MARY POLITO

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

Mary was born and raised in Central New York and comes from a long line of educators. Her parents are retired teachers and many of her extended family are teachers, counselors and principals. Mary received a BA in Speech Communications and Dramatic Arts from Utica College of Syracuse University. After graduation, Mary relocated to New York City to continue her education. She worked in publishing and managed a restaurant in the East Village before returning to school to complete her Master’s Degree. She worked as a substitute teacher at various schools in Manhattan while attending Fordham University and graduated with a MSEd in Counseling Services.

After graduating with her MSEd she taught ELA for one year in East Harlem. From there, Mary became a middle school guidance and articulation counselor at JHS 117 for four years and then moved into the position of Guidance Counselor at The Talented and Gifted School for Young Scholars, grades K-8, where she spent eight great years.

For the past twenty-two years, Mary has dedicated her career guiding students and their families under the approach of a social/emotional learning-based guidance program, implemented through classroom lessons, small groups and individual sessions.

Over the past ten years, Mary has had the ability to get to know each and every PS 527 student through interactions inside and outside the classrooms. Her social skills curriculum has allowed her to meet with each class weekly and to help the school use a common language for Social Emotional Learning. She has also greatly enjoyed her role as sustainability coordinator and can’t wait to continue the work of the PS 527 “Green Team”.

Mary looks forward to her continued work at PS527 and marvels each day, at the front door, how quickly all her wonderful students mature and grow!