EHS Pillars - Fall 2018

The USC Opens • My Space • Academic Assistance

Episcopal High School was founded in 1983 as a four‐year coeducational day school within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
ACCREDITATION
Independent Schools Association of the Southwest
MEMBERSHIPS
National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Episcopal Schools
Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
Educational Records Bureau
College Board
National Association for College Admission Counseling
Texas Association for College Admission Counseling
Southwest Preparatory Conference
MISSION
Episcopal High School is an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas established for the purpose of providing a superior
education in preparation for college and a significant life thereafter. Through a rich offering of academic, spiritual, artistic, and
athletic programs, the School provides an opportunity for each student to reach his or her maximum spiritual, intellectual,
social, and ethical potential. Operating as a Christian community within the beliefs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, EHS
in its teaching philosophy emphasizes understanding and responding to the individual needs and capabilities of each student.
In an effort to reflect the community we serve, EHS strives to maintain a student body that is diverse in its social, economic,
ethnic, and academic backgrounds.
ADMISSION
Episcopal High School admits students of all races, colors, and national/ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and
activities accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or
national/ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic
and other school‐administered programs.
ALUMNI
Please share your news with the EHS Alumni Association. Send information to:
Margaret Young
myoung@ehshouston.org
713‐512‐3600
Ashley Long
along@ehshouston.org
713‐512‐3478
Episcopal High School
P. O. Box 271299
Houston, TX 77277‐1299
b facebook.com/groups/EHSHoustonAlumni
x instagram.com/ehs_alumni
j linkedin.com/grps/Episcopal‐High‐School‐Houston‐Alumni‐1029617
This publication is printed on FSC certified paper with soy‐based inks.

The Episcopal High School Magazine, Fall 2018

IN THIS ISSUE
From the Head of School 04
#KnightsStandOut 06
Bright Knights 10
Strategies for Learning 16
My Space 20
Alumni Leadership Day 28
Pop Quiz 30
The Last Word 35
In Memoriam: Charles Estes 36
ON THE COVER
Student leaders cut the ribbon for the official opening of
the Underwood Student Center. From left to right:
Ivan Bastidas '19, Parker Vining '20, Claire Kardesch '19,
Tyler Donovan '19, Flower Buzbee '20, and Amiri Scrutchin '19.
Photo by Scott Cunningham.

SAVE THE DATE
Derby Knight Auction 2-22-19
Alumni Weekend 4-5-19
Commencement 5-19-19
Photo by Scott Cunningham
3

FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear EHS Family,
On October 17, Bishop Doyle blessed the new Underwood Student Center (USC), our
second new building in as many years! It is amazing to think back to the old USC now
that the new USC is in regular use, transforming the campus and our community. Open
not only for lunch, the student center, with a range of seating for 500, is busy throughout
the day. There is space for casual conversation and for the more serious business of
school; there is a coffee bar to sustain us outside of regular lunch hours; there is a large
art gallery for the display of student work; and there are innovation rooms for our classes
and independent use. And that is just what you can see on a casual visit!
What you cannot see are the contributions to the Arts Pillar that were included in the
USC project with the expansion of the Underwood Theatre. The theater house itself
received a major facelift, but most of the best work happened in the back of the house
with a new control center for lights and sound, increased wing spaces, new dressing
rooms, and a number of other facilities for both cast and crew in the performing arts.
These two buildings, nearly 100,000-square-feet for teaching, learning, and strengthening
community, represent the passion for EHS and its mission, what the School has been and
what the School will be. And all without one dollar of debt.
Of course, a building is just the frame; the art is what happens within as students like Tyler
Donovan '19 and Amiri Scrutchin '19, who have just published their first collaboration, Le
Prince Gâté (featured on page 10), work with amazing teachers like Kate Philbrick, Brad
Telford, Mark Mitchell, or any of the others featured on these pages. Our current students
and teachers are able to do this great work because of the commitment and dedication of
supporters and founders like current grandparent Joel Shannon, this year’s Ned Becker
Award winner, and Larry Neuhaus, this year’s Founders Day speaker, both pictured on
page 9.
We live today just as we did at our founding. We are a school where students discover
their inner genius, guided by talented teachers and the founders’ vision to live significant
lives in service to others. Founder Lynda Underwood—namesake of the USC for her
35 years of generosity and leadership—joined her son, Trustee Duncan '89, and her
grandson, Austin '22, for the blessing of our new facility, an occasion that symbolized
the bond between founders, alumni, and our current students and teachers. In that one
moment, our past and present came together to point to our very bright future.
Come visit the new USC if you have not yet done so, and marvel at the transformation of
our campus and in our students every day.
Thank you, and Go Knights!
Ned Smith
Head of School
4

