dr. Krista Promnitz ’97, Executive Director of Educational Support Services, character development is one of the most powerful future skills a student can gain.
Topics: Student Life, Faculty, Social and Emotional Learning, Future Ready, 2025, Student Success
Dr. Wendy Swanson is inspired by the Pine Crest School faculty each and every day—and that’s exactly what she loves about her work. As Director of Faculty Learning and Recruitment Coordinator at Pine Crest School, she supports professional learning alongside Dr. Lisa Ockerman, Vice President of Academics and Strategic Initiatives. Together, they champion a culture of growth, innovation and connection across both campuses.
Narratives that Connect: Entrepreneurs Shape the World Through Storytelling
Abstract? Sometimes. Disruptive? Possibly. Innovative? Always. The entrepreneurial mindset at Pine Crest School takes on many forms and is woven throughout the Lower, Middle and Upper School curricula. Five years ago, Mrs. Keri Kolettis, Vice President of Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship, developed the three-year social entrepreneurship program offered in Upper School. Mrs. Kolettis works closely with Divisional leadership to incorporate entrepreneurial learning opportunities in all grade levels.
“Our goal is that we see entrepreneurship in every class,” said Mrs. Kolettis. “The delivery and methods of this content will vary but the fundamental learning of how to be resilient, creative, collaborative and enterprising will remain the same.”
Topics: Upper School, Academics, Entrepreneurship, The Magazine, 2025
Crafting the Perfect Pitch: The Art of Storytelling in Social Entrepreneurship
In the world of social entrepreneurship, a well-crafted pitch can make all the difference. It’s more than just a presentation—it’s a compelling story that connects, persuades and inspires. As students in Pine Crest School’s three-year social entrepreneurship program quickly learn, the key to a successful pitch lies not just in the data, but in the narrative.
Topics: Upper School, Student Leadership, Entrepreneurship, The Magazine, 2025
A Grateful Coach with a Sweet Tooth: A Conversation with George Harris
Whether he’s leading his team on the turf or heading straight for the dessert table at the annual MUSPA luncheon, Coach George Harris brings humor, humility and heart to everything he does at Pine Crest School. As an Assistant Athletic Director and Program Director of Boys’ Lacrosse, George shares how gratitude and generosity keep him grounded in the Pine Crest experience.
Rooted in Relationships: A Conversation with Gerin Harris
Whether she is guiding students through multi-digit division or dodging the occasional loose molar, fourth grade math teacher Mrs. Gerin Harris approaches each day at Pine Crest with a deep sense of gratitude, a love of learning and a comfortingly consistent rice bowl. As a former figure skating coach turned educator, she brings energy, empathy and purpose to everything she does—including why she gives back.
“At Pine Crest, we are preparing students and educators not just to navigate an AI-enabled world, but to lead it. Through thoughtful and seamless integration of artificial intelligence, we are enhancing learning, empowering creativity, and cultivating ethical leaders ready to shape the future. Our commitment is to innovation with purpose, ensuring that every member of our community is equipped to thrive and make a meaningful impact in our technology-driven world."
Topics: Innovation
William Wakefield ’25: Musician, Scientist and Servant Leader
William Wakefield ’25 has had a tremendous senior year at Pine Crest School. Coca-Cola Scholar, Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar, National Merit Scholar and Silver Knight Recipient are just a few of the accolades he earned. William’s list of accomplishments reflects not only academic excellence but also heartfelt service.
Topics: Alumni Newsletter, Upper School, Alumni, Fine Arts, Science, 2025
Meet Carlos Soto ’25: Learning, Leading and Looking Ahead
Carlos Soto ’25 isn’t someone who seeks the spotlight. But over the past four years, he’s earned the respect of teammates, classmates and teachers alike through steady leadership and a strong sense of responsibility. Whether on the field or in the classroom, Carlos brought consistency, humility and care to everything he did.
Topics: Alumni Newsletter, Upper School, Athletics, Alumni, 2025
Meet Nathan Chen ’25: Leading by Example On and Off the Wrestling Mat
For Nathan Chen ’25, graduating from Pine Crest is more than a milestone—it’s a legacy. The son of Pine Crest alumnus Gordon Chen ’97 and the nephew of alumnus Christopher Chen ’94, Nathan spent his high school years walking the same halls, competing on the same fields and learning in the same classrooms his family once did.
“I think it's pretty cool that my dad and uncle went here,” he said. “When my dad visits, he’ll point out where he lived in the dorms or talk about playing football on the same field. It’s been special to share that connection.”
Topics: Alumni Newsletter, Upper School, Athletics, Alumni, 2025
Meet Charlotte Thies ’25: Driven by Discipline, Defined by Empathy
For Charlotte Thies ’25, rowing is more than a sport—it’s a source of strength, discipline and direction. A National Letter of Intent (NLI) recipient bound for Georgetown University, Charlotte has balanced the demands of a two-sport athletic career, the depth of Pine Crest academics and a three-year focus on business and social impact through the Social Entrepreneurship Program.
Charlotte’s athletic journey began on the soccer field at age two, coached by her father. “I did every sport Pine Crest offered,” she said, listing soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, volleyball and track and field. Track seemed destined to be her main focus until her mom, who was a coxswain at Rollins College, encouraged her to give rowing a try. “The second I got on the water, I knew. I loved it. I still did track through high school, but rowing became my passion.”
Topics: Alumni Newsletter, Upper School, Athletics, Alumni, Student Leadership, 2025
Meet Karen Awaida ’25: Finding Her Voice on Stage and Beyond
For Karen Awaida ’25, who joined Pine Crest in fifth grade at the Boca Raton campus, receiving the Founder’s Council Award for Excellence in Musical Theater wasn’t just a celebration of talent, it was a full-circle moment.
Though she’s been singing her whole life, Karen came to musical theater later than many of her peers. It wasn’t until her senior year that she decided to dive in fully. “I really made it my main extracurricular,” she said. “I joined Thespians for the first time, helped with Middle School productions, performed in Spring Scenes and everything I could. I wanted to give it my all in my last year.”
Topics: Alumni Newsletter, Upper School, Alumni, Fine Arts, 2025
Jon Radler ’00 on Storytelling, Taking Risks and Trusting Your Taste
Topics: Alumni, The Magazine, 2025
Remembering Pine Crest First Grade Teacher Dr. Marguerite Malko
Topics: Alumni, 2019, The Magazine
The Impact of Financial Assistance on the Pine Crest Experience
To support Dr. Markham’s commitment to sustaining a socioeconomically diverse school community, Pine Crest offers need-based financial and inclusion aid. A longstanding tradition, the School continues to expand and maximize the Pine Crest educational experience for students who may not otherwise have an opportunity to take advantage of the myriad of possibilities here.
Topics: Giving, Financial Aid, 2025
Fueling the Future: How Global Learning is Transforming Pine Crest Classrooms
Topics: Innovation, Faculty, Design Thinking, Academics, Giving, The Magazine, 2025