Alexandra Palmatier ’11

Alex Palmatier ’11 (Literature, with a minor in Gender Studies) began her educational journey at Purchase College, where she developed a deep love for Walt Whitman and the “riot grrrl” ethos. She went on to earn an MA in Secondary English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 2013, and an MS in Educational Leadership from Lehman College in 2020.

For the past decade, Alex has worked as an English teacher in Washington Heights and now serves as Instructional Coach of Humanities at New Heights Academy Charter High School. In this role, she fosters a love of reading, writing, and critical thinking in her students while encouraging fellow educators to bring creativity into their classrooms. Guided by the phrase “Be who you needed when you were younger,” Alex is passionate about uplifting student voices and supporting scholars in pursuing their dreams.

Beyond the classroom, she enjoys writing poetry with fellow Purchase alumni, reading thrillers, and practicing yoga. She lives in Yonkers with her husband, son, and their pet snake Ziggy.