Photo by Scott Cunningham
5

# KNIGHTS STAND OUT
Students Recognized
for Outstanding
Results
New Underwood Student Center
Transforms Campus Life
The National Merit Scholarship program
recently announced the index scores
for the 2019 competition, and eight
EHS seniors have been designated
Commended students.
The students are: Daniel Cai, Brett
Hauser, Carter Kardesch, Claire
Kardesch, Anna McLauchlin, Ellie
Ragiel, James Henry Ray, and Gabrielle
Small.
From approximately 1.6 million program
entrants, these students are among the
50,000 highest-scoring participants.
In addition, the National Merit program
designated three seniors as National
Hispanic Scholars: Amiri Scrutchin,
Alexandra Herrera, and Lillyana
Stefanakis.
With great anticipation, the new
Underwood Student Center opened
its doors in November. The more
than 30,000-square-foot building
features a spacious dining hall on the
first floor with seating for 500, a small
raised stage, drop-down video screen,
surround sound, Forrest Place coffee
bar, and a glass-walled art gallery.
The second floor features offices for
grade-level deans and two innovation
classrooms/labs.
On October 17, The Rt. Rev. Bishop
Andrew Doyle led a blessing of the
USC and predicted the student center
would become a nexus for communitybuilding
and creativity. Founding
Trustee Lynda Underwood and her
family, including son and Trustee
Duncan; his wife Sarah; son Austin ’22;
and future Knight, daughter Riley, joined
the celebration to usher in a new era to
EHS.
the architects and contractors on
budgets and design. As he surveyed
the crowd gathered on the new plaza,
Head of School Ned Smith remarked
at how the campus expansion brought
together both founding families
and new families for planning and
fundraising, a collaboration that will
benefit generations of future Knights.
At Open House on November 7,
prospective students and parents were
enthralled by the vibrant space as they
toured the facility where two innovation
spaces will open for classes and
extracurricular activities this spring.
Since welcoming students and faculty
to the new dining hall, Food Services
Director Susana Borges-Pasini and her
staff have dazzled diners with incredible
dishes such as roasted pig, carne
asada, paella, homemade soups, and
daily slices of pizza.
Other notables at the blessing included
trustees Shelley Barineau and Trey
Snider, who worked side-by-side with
In just a short time, the Underwood
Student Center has become the heart
of campus and a stunning space that
exemplifies what it means to stand out.
6

