Behind the Numbers

The D-E mathematics Department

Vena Reed, 6th Grade History 

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...

An Interview with Dr. Ari Easley-Houser

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.

Here’s to this year’s Math Days! Math Days is an all division event where all D-E students receive the same problem to illustrate and solve. Upper School students came down to the Lower School to support problem-solving, and it was a wonderful moment for learning for all. See how the students visualized their thinking and brought math to life.