Polly completed her UT-Knoxville Instructional Leadership Graduate Certificate in the spring term 2026.  

Polly earned her BA in Political Science/Psychology and her Master’s in Education/Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University. Polly spent time with Manna Project International as an English Teacher and Program Director in Ecuador and served with the Council of Foreign Relations as a special assistant for research and a program assistant. She began her teaching career at Fall Hamilton Enhanced Option Elementary School in Nashville as a first-grade teacher. She also taught third grade and currently teaches fifth grade English Language Learner at Tusculum Elementary School.