#KnightsStandOut
UNDERWOOD STUDENT CENTER
7

# KNIGHTS STAND OUT
Band Members Hit
Some Sweet Notes
Student Work Stands Out Among
Thousands of Entries
Let’s make some noise for a few band
members who received statewide
recognition. Jose Reyes and Noah
Prophet were placed in the
All-Region All-Texas Small School Band
(1st chair bass clarinet and 5th chair
tuba, respectively), and Tyler Johnson
was placed in the Texas Private Schools
Music Educators’ Association All-State
Jazz Band (trumpet).
Recent Grads Prove
to be Rising Stars
Several recent graduates of EHS have
made headlines recently. EHS Onstage
standout Stephanie Styles ‘10 joined
the all-star cast of the Roundabout
Theatre’s “Kiss Me, Kate” revival,
which opens next spring on Broadway.
Joining the likes of Taylor Swift and
Lady Gaga, Catherine Cohen ’09 was
named in W Magazine’s “Women We
are Thankful For” list. Gridiron greats
Walker Little ‘17, Marvin Wilson ‘17,
and Jaylen Waddle ‘18 have wowed
football fans each weekend with their
performances at Stanford, Florida, and
Alabama, respectively. And finally, ETV
legend Weston Bering ‘18 continues to
win applause in film festivals throughout
the country.
Our spring issue of Pillars Magazine
features an extensive list of Alumni
Notes. Please send your news to
Advancement Coordinator Ashley Long
at along@ehshouston.org.
Eighteen EHS students won a total of 25 awards in the 2018 Association of Texas
Photography Instructors Fall Contest (ATPI). Each year, ATPI sponsors a fall
photography and multimedia competition for students and teachers that includes a
variety of categories. This year, the ATPI Fall Contest received 7,420 entries from 99
schools with 600 winners from around Texas, California, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Advanced Travel
Teagan Ashworth - Second - Below
Cade Williams - Third - Desert Walk
Henry Odom - Honorable Mention - Ice
Cave
Brennan Howell - Honorable Mention -
Infinity
Elena Zavitsanos - Honorable Mention -
Tiny Tourist
Advanced Animal
Amelia Traylor - Honorable Mention -
Floating Pink
Grace Beasley - Honorable Mention -
Fluff
Advanced Informal-Environmental
Portrait
Rohan Asthana - Honorable Mention -
Contemplation
Teagan Ashworth - Honorable Mention -
Undercover
Advanced Landscape
Rohan Asthana - Honorable Mention -
Big Bend Canyon
Rohan Asthana - Honorable Mention -
Tent Rocks Canyon
Advanced Portfolio
Amelia Traylor - First Honorable Mention
- Color Chaos
Advanced Sports Action
Haley Hammer - Honorable Mention -
Pristine
Advanced Thematic
Luce Tysor - Second - Then & Now
Advanced Travel
Teagan Ashworth - Second - Below
Cade Williams - Third - Desert Walk
Henry Odom - Honorable Mention - Ice
Cave
Brennan Howell - Honorable Mention -
Infinity
Elena Zavitsanos - Honorable Mention -
Tiny Tourist
MULTIMEDIA
Advanced Comedic Short Film
Nico Zanotti-Cavazzoni - First - Kung Fu
Master Sins Of The Past
Alexander Haney - Second - A Beautiful
Morning
Lauren St. Paul & Grace Leggett - Third -
Boy Meets Girl
Shaffer Chandler - Honorable Mention -
The Evolution of Robots
Advanced Dramatic Short Film
Nico Zanotti-Cavazzoni - First - Rotary
Mea Ayers - Honorable Mention - A New
Purpose
Finty Milton - Honorable Mention - Clara
Amiri Scrutchin - Honorable Mention -
Ice & Fire
Advanced Multimedia
Claire Henry - Third - Boats Against the
Current
Finty Milton - Honorable Mention -
Pulchritude
8

FOUNDERS DAY
#KnightsStandOut
Life Trustee Larry Neuhaus presents fellow Life Trustee Joel Shannon with the fifth annual Ned C.
Becker Humanitarian Award. Shannon was honored for his generous service to EHS—where he
was a Founding Trustee and later served as CFO. Besides his decades-long commitment to EHS,
Shannon has dedicated his time and resources to help Houston’s homeless and those without
health care.
9

