Inside this issue - Episcopal Academy

Faculty and Staff news
Director of Technology, Cathy Hall, Associate Director of Technology, Alex Pearson, and Head of Upper School, Geoff
Wagg, have authored a feature story for Independent School magazine on new technology integration that will run in the
Winter 2009 issue… Kindergarten teacher Elizabeth Cocco returned from her half-year sabbatical this fall. Elizabeth had
a fantastic experience working with students and researching curriculum and effective programs at the Tohonto Odam
Indian Reservation School at Xavier Bac, Hebrew Academy, The Fessenden School, BB&N, Meadowbrook, Penn Charter,
Germantown Academy, Russell Byers Charter School, and the Community Partnership School… Upper School English
teacher Sam Willis became engaged this summer to Tara O’Brien, a figure skating coach. Sam and Tara also purchased
a home recently, not only bringing dreams of renovations, but also trying to help the housing market… Kindergarten
teacher Joyce Gavin has published her book “Millie and Willie, Two EA Churchmice,” which was written during her halfyear
sabbatical last year. More information on the book and how it can be ordered is on page14… Director of Diversity
and Community Life, Courtney Portlock, continues to pursue her master’s degree in education at the University of
Pennsylvania. The focus of her program is on independent school leadership. She will finish the program this summer…
Upper School religion teacher Tim Gavin ran a 50-mile race this summer, which raised money for the The Back on My
Feet Foundation. Tim is also currently studying Hebrew at Lutheran Theological Seminary and one of his poems was
recently published in Anglican Theological Review… This year, EA technology specialist Matt Lake continued his work
researching and reporting on modern folklore and eccentricities for the Weird
U.S. book series. Matt edited the first two books in the series and has written
three more. His fourth title in the series, Weird U.S. – The Oddyssey Continues,
hit bookshelves in November… Upper School theater teacher Dan Clay was
the faculty advisor for the second-year program of the Global Youth Leadership
Institute. GYLI promotes leadership, the environment, religious pluralism,
mindfulness, and diversity (see page 11)… Dan also attended the Augosto Boal
Workshop at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference in
Denver this summer with Theater Department Chair, Susan LaPalombara. The
two learned more about political/educational playmaking to address specific
issues within a community… Susan also attended the Equity Collaborative
at the Germantown Day School with other members of Episcopal’s faculty in
Pearcy Receives Ovatio
from CAAS
June. She worked on equity, justice, and diversity issues during a challenging
and inspirational week… Classics teacher Lee Pearcy, who is on sabbatical
reports: “The sabbatical is going well. I published a review of Christopher Stray,
ed, “Classical Books: Scholarship and Publishing in Britain Since 1800” in Bryn
Mawr Classical Review, and I have another review and an article forthcoming. I
spoke to the American Classical League on ‘Independent Schools and the Move
Beyond AP’ at their annual Institute in Durham, NH, in June. At the Classical
Association of the Atlantic States (CAAS) meeting in Princeton I led a workshop
on teaching Catullus and participated in a panel on changes in the Latin AP
program.” Lee also received an ovatio from the CAAS at their annual meeting
in Princeton in October. An ovatio is a Latin citation read aloud to honor the
recipient… History Department Chair, Chuck Bryant, reports that the department had a busy summer building a series
of new elective courses now being offered at Episcopal, including: The 2008 Presidential Election, The United States
in the 1960s, Islamic Fundamentalism and U.S. Foreign Policy, Russian History and the Transformation of the Soviet
Union, AP Art History, and Modern Contemporary Issues. Chuck also spent six weeks this summer writing Web-based
materials for David Kennedy’s American Pageant AP US textbook… Upper School history teacher Andy Hess spent
a week at Exeter Academy learning how to facilitate student discussion and learning at the school’s annual Harkness
Table Conference this past summer… Assistant Athletic Director, Jim Farrell, raised more than $40,000 by competing
in a triathlon this summer to help fight leukemia and lymphoma through The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. More
can be found on Jim’s work on page 16… Drama teacher and choreographer Mandie Banks noted that it is ironic that
she’s choreographing this year’s spring musical “Grease.” Ten years ago she was a performer in the 1998-1999 national
touring company of “Grease.” She was cast as a member of the ensemble and understudied lead characters Sandy and
Patty Simcox (see page 21). One of the highlights was playing Sandy in Las Vegas and in her hometown of Bethlehem,
PA. Mandie even had a chance to perform at Philadelphia’s own Merriam Theatre.
Classics teacher, Lee Pearcy, was honored by the
Classical Association of the Atlantic States (CAAS)
with an ovatio at their annual meeting in Princeton in
October. An ovatio is a Latin citation read aloud to
honor the recipient. Shown above are: (l to r) Prof.
Barbara Gold (Hamilton College), Pearcy, CAAS
Vice President David Murphy, CAAS Program Chair
Prof. Judith Hallett (Univ. of Maryland), Prof. Larisa
Bonfante (NYU), and Prof. Mervin Dilts (NYU).
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