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.

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?

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.

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.

By: Anya Gandreti ’26

As is the case with Pine Crest students, senior Talia Sverdlik ’25 made good use of her time over the summer. 

Contributions by: Sara Pearl Adler ’24

Coming to Pine Crest School in eighth grade, Noa Levin ’24 was a new student in a new country. Originally from London, England, Noa and her family relocated to South Florida to be near family who had already made the transatlantic move, and for the beaches and weather.

Kenny Chan ’24 joined Pine Crest Upper School as a freshman. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Kenny said coming to Pine Crest for the first time was like being on a college campus.

Pine Crest Upper School student Priya Ghanta ’24 has devoted the last four years to scientific research and music.

By: Danielle Keyes ’24

Madison Huang ’23 joined Pine Crest School as a freshman after attending science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) camp one summer. 

“I was able to work in the Zimmerman Family iLab, with different teachers,” she said. “The opportunities and resources that were available made me want to be a student here.”

STEM continued capturing Madison’s attention as an Upper School student. As a freshman, she applied to join the three-year social entrepreneurship program. 

Christian Geter ’23 joined Pine Crest School as a sixth grade student. Christian has been a student leader throughout his time in the Upper School, relying upon his quiet confidence and collaborative nature to represent his peers while working with School administrators. 

Since joining Pine Crest School as a third grade student, Greer Udelson ’23 has been a standout student-musician. A singer in the chorus and musical performances, Greer also plays the flute in the band, which she joined in fourth grade. 

We are honored to shine a spotlight on the Chen family, who generously donated $1.5 million toward the construction of the Center for Teaching and Learning on the Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale campus. 

In 2019, Pine Crest faculty, staff, and administrators created and finalized the School’s strategic plan to be executed over the course of the following five years under the leadership of President Dr. Dana Markham ’18H.

After being forced to end the spring 2020 athletic season abruptly, Pine Crest Athletics began planning and focusing on student health and wellness for what became an unprecedented 2020-21 school year. 

A transformation of the Hudson Library is underway on Pine Crest School’s Fort Lauderdale campus. Used by students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the modernized space will soon be as inspiring and engaging as the instruction that happens there. 

By: Sabrina Kreiss ’21

Originally from Vineland, New Jersey, Pine Crest School Choral Director Mr. Michael Testa moved to Florida in 2001 to work with the Florida Grand Opera.

During that time, a former faculty member introduced him to Pine Crest where he became a member of the Fine Arts faculty in 2005. Now, almost 20 years later, Mr. Testa oversees and teaches chorus for students in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools on Pine Crest’s Fort Lauderdale campus, in addition to Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory.


After graduating from Rowan University with his bachelor of arts in music education, Mr. Testa began performing all over the United States as an opera singer.

Mr. Testa began graduate school at West Chester University shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree. There, he studied music performance. Feeling drawn to education, he began teaching extracurricular classes in music throughout his collegiate studies. He landed his first teaching job at a K-8 public school while studying for his master’s degree.

I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Testa to learn more about his career at Pine Crest and his passion for music and singing.