10
Photo by Scott Cunningham

A TALE OF SUCCESS
Tyler Donovan '19 and Amiri Scrutchin '19
Bright Knights
Education experts say that four “21st Century Skills” predict life and career success: critical thinking, communication,
collaboration, and creativity.
If that’s true, a recent endeavor by seniors Tyler Donovan and Amiri Scrutchin has not only brought creative rewards
but has helped steer the duo toward bright futures.
The idea for a bilingual children’s book began when Tyler Donovan was in 7th grade at the Village School, where she
thrived in writing classes and French. At night, composing in French, she started drafting a classic fairy tale, Le Prince
Gâté (The Spoiled Prince), about a selfish and not-so-charming prince who learns the importance of sharing through
a series of calamities and a bit of magic. Once she entered high school at EHS and plunged into volleyball, student
government, and service projects, however, the Le Prince Gâté project took a back seat.
Then in junior year, Donovan and Amiri Scrutchin both landed in Dr. Brad Telford’s Honors English class. For one
assignment, Dr. Telford asked students to draw their favorite scene from a novel. When Donovan spotted Scrutchin's
impressive sketches, she realized that he would be the perfect illustrator for Le Prince Gâté. “Amiri is a naturally
talented artist who can draw in many different styles,” says Donovan, “I had found my collaborator!”
Scrutchin says he jumped at the chance to join Donovan’s book project because, “I want children to get excited about
learning new languages and expanding their horizons. I embraced the chance to create diverse characters so that
children of different backgrounds can relate to this book.”
Scrutchin, an award-winning artist, has been drawing since the age of 3 and was mentored during middle school by
MJ Sadler, an art teacher at Chinquapin Prep. At EHS, he has elevated his skills by enrolling in drawing and animation
classes taught by Sharon Willcutts and Pejman Milani.
As the book progressed, the main challenge for Donovan was to ensure the plot flowed smoothly in both English and
French, and a literal translation did not always not work. “After talking with Amiri, who speaks Spanish but not French,
I realized the book would find a larger audience if the story was told in French and English on each page, and I rewrote
several drafts to make the story flow in both languages.”
When the book was complete, Donovan took it to Bright Sky Press in Houston’s Rice Village and Le Prince Gâté was
published in October. After nearly six years of starts and stops, “It’s great to have this in my hands,” says Donovan.
Friends’ reactions have been positive, and some comments have made her laugh. “A lot of times friends say, ‘Wow—
this is actually a real book!’”
Adds Scrutchin, “I am honored to be part of something that is so grand. My family is thrilled, and they all want to help
with handling publicity, scheduling readings, and revving up book sales. I really hope this motivates young children to
become interested in French culture and language.”
As for the perks of collaboration, Scrutchin says the project taught him how to “establish a network of people who
will help you, and who make your work stronger.” For Donovan, “Collaborating forced me to learn how to ask for help
with areas that are not my expertise. I could never have made this book by myself. Collaborating with Amiri helped me
accomplish a dream.”
Read more about Le Prince Gâté and order copies of the book at https://www.leprincegate.com.
—Claire C. Fletcher
11

Bright Knights
A NOVEL IDEA
Claire '19, Carter '19, and Cory Kardesch '22
Claire and Carter Kardesch, ‘19, had a novel idea. It all started with an article that caught Claire’s
eye. “A big percentage of schools in Houston don’t have libraries or access to books,” the
newspaper article said, and so this family took on a project to pay it forward. The twins reached
out to people at EHS and put out boxes to collect books. Their mother, Katherine Kardesch,
connected the brother and sister team to literary organizations so they could collect books for
middle and elementary schools. Books Between Kids, a local nonprofit, provided warehouse space
for storage as the program continued to grow.
Eventually, what started small pushed the boundaries of a single campus, and the twins contacted
other schools, including St. Thomas Episcopal and a few larger public schools. The EHS Campus
Store got involved and launched a book buyback campaign. The Bellaire Buzz published an article
on the Kardesches’ success, which added to their collection. Parents would come by their house
to drop off books, the brother-sister team would get calls to stop by a house to pick up books. One
Saturday, the entire family spent time organizing, distributing several copies, and counting their
total.
Carter soon realized there were lots of organizations to collect books for younger grades, but
not much in place for high school. They ended up with over a thousand books for high school
and did research to find schools in need. The family identified one school in particular, Worthing
High School, and delivered books there in August. They gave books to every English teacher at
Worthing so they could start building a library in their individual classrooms. “We always had easy
access to books,” Claire says. “We grew up reading and we both love to read. We found out that
lots of people had piles of books and no more use for them. Most books end up taking space or
families have to throw them away. The people we connected with were grateful they were going to
be put to good use.”
Carter recalls the impact the The Buzz article had on their project. “There would be people in
our neighborhood we’d never talked to who called us. I remember someone three streets down
had five boxes of books. It was a great way to connect with our own community.” The numbers
began to astound them. One English teacher had six boxes of multiple copies of many different
books. Sometimes they’d pick up from a house two trash bags brimming with books. In general,
the Kardesches have always been involved in community work. They’ve participated in the Bear
Christmas Drive and the National Charity League. “We hope to see our little brother Cory carry it on
next year,” Claire and Carter add.
Cory is up for the challenge. “My family and I have loved dedicating time to organizations that focus
on literacy,” Cory explains. “Creating 'A Novel Idea' to help one school has been great, but we want
to reach as many students as possible, so I plan to collect, sort, and deliver again and again.”
Katherine Kardesch, mother of the three, was happy to see their interest in reading provide access
to good literature for others. “It’s something they’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she says. “We’ve
always been a family that liked to read, and the kids wanted everyone to experience that same joy.”
—Emma Tsai
12

