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!”
Celebrating our D-Edicated Upper School Student-Athletes:
End of Year Sports Banquet Highlights D-E Athletics welcomed Upper School (US) student-athletes and their families to Myrna B. Sherman Gymnasium on May 22, 2025, for a memorable End of Year Sports Banquet. Spirits were high for the nearly 600 attendees which also...
Engaging in the Arts to“Make it Better”
The Art & Design Department regularly collaborates with Upper School clubs during the school year on service initiatives that benefit both the D-E community and local organizations. One example is the HOPE Fashion Show, an annual fundraiser organized by the HOPE:...
A Vision of Art: A Conversation With Marisol Diaz
D-E’s Art & Design Department is a program that encompasses all three divisions—the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. It’s an integral part of the school community that falls under the leadership of Art & Design Chair Marisol Diaz, who also runs...
D-E Students Present Inspiring TEDx Talks
In April, D-E hosted its first-ever TEDxDwight-Englewood School event in Hajjar Auditorium, which was a great success and is expected to be a new school tradition. Chief Innovation Officer Diana Gross gave opening remarks, along with student leaders and executive...
Teaching With Artificial Intelligence
The other component of AI in Education is, of course, incorporating student use of these tools into the lessons. For Mr. Campbell, the recent workshops highlighted how important “process” is. “AI comes down to transparency,” he noted. “By increasing transparency of...
Professional Development That ‘Meets the Challenges of a Changing World’
D-E’s Profile of a Teacher states that “We continue to grow as professionals, deepening our knowledge and improving our practice at a pace consistent with our changing world.” To this end, in February D-E faculty and staff participated in a Professional Development...
Reflections from Preeti Fibiger P ’24
Dear D-E Families and Friends, I’m writing during these last few weeks in my role serving as Interim Head of School, which ends on June 30. This latest issue of D-E Today comes to you while our campus is markedly serene after a busy, happily buzzing series of...
D-E Lower School Chess Players Win 1st at Bryant Park Tri-State Chess Championship
CHEERS to D-E Chess! D-E came in first at the recent Bryant Park Tri-State Chess Championship! Congratulations to Easton M. ‘37, Nicolai D. ‘37, and Kabir G. ‘37, for this wonderful achievement! D-E 360° Director Dr. Brown noted, “A huge shoutout to [D-E Chess Team]...
String Society 2025 Grand Finale Concert Highlights
WOW & BRAVO!!! Our String Society 2025 program, presented by D-E 360° Summer, ended on a high note with a wonderful Grand Finale Concert. The concert, performed to a standing room-only audience in Hajjar Auditorium, was the culmination of a week-long, intensive...
Give to the Annual Fund Before the Fiscal Year Closes
Now that our 2024-2025 school year is in the books, we want to thank all of our incredible alumni for their continued connection and support! We’re especially excited to welcome the Class of 2025 into the alumni community, to celebrate the arrival of our incoming Head...
