Miss Porter’s School

Dr. John Bryk joined the Porter's community in 2018. He teaches mathematics, AP Computer Science, and an interdisciplinary course on blockchain, the technology behind Bitcoin. He is also an advisor for the Math and Coding Team and has coached Mock Trial. Women continue to be underrepresented in the STEM fields. As such, Dr. Bryk's goal as a teacher at Miss Porter's is to inspire his students to see mathematics and programming as tools that can help them solve the problems about which they are passionate. Dr. Bryk loves the sense of community at Porter's. His wife, Emily, teaches in the science department, and they love raising their children, Sam and Ivy, on campus. Dr. Bryk is a board game enthusiast--the more complex the rules, the better!

Amanda Friedman serves as the Dean of Equity & Community Life, and believes that fighting for more love, more connection, and more justice in this world means fighting for our collective humanity. What does it mean to belong? How do we learn and grow from our mistakes? In what ways do identity, perspective, and experience shape our view of the world and ourselves? These questions, and her journey to find the answers, build the foundation of what inspires Amanda as an educator. Along these lines, what she enjoys most about Porter's is the spirit of curiosity threaded through all aspects of school life. One interesting fact about Amanda is that she loves theater!

Sophie Paris is the Director of the Institute for Global Education and the Director of Porter’s Global at Miss Porter’s School. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree with High Honors in Art and Art History from Colgate University, Sophie began a fourteen year career as a Photojournalist for the United Nations, Bill Gates Foundation, Clinton Foundation, newspapers, and the wire services. Fun fact: Sophie also served as Hillary Clinton’s photographer during her first primary run for President. In 2004, the UN sent Sophie to Haiti to photograph the political insecurity, within days her love for Haiti was ignited and she made it her home until moving to Connecticut in 2012 to join the Miss Porter’s School faculty.

Sophie developed and implemented innovative global initiatives at Miss Porter’s including implementing a Global Citizenship curriculum and establishing partnerships with a network of over thirteen leading international institutions around the world to facilitate authentic connection and collaboration for faculty and students and school-to-school exchanges. After launching a Global Studies Certificate diploma designation three years ago, Sophie is currently focused on how to bring girls together from around the world to experience authentic connections online and to feel empowered to make change through exploring relevant and global issues they are facing through the Porter’s Global programs.

She lives with her husband, 10 year old son, Luka, and dog, Rosie, on campus. Her favorite hobbies are reading, doing yoga and fishing with her son. Combining her experience working in the field for the UN and her love for teaching and learning on a global scale, Sophie brings her passions to her various roles at Miss Porter’s School.

Patrick Reardon is the Director of Music. In addition to conducting the concert choir and orchestra, Patrick teaches courses in music theory, history, and composition. He also serves as the music director for our yearly musical production in collaboration with Avon Old Farms, as the advisor to our Senior a cappella group, the Perilhettes, and facilitates our music enrichment afternoon program.

“To achieve this discipline means frustration… intense concentration, and endless patience. It means an addiction to perfection in our service to music--an endless quest for more insight into the beauties of this great art. My function is to serve you in this quest.” --Margaret Hillis (1969), Music Director, Chicago Symphony Chorus

Patrick is honored to serve the students at Miss Porter’s School in their quest for knowledge and meaning through music. Their hunger, insight, and compassion are second to none. Patrick lives on campus with his wife (soprano), three sons (trebles), and two dogs (baritones) in a sometimes cacophonous yet always harmonious home.