Photo by Scott Cunningham 13

MOMENTS
"Taken in the dying light of Rocky Mountain National
Park, Colorado—a pivotal moment for me in my study of
landscape photography." Photo by Rohan Asthana '19

15

16Photo by Scott Cunningham

STRATEGIES FOR
LEARNING
Academic Assistance tailors program
to each student's needs
With the ever-increasing demands on our students, including involvement in student government,
athletics, the Chapel program, and service projects, the Academic Assistance Program aims to
help students with study skills, executive functioning, and time management. Not only will students
gain greater awareness of themselves as students but also as “learners.” Through AAP, each
student can identify the best learning strategies for his or her learning style and gain confidence
in test taking and completion of major assignments. “We like to work on executive functioning
especially—planning, preparation, and getting students to think about their thinking,” Jenny
Cantrell, director of Academic Assistance, says. “Most students lack organizational skills. This is
a program for helping students with study skills, planning, organizational skills, and content. Not
every strategy works for everyone. We offer tools and find out what does.”
The Academic Assistance Office, headed by Jenny Cantrell and assisted by Valerie McAvey,
consists of educational plans, ACT and College Board applications, extended time or special
testing (including Advanced Placement exams, midterm exams, final exams, as well as the PSAT,
ACT, and SAT), mid-quarterly progress reports, tutorials, and differentiated teaching strategies
for teachers to use in helping all students. Cantrell is a certified academic language therapist and
licensed dyslexia practitioner. She has valuable experience as a reading specialist and special
education teacher and has felt rewarded in helping all students achieve success, despite any
learning difference they might have. McAvey, who is new to EHS, has 13 years teaching experience
in high school STEM classes and a Master of Education, which makes an impactful addition to the
needs of academic support.
The core offering of the program is our AAP classes, in which an AAP coach is paired with
two to five students. The coach communicates regularly with students, teachers, and parents
about an individual student’s progress, helps tutor the student during that class time, monitors
student progress and their weekly workload, and helps teach and support the student's effective
organization and self-regulation skills. “No matter what the issue is,” Cantrell adds, “we try to have
them do a plan. We prompt them to look on the portal calendar and keep regular track of what’s
going on in their academic life.” Sometimes, it can be as simple as setting an example for students
who don’t know where to start. “We model for them what they need to do on their own until it
becomes second nature,” McAvey says. “We want them to be prepared for college with test-taking
strategies they need to implement—making note cards, using study aids.
17

