Q: What have you been up to this summer? A: Alex: I’ve been taking PreCalc (at D-E 360º) with Ananya. I’ve also been enjoying playing hockey. A: Ananya: On top of taking PreCalc this summer, I’ve been working at an education center. I mostly grade and sometimes tutor....
Samir Parikh ’29, Rising 6th Grader:
Q: What have you been up to this summer? A: “I’ve been doing this program called Enrichment at Tenafly, taking a public speaking class, an energy-class, and a Model UN class. I’m acting as four countries: the US, the UK, France, and India. I also just finished...
Commencement & Year End Events
Spring Sports Banquet 2022
Alex Russell-Walker, AP Art History
Alexander “Alex” Russell-Walker’s journey to teaching began halfway across the world in Vietnam. It was after teaching English there that he decided to commit to teaching full-time. Receiving his master’s degree at Columbia University’s Teachers College, he has taught...
Matthew Schade, 7th Grade History
Matthew “Matt” Schade always knew that teaching was going to be a part of his life. He recently discovered that in his second grade time capsule he had written that he wanted to be a teacher when he grew up. Originally from Philadelphia, Schade had only imagined...
Vena Reed, 6th Grade History
Hailing from Yorktown, VA, Vena Reed arrived at D-E in 2020 to teach the 6th grade history class called “Creating Cultures.” The course ranges from the beginnings of human history to the rise of ancient civilizations like Greece and Egypt. Teaching a foundational...
Lee Selected for Special Professional Development Opportunity
This spring Madie Lee, Upper School Equity & Diversity Engagement Coordinator and a history teacher, was selected as one of 120 teachers enrolled in a professional development course sponsored by National History Day, a nonprofit that seeks to improve the teaching...
An Interview with Dr. Ari Easley-Houser
Before coming to D-E, History Department Chair, Arika “Ari” Easley-Houser taught at Rutgers Prep and several colleges and universities, including Montclair State University and New York University. A socio-cultural historian focused on United States history, she received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University and a certificate in school management from the Harvard Business School. She was recently selected for a National Association of Independent Schools Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads. Now in her third year of heading the department, Easley-Houser speaks to the importance of historical inquiry for students and how the history curriculum must reflect and respond to the diversity of students. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Upper School Robotics Teams Push the Innovation Envelope
In the past 10 years, Upper School Robotics has trailblazed its own thriving cultural scene at D-E. Now with three official teams, the extracurricular program only continues to grow. Coached by Chris Fleisch, the teams have been able to compete in state and regional...