The genesis of “Beyond Empire” comes from a personal place. As a first-generation American of Trinidadian immigrants, who came to the US amidst Trinidad’s independence from the UK, Stephen Bailey finds that it is imperative to trace these stories. The central questions of the course ask, “What is it to move beyond empire? How do people understand themselves in a new context? How do you reacquire or reinvent yourself?” What underlies the curriculum is the belief that through investing in the literary worlds of other cultures, students can be world scholars and compassionate readers.
Stephen emphasizes reading a breadth of literary styles like poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc. to think critically about how language is used. With challenging material from authors and playwrights like Tayeb Salih and Lynn Nottage, Stephen asks for courage from both his students and himself; the courage to ask hard questions and to listen to different voices and opinions. “That is where true inquiry begins!”
Kat Sanford – Middle/Upper School Librarian
Kat Sanford is the Middle/Upper School Librarian. She spent nearly a decade in education and says she enjoys not only answering questions, but also providing students with the tools they need to find the answers. Kat has a degree in English from Massachusetts College...
Dena Silver – Middle/Upper School Mathematics
Dena Silver joins as a Part-Time Math Specialist for grades 6-10. She graduated from William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, with a dual Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education. She also holds a Master of Education in Reading and Mathematics. Dena says...
Kimberly Situ – Preschool 4 Teacher
Kimberly Situ is a Preschool 4 Teacher in the Lower School. She has more than 10 years' experience working with young people in various settings, including schools, youth programs, and community initiatives. Seven of those years have been focused on early childhood...
Adam Slee – Dean of Performing Arts
Adam Slee is the Dean of Performing Arts. He holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Theatre Pedagogy from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Theatrical Arts for Stage and Screen from Utah Valley...
Justin Weiner – Upper School History Teacher
Justin Weiner joins as a History Teacher in the Upper School. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from Ithaca College and a Master of Arts in Social Studies Education from Manhattanville University. Justin says he is focused on fostering the skills that his...
Molly Wozniak – Human Resources Administrator
Molly Wozniak says she is excited to join the D-E team as a Human Resources Administrator whose responsibilities include onboarding new employees. She has worked in Human Resources for four and a half years and received a certification in Human Resources Management...
Annie Yoo – Lower School Assistant Teacher
Annie Yoo joins as a Lower School Assistant Teacher. With a background in art education and a genuine love for teaching, Annie says she is passionate about creating a dynamic and supportive environment where students can explore their creativity and develop a lifelong...
D-E 360° Summer Chess Highlights
Cheers for Chess! Our D-E 360° program proudly hosted a Summer Chess Tournament, bringing together students from northern NJ and beyond. Trophies were awarded to the top performers in each age group. “I was proud of all our students, who showed good...
MS Robotics Teams Start Strong!
Our Middle School (MS) Robotics Teams are off to a great start! MS students recently gathered for a season launch party and then set up their “fields”. Coach Larionoff and mentors from the US Robotics Teams then led a multi-day skills camp for the students to learn...
Admissions Application Now Available Online!
Our application for the 2026-26 school year is NOW AVAILABLE online, along with registration for our Fall Admissions Events. Begin your journey with D-E today! Visit our website to learn more: d-e.org/admissions
