For this episode of Insightful Questions, two members of the EPS Spanish faculty (Josefa Ruiz Mercader and Malcolm Yates) join Head of School Sam Uzwack to discuss the role of empathy in the Spanish classroom. They discuss their different approach to teaching Spanish given their disparate backgrounds. Regarding empathy among our students, Josefa notes, “They always impress me, the way they care about each other and how kind they are.”

For this episode of Insightful Questions, two members of the EPS math faculty (Sarah Aguiar and Steve Fassino) join Head of School Sam Uzwack to discuss the role of empathy in math classes. They discuss empathetic dialogue in the math discipline and how it has impacted both students and faculty. As Sam noted after recording this episode, “The most exciting thing about recording these podcasts is learning how empathetic dialogue is adopted consistently across divisions and disciplines.”

For this episode of Insightful Questions, two members of the EPS fine and performing arts faculty (F&PA Director Ginger Ellingson and drama teacher Lisa Frystak) join Head of School Sam Uzwack to discuss the role of empathy in the arts. They discuss how materials are chosen and the importance of encouraging and modeling risk-taking. Ginger Ellingson notes, “We’re working with the students through the artistic process, so we are really integrated with them in the work.”

For this episode of Insightful Questions, EPS social science faculty members Diana Gonzalez-Castillo and Dan Yezbick reflect on building trust within the classroom setting in order to build on the habits of mind and skills for civil discourse to flourish. As Diana Gonzalez-Castillo notes, “One of the most exciting things about teaching is getting to foster a community within a classroom.”

For the first episode of Insightful Questions Season 2, EPS faculty member Caitlin McLane and Director of Enrollment Management Cheryl Schenk share their experiences from summer professional development opportunities centered on empathetic dialogue, exploring how they are integrating these insights into the campus community and classroom environments. As Head of School Sam Uzwack notes, “You don’t just spin up the capacity to have a productive conversation. It’s a set of skills…a habit of mind.”

For this episode of Insightful Questions, Eastside Prep’s Founding Head of School, Dr. Terry Macaluso, joins Sam Uzwack to discuss leadership and some impactful moments in the founding of Eastside Prep.

For this episode of Insightful Questions, EPS faculty members Karen Mills and Anne Duffy join Head of School Sam Uzwack to discuss various aspects of teaching and mentorship.

For this episode of Insightful Questions, Nicole Curry (Sam’s wife) joins Head of School Sam Uzwack to discuss their own partnership over the decades as well as Eastside Prep’s partnerships—current and future.

For this episode of Insightful Questions, Max Sheffield (EPS alum from the Class of 2014) joins Head of School Sam Uzwack to reminisce about their shared EPS experiences, the ongoing connections alumni have to our school, and talk about the future.