Bio

Dr. Polselli earned his Ph.D. in computing technology in education from The Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences at Nova Southeastern University in March of 2002. He has since earned a second Master's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in education administration. He was the Technology Coordinator for the Killingly Public School System in Dayville, CT from 1996-2002 and was also an adjunct instructor at Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University in Worcester, MA from 1997-2002 where he taught networking, database design, and webpage development. As part of his doctoral research, he developed a mentor-supported online (hybrid) technology training program for teachers that successfully improved the instance and quality of technology integration in the classroom.

Dr. Polselli was also employed by the Middletown Public School system as the Director of Technology for the district of 11 schools, 420 teachers, 380 staff, and 5,200 students from 2002-2009. He managed all aspects of technology from staff supervision, budget, data, and finance to networking and end-user support as well as the district's technology curriculum from 2002 - 2010. Dr. Polselli and his team supported teachers through an innovative professional development program based on his experience and prior research. His work traveling as one of the delegates to China for the Connecticut State Department of Education has had a profound impact on his vision for the future of technology, teaching, and learning. He also worked as the Director of Technology for the Norwalk Public School district, where he managed a team of 15 to support the district of 19 schools, 900 teachers, 800 staff, and 12,000 students. Oversight of a 1.5 million local and 1 million capital budget has allowed Dr. Polselli to plan for innovative learning environments that include online data analysis tools, online learning environments (Moodle & SharePoint), Wifi & mobile computing, cloud-based learning (such as this ePortfolio developed in Google Docs/Apps), online adaptive testing (which will be a major part of the CCSS), classroom response systems (clickers), interactive whiteboards, document cameras, iPads, virtual PCs, and much more. As a "teacher on special assignment," Dr. Polselli brought a unique blend of instructional knowledge and technical/operational expertise to his work.

Dr. Polselli is currently an engineering and technology teacher and technology team leader at the Academy of Science and Innovation (formerly CREC Two Rivers High School) in Hartford, CT where teaches Robotics 1, Robotics 2, Robotics 3, Robotics 4, and Unmanned Aerial Systems. He is also the Robotics coach and runs an after school program called Flight Academy, where students get to explore aviation both on the ground and in the air. Dr. Polselli's VEX Robotics team has won numerous Connecticut State championships, earned the New England Regional Engineering Design Award (2019), celebrated as two time US National Champions (programming and robot skills in 2018), received the World Innovate Award, (out of 24,000 teams), and in 2020 competed in the New Zealand National Robotics championship as the ONLY US team in history to do so. Dr. Polselli has been able to negotiate sponsorships, such as $10,000.00 annually from Stanley Black and Decker, based on his students' incredible success.

Dr. Polselli commutes to work in his Piper Warrior aircraft (or Piper Saratoga aircraft), volunteers time and expenses to fly for Angel Flight Northeast, a non-profit organization that provides free flights for patients who require specialized treatment but cannot afford the cost of transportation, and trains professional pilots on weekends as a commercial and instrument flight instructor in Hartford, CT, where he developed a technology-driven curriculum for both the instrument and private pilot ground schools. Dr. Polselli and his wife Kathleen own a home in Port Orange Florida on the beautiful Spruce Creek Fly-in Community where they hangar their aircraft and have direct access to a 4,000 foot runway. His most significant aviation accomplishment was training his son, Bo, who earned his student pilot license on his 16th birthday and his Private Pilot license on his 17th birthday.