Department Spotlights
We recently launched a Spotlight video and editorial series to show why D-E is such a vibrant community of learners. Head of School Dr. James Calleroz White P’27, ’28, ’33 kicked us off by providing his thoughts on the topics of innovation, inclusive excellence, what it means to be a “whole-souled citizen,” and how to help students become their authentic selves. In the months that followed, we spotlighted D-E departments with insights from our department chairs, faculty/staff, and students who collectively shed light on our mission and core values. We spotlighted our Visual Art & Design, English, Performing Arts, Human Development and Student Support Services, Science, Philosophy & Ethics, Math & Computer Science, World Languages, and History departments and look forward to continuing this series in the months to come.
By: Valerie Berrios •
June 29, 2026
History Department Spotlight: Taking Lessons of the Past Into the Future
Now that the 2025-2026 school year is in the rearview, it’s a […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
May 29, 2026
World Languages Spotlight: Making Cultural Connections Through Language Learning
“At the center of language study is a deeper understanding of other […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
May 8, 2026
Math & Computer Science Spotlight: Valuing Process, Problem Solving
Whether you’re in the Lower School (LS), Middle School (MS), or Upper […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
April 8, 2026
Philosophy & Ethics Department Spotlight
Tapping Into Our Shared Humanity“Ethical thinking is something that all of us […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
March 19, 2026
Science Department Spotlight: Making Universal Connections
The next installment of our community “Spotlight” series is an exploration of the Science Department—a natural fit as the season shifts to spring! “Science is all around us…
By: Valerie Berrios •
March 2, 2026
Human Development and Student Support Services Spotlight: Building Resilience and Community
D-E’s Human Development and Student Support Services departments provide our students with […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
January 12, 2026
Performing Arts Spotlight: Bringing Passions to Life on Stage
Next in our series of Department Spotlights, D-E Performing Arts takes center […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
December 15, 2025
English Department Spotlight
In continuation of a monthly series spotlighting D-E’s community of learners in […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
December 9, 2025
English Department Spotlight Video
Mr. Meserole, P’26, ’28, ’30, English Department Chair, shares how teachers in […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
November 16, 2025
Mr. Daly Offers a Thoughtful Perspective on ‘The Merchant of Venice’
The 10th Annual Leggett-Umpleby Lecture was brought to us by Mr. Fred […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
November 13, 2025
Poetry Sharing Across Divisions
D-E’s English Department strives to give students seasonal opportunities not only to […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
November 6, 2025
Sixth-Grade Spanish Class Shares Learnings on Flamenco
Spanish language and the visual arts blended beautifully in the Middle School […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
November 5, 2025
Art & Design Department Spotlight: ‘Meaning-Making’ at D-E
To show how and why D-E is such a vibrant “community of […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
October 21, 2025
D-E Parents Discuss ‘Never Enough’
A group of highly engaged parents recently gathered in Hulst House with […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
October 17, 2025
D-E Juniors Get Immersed in the History of New York City
Mr. Swirbul’s History of New York City class, consisting entirely of juniors, […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
October 15, 2025
D-E Principals Host Discussions On Supporting Children In High-Pressure Settings
D-E Principals Kim Lalli (Upper School), Jonathan Davis (Middle School), and James […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
October 7, 2025
Upper School, Lower School Students Team Up to Write a ‘Small Story’
In a beautiful display of cross-divisional partnership, the Creative Writing class of […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
October 1, 2025
Spotlight on Our D-E Community: A Message from Dr. CW
The start of the new school year always brings energy and excitement […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
September 26, 2025
Mandarin Students Take On Tea Whisking
As part of a unit on China’s Song Dynasty, from 960 to […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
September 18, 2025
Teaching, Learning, and Growing in the Garden
D-E’s Nettie Coit Teaching Garden is not only an idyllic hidden gem […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
June 6, 2025
Middle School Final Projects Wrap Up the Year
D-E Middle Schoolers were busy with end-of-year projects to cap off a […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
June 5, 2025
A Look Back: Poet Dr. Joshua Bennett Visits D-E
D-E was recently graced with a campus visit from renowned poet Dr. […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
May 27, 2025
8th Grade ‘Living Wax Museum’ Brings History to Life
The 8th grade Living Wax Museum, facilitated by Grade 8 English Department […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
May 14, 2025
AP Psychology Students Test Young Minds
A few of D-E’s oldest students (seniors) collaborated with some of our […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
May 7, 2025
Mandarin Class Field Trip 2025
Upper School World Language Teacher Hailing Zhao’s Mandarin students recently embarked on […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
April 30, 2025
Swartley Gallery Senior Spotlight 2025 Exhibit Reception Highlights
This afternoon, the Swartley Gallery hosted a reception of “The Senior Spotlight”—the […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
April 25, 2025
Sixth Grade Math Field Trip to MoMath
Sixth graders recently took a field trip to The National Museum of […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
April 21, 2025
Congratulations, D-E Class of 2025 Cum Laude Society Inductees!
