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.
D-E Senior Shares Her Self-Published Book with PreK 4
In a continuation of the “Small Story” book project initiated by Grade 11 Dean Tuc for her Creative Writing class, Upper School students joined the PreK 4 class in the Lower School (LS) for a lesson on author pages. “In their small groups, students will learn about...
Falling Leaves and Singing Acorns: Preschoolers Find Music in the Changing Season
Submitted by Lisa Dove
Making a Difference: Third Graders Lead the Charge for Soldiers and Neighbors
Submitted by Rachel Brainin and Michelle Sussmann, Third Grade Teachers
Building Strong Readers and Writers Through Morphology
Submitted by Mara Trager, Literacy Specialist 3-5
‘Mostly Miles’ Jazz Brunch 2025 is Sunday, Nov. 23!
Our jazz musicians are hard at work rehearsing for Jazz Brunch 2025! D-E’s Stage Band and Jazz Workshop ensembles will perform this annual concert on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 12 PM in Hajjar Auditorium. Director Rob DeBellis has shared that the concert theme is “Mostly...
D-E Faculty/Staff Reflect on the Idea of ‘Mattering’ with Author Jennifer Wallace
“Students are crushed by an unrelenting drive to succeed and then climb even higher...” A series of conversations about the book Never Enough, which delves into the pressure our kids feel to achieve and how a strong sense of “mattering” can act as a buffer to this...
That’s a Wrap on ‘A Monster Calls’
Bravo! The cast and crew wrapped up an amazing series of performances this weekend of “A Monster Calls,” in which the haunting set, created in large part by D-E students with symbolic elements to communicate a sense of entrapment, blended seamlessly with the artistry...
11/14/25 Interim Grades Message for Grades 7 & 8
11/14/25: Learning to Climb: Reflecting on Confidence & Care
Mr. Daly Offers a Thoughtful Perspective on ‘The Merchant of Venice’
The 10th Annual Leggett-Umpleby Lecture was brought to us by Mr. Fred Daly, who is in his 46th year of teaching and 31st year at D-E, 20 years of which were spent as the English Department Chair. He also founded the D-E Shakespeare Society, now in its 17th year. Mr....