“When they show up to this space
created for no other reason than to
concentrate, they’re prepared to work.”
— Valerie McAvey
”Some students benefit from the simple structured time period to focus on their academic demands. Others
need more one-on-one time with a coach. “Pedagogy of place comes into play here,” McAvey notes. “When
they show up to this space created for no other reason than to concentrate, they’re prepared to work.”
One of the wonderful things about Episcopal is our diversity, and the fact that students come to
us from many different schools. That diversity, however, does add a challenge for some students, and the
AAP program helps to address that challenge. “Sometimes students don’t have the foundation they need to
address their academics in a way that’s structured and routine. We offer that support,” Cantrell says. With
the new dean system, which is in its second year, EHS has a close-knit circle of communication that keeps
everyone updated and considers students that would benefit most from the program.
In addition, McAvey and Cantrell tutor individual students every period of the day. A student
does not have to be enrolled in the program to take advantage of their assistance. They, as the rest of our
teachers on campus, have an open-door policy. With the addition of McAvey this year, students have a
resource for every class: they can go to Cantrell to help with writing and McAvey to help with STEM.
An important component of AAP is confidence building. The AAP coach, as well as Cantrell and
McAvey, show the student he or she can do it—issues that may have been plaguing them from school-toschool
are conquerable with a plan and a system. The program pushes them forward to being successful
because they take ownership. “Some students come in with a negative mindset from years of struggling
academically. ‘No matter what I do, it’s not going to change.’ But once they start believing in themselves,
things turn around. We try to work with them on that negative self-talk,” Cantrell says. “Our motto is that all
kids can be successful if you give them proper tools.”
—Emma Tsai
“AAP is a supervised free period where you can work on
your homework or study for upcoming exams. Having
this period in the middle of the day really helps because
you can look over material for a test and prepare. Mrs.
Cantrell is one of the most genuine people at this school.
She wants you to succeed and go to college.”
—Walker Glotfelty '19
18

“I like having a tight group of people—Mrs. Cantrell, Mr.
Hickey, and Mrs. McAvey—who push me to do my very
best and are willing to help me in any way they can! They
really make sure you are on top of all your assignments—and
because of that my homework grades have gone up. I've
learned so much about myself as a student, such as my
learning style and the study skills that work best for me. I
feel very confident and prepared with regard to college!”
—Serena Shannon '19
“The most beneficial aspect of AAP for me is having
a teacher who has the time to guide and support me
in any situation possible. It doesn’t really have to
be school work—it can be college apps, ACT or SAT,
personal problems—but just having that extra time with
the teacher one on one can make me feel a whole lot
better at the end of the day. My grades and test scores
have seen a lot of improvement from previous years. In
my junior year, having Mrs. Cantrell’s assistance with
the junior research paper really made me feel more
confident about my writing. The program has taught
me how to manage my time and get stuff done instead
of procrastinating.”
—Juan Rodriguez '19
19

20

My Space
Reporting by Claire Fletcher with photos by Scott Cunningham.
Steve Leisz
Head Football and Wrestling Coach
Win or lose, up or down, when I sit at my desk I am grounded by three photos: an early
snapshot of my wife and three sons; a Challenger Football Game, where kids with special
needs play football with us for a day; and a photo of my dad in 1957 coaching an Army
football game at Fort Lewis. Those three photos always give me perspective. Everything
else on my desk, and in my life, is secondary.
I like to stay positive. I keep memorabilia around to remind me of our Knights football
championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Some of the stuff derives from players' jokes
about my old-man strength—I win the team ping pong championship each
year—or signs with my sayings “Don’t Be Scared” or “Be the Best for the Team.”
Higher up, I have trophies and awards, like my Lifetime Service Award from the National
Wrestling Association Hall of Fame. On the top shelf, I keep a display of all our football
helmets since the 2006 season. One of my favorite things to do when people visit is ask
them which design is their favorite.
Which one’s yours?
21

Ned Smith
Head of School
My desk is a connection to history and home for me. The desk came to me by way of my late uncle, The Rev. Tony Jarvis, who
told me it was once owned by The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks, or so he claimed. Longtime Rector of Trinity Church and briefly
a Bishop of Massachusetts, Phillips Brooks authored the Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and was a financial
backer of my alma mater, The Groton School, during its founding in 1884. The desk exchanged hands over the years until it
made its way to my uncle, who then gifted it to me after downsizing to a small apartment for his retirement. Now a memento of
my uncle, I also enjoy seeing the family photos laid across its surface taken in my home state of Massachusetts. Before moving
to Texas, my desk had a brief stay in a Minnesotan storage facility prior to arriving with me at Episcopal High School in 2007.
22

