After more than a decade of inspiring creativity, critical thinking, and artistic exploration, Ms. Amanda York is saying goodbye to Graded. While her departure marks a significant loss for the Arts Department, her influence will continue to be felt through the countless students, colleagues, and artists she has impacted over the past eleven years.

Since joining Graded, Ms. York has served as the school’s IB Visual Arts and Arts Foundations teacher, helping students develop not only technical artistic skills but also a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. As Head of the Upper School Arts Department and faculty advisor for Art Club, she has played a central role in shaping the place of the arts within the Graded community, championing student creativity and supporting artistic initiatives across campus.

Yet those who know Ms. York best say her impact extends far beyond the art studio.

According to Ms. Ariani, “Students will remember Ms. York most for her passion, knowledge, and curiosity about the art world.” She adds that Ms. York consistently encouraged students “to experiment, explore, and discover their own unique voices through art.”

Ms. Trajtenberg, who worked closely with Ms. York in the Arts Department, describes her as “incredibly intelligent, bright, creative, and passionate” while also highlighting her wonderful sense of humor and deep loyalty to her friends and colleagues.

Ms. Tina emphasized the lasting influence Ms. York has had on generations of students. She noted that Ms. York helped hundreds of young artists understand not only how to create art, but why thinking matters, showing students how their personal experiences could be transformed into meaningful artistic expression.

Current and former students also describe Ms. York as someone who made a lasting difference in their lives. “Ms. York is the queen of organization” says Nina Biagi. “She somehow always knew exactly what needed to happen and when. No matter how many projects, deadlines, or exhibitions were happening at once, she made everything feel under control. She pushed us to do our best while making us feel supported every step of the way.”

For Helena Dias, Ms. York played a key role in helping students bring ambitious ideas to life. “She always helped me fulfill my vision” Helena says. “Even when my ideas seemed impossible, she took them seriously and helped me figure out how to make them happen.”

Maria Clara Angelico remembers something equally important. “Ms. York always let me be myself. She created a space where students could explore their own style, interests, and identity without feeling judged. That freedom made a huge difference.”

Of course, no tribute to Ms. York would be complete without mentioning her legendary sense of style. Long before students entered her classroom, many had already noticed her cool outfits, and seemingly endless collection of artistic accessories. For years, Ms. York has served as both an art teacher and an unofficial ambassador for good taste on campus, proving that creativity does not stop when class ends.

Among her colleagues, Ms. York’s honesty, humor, and straightforwardness will be deeply missed. “She is hands down the most fun person in TOK meetings” says Maggie Moraes. “She has a no-beating-around-the-bush approach that I absolutely love. You always know where you stand with Amanda, and conversations with her are smarter, funnier, and more productive because of it. I’m really going to miss her.”

For longtime colleague and friend Marcello Bulgarelli, the departure feels especially emotional: “Nothing will ever be the same” he says. “Que saudade, Amanda!”

The truth is that Ms. York leaves behind much more than a collection of successful exhibitions, student artwork, and school projects. She leaves behind a legacy. She helped build a department where creativity is taken seriously, where students are challenged to think deeply, and where art is seen as a way of understanding ourselves and the world around us.

As she prepares for her next chapter, the Graded community is left with so many memories: gallery walks, IB exhibitions, classroom conversations, Art Club projects, moments of laughter, and moments of encouragement that helped students find their voices. Her legacy will not be measured only by the artwork displayed on walls, but by the courage and creativity she inspired in others.

Thank you, Ms. York. Graded will miss you!