Cheers to our 2025 Cum Laude Society inductees, who were recently honored […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
April 16, 2025
The Play’s the Thing: 8th Grade Shakespeare Workshop Highlights
What’s in a name? This week D-E 8th graders got a closer […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
April 10, 2025
CCO Junior Families College Night Recap
This week D-E’s College Counseling Office (CCO) hosted a well-attended Junior Families […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
March 19, 2025
PAW 2025 Includes Innovative Ways to Engage US Students in Lessons Learned
Last week, D-E’s Upper School (US) students were immersed in our annual Projects & Assessments Week (PAW). “Over the course of the week, students engaged in a mixture of traditional exams and less traditional, but equally important, projects and workshops,” said US Principal Kim Lalli. “The goal is for students to have a variety of experiences that reflect the dynamic nature of our curriculum and give them a chance to demonstrate just how much they have learned so far this year.” Those experiences included going on trips to a DNA lab and the iFLY indoor skydiving facility. There were also some cross-divisional and cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to engage in. For example, students in Science Department Chair & Physics Teacher Tara Weinstein’s Honors Physics class worked with 3rd and 6th graders to design age-appropriate games as part of their PAW project. In addition, Paul Edwards, an Art & Design faculty member, gave a lecture on artistic influences during the Harlem Renaissance to the History class taught by Diane Christian. All in all, it was a stimulating week for our US students ahead of the spring break!
By: Valerie Berrios •
March 18, 2025
Community Is the Focus of the Middle School’s Diversity Day
For the recent annual Middle School (MS) Diversity Day, now in its 6th year, MS students at D-E spent the day attending special activities and a variety of community-building workshops on topics of interest to D-E faculty/staff and affinity groups. MS Principal Jonathan Davis said it’s an event that is “grounded in our mission of meeting the challenges of a changing world and making it better.” The day began in Schenck Auditorium with guest speaker Eboné Bell, a prominent media figure who advocates for LGBTQ women, who spoke on creating intentional change. Students then dispersed to attend two of 16 available workshops, which included sessions on European folk songs, spoken word poetry, piñata making, hamantaschen baking, and the origin of beans. There was also a yoga class, a global dance party, an Advisory scavenger hunt, and a jubilant Holi celebration on Graham Field to wrap up the day. “Middle School is all about finding your place in the world and creating your own identity,” expressed Mr. Davis. “This is an opportunity for our students to know who they are and to give others the space to be who they are.”
By: Valerie Berrios •
March 3, 2025
APUSH (AP US History) Students Progressive Era Highlights
What do Progressive Era Reformers and Speed Dating have in common? In […] Read More
By: Valerie Berrios •
February 25, 2025
Grade 10 Honors English Classes Compare Notes on Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon
D-E’s Grade 10 Honors English classes gathered in Hajjar Auditorium to analyze […] Read More
By: Archive •
May 5, 2022
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.
