Francis Yasharian

Head of Lower School Francis Yasharian joined Poly in 2019 from his role as Vice President of Leadership Coaching at NYC Leadership Academy where he led 30 coaches to engage education leaders in creating more engaging and inspiring learning environments. Prior to that, he was a Harvard Graduate School of Education Hollyhock Foundation Fellow and earned a Google Policy Fellowship to support the creation of digital citizenship curricula, strategic plans, and analytical tools to assist schools. From 2010 to 2013, Francis was the Head of Lower School for Boys at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, where he implemented broad curricular change and a new focus on personalized learning, 21st-century skills, and design thinking. From 2004 to 2010, Francis was Director of English for Speakers of Other Languages and then Academy Leader at Community Academy Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. He believes that learning should be fun, appropriately challenging, and focused on the process of meeting students where they are.