Whether he's coaching on the track, teaching in the classroom, or guiding seniors through their final year at Shady Side, Jeff Perlis is always focused on one thing: helping students believe in themselves.

Now in his fourth year at SSA, Jeff wears many hats—Dean of Form VI (grade 12), mathematics teacher, and head coach of Girls Track and Field. Across every role, his approach is consistent: build trust early, create space for growth, and meet each student where they are.

“I want every student to feel known, like there are adults here who understand them,” he says. “My first goal as  dean of form VI was to be able to have a five-minute conversation with every senior, no problem.”

To get there, Jeff starts small. On the first day of class, students fill out a notecard with their name, a few light-hearted questions (“What Disney princess do you identify with?”), and a blank check box. They check the box by visiting his office in the first two weeks. “It’s a small moment,” he says, “but it opens the door to something more.”

It’s this spirit of relational teaching that shapes Jeff’s classroom. “My job is to help them believe they can succeed,” he says. He creates a collaborative environment where risk-taking is encouraged and getting something wrong is part of the learning process. “Even if a method won’t work, following it through shows why—and that’s valuable.”

Group work, peer teaching, and constant conversation are staples of his classroom. “When students explain something to someone else, they reinforce their own understanding,” he says. And when a student struggles? Jeff adapts. “If it’s too hard, we take a step back—then work our way back up.”

On the track, Jeff brings the same mindset. “Track and field is beautifully measurable—students can see their improvement, whether they’re cutting seconds or adding distance.” Coaching also gives him another avenue to connect with students. “They might be a superstar sprinter but struggling in math—or vice versa. I get to know them in both spaces, and that makes the relationship more meaningful.”

As Dean of Form VI, Jeff is a steady presence for students navigating the high-pressure realities of college applications and transitions. From hanging out in the Benedum Student Center to sleeping over during the senior campout, he’s with them every step of the way. “Senior year can be stressful, and I want to make it as smooth—and as fun—as possible.”

His path to teaching was winding—but rooted early. Jeff’s mother left a career in law to become a teacher, eventually teaching middle school math. “You could say it’s in my blood,” he reflects. He attended an independent school in Washington, D.C., where his mom taught, and he grew up immersed in the world of education.

In college, a course called Teaching Math deepened that interest. Working with a professor and a small group of peers, he taught lessons in multivariable calculus and explored ways to make complex math more accessible. “I loved it,” he says. After college, he taught for four years before stepping into software engineering to support his family. Once his wife completed her residency, Jeff returned to the classroom. The family moved from Rochester to Pittsburgh—and he hopes to stay for decades.

SSA is lucky he found his way back to teaching. Through every equation, every race, and every conversation, Jeff Perlis is helping students build confidence, persistence, and a belief in their own potential.