About

“Every child is an artist; some are natural renderers, some are great at sculpture and 3D work, others have a great sense of design. Our goal is for every child to be successful in an area of visual art.”

Patti Smith has over 20 years of teaching experience and has been the Visual Arts Teacher for Grades 2 & 4 at Poly Prep Country Day School since 2007. One of the highlights is the Grade 4 Art Stool project, a yearlong process in which students choose a well-known artwork and replicate it in paint on the seat of a stool, which becomes a memento of their Poly experience. As a visual arts teacher approach is to expose students to a variety of mediums and concepts, adding an infusion of art history and some fun, as well. Patti is also an accomplished felter and has published a book, Fido Felts! Make Your Own Needle-Felted Dog.

During the summers, Patti is the director of Shire Village Camp, a sleep away camp in the hill towns of Western Massachusetts. She began as the Arts & Crafts Specialist in 2006, then Specialist Supervisor and Assistant Director., moving into the director’s role in 2015.

She lives in Brooklyn with her children and two large dogs, where