My Space
Michael Hunt
Chair of Mathematics
Shipshape and efficient. I don’t know which came first, my love of mathematics or my love of the sea, but both are
reflected in my personality, training, and workspace. As for mathematics, it is ultimately about proof—knowing things with
absolute certainty. And the best proofs are simple and efficient, what mathematicians call elegant. And for an Ol’ Salt
like me who served 25 years in the United States Coast Guard, a place for everything and everything in its place is an
operational imperative, because unsecured gear aboard a ship in a lively seaway is a missile hazard, liable to fly about and
endanger crew and ship alike. Thus, my desk is simple, efficient, and uncluttered. Missile hazards give me the willies.
23

Kate Philbrick
Chair of Visual Arts
There are a lot of different aspects to my job—and I love all of them. On any given day, I am fixing cameras, writing reports,
teaching students, and creating photo galleries. My desk may not look organized, but it’s organized to me. Even my students can
locate the ceramic bowl of paper clips, the basket with tape, the package with bandaids, or the toolbox. I also keep personal items
in my desk area, including a portfolio of my best film photography, books I like to have around, family photos, and vintage cameras.
24

My Space
Pejman Milani
Media Arts Teacher
This is my command center. I have a central eye line to the lesson area, and then behind me are stations for animation and
editing. Everything works from the center out. We’ve got Apple TVs, a green screen, LED lighting—everything we need
to build the finest film and video program for our students. In any class, I've got ambitious moviemakers planning shots,
and other students needing assistance with storyboards. It’s organized chaos, but all the students get to the same end
goal, just in different ways and at different speeds. I am here in the middle to provide a road map when they get lost.
25

Pat Michael
Science Teacher
My desk makes me happy every day—it’s my home away from home. I have taught here for 27 years, and most of my biggest
life moments have happened while I have worked here. Scanning the photos and memorabilia, I can say that my desk is
basically a timeline of my daughter, Kristina’s life. There are photos of when she was a baby, when we went to Disney, and
when she graduated from Duke University with her master’s in nursing. It is also a tribute to my love for Texas A&M—my
alma mater. I love the outdoors, and so I feel blessed to have a window near my office. Recently, I started volunteering at the
Houston Zoo, and my favorite animal is the giraffe, thus the stuffed animal on the top shelf. Besides science textbooks and knick
knacks, I keep notes from students, some recognitions, and even the door plate from my classroom in the old A Building.
26

My Space
Mark Mitchell
English Teacher
I’ve designed my classroom for the students and so this little space is for me. Of course, I have plenty of pictures of my wife
and two daughters, but I also included posters and artwork from some of my favorite storytellers: J.R.R. Tolkien, George
R.R. Martin, and David Lynch. I love stories that create complete, complex worlds that I can get lost in, even if those worlds
sometimes get a little dark. Speaking of a little dark, the poster above my desk is from a painting by Vincent Van Gogh that
I saw as a 2nd grader at the High Museum in Atlanta. The image stuck with me all these years, and I’ve always managed
to have a copy near my desk. The ties flanking the field hockey jersey aren’t mine. They pre-date my time at Episcopal, but
I’ve been told they belonged to a colleague who got a bit too close to a paper shredder and later a laminating machine.
27

ALUMNI
LEADERSHIP DAY
Alumni encourage students to
pursue passions, try new things
Over 40 alumni returned to EHS on Tuesday, October 23, for Alumni
Leadership Day, where they met with EHS seniors and shared stories
about decisions that impacted their career paths and described daily life
in their professions.
Panels included diverse fields such as Arts and Entertainment,
Engineering, Science and Medicine, Finance, and Real Estate. Following
the panel discussions, alumni joined the seniors for lunch, where
students could visit with them and follow up on questions in a less formal
atmosphere. Alumni covered a range of classes from 1987 to 2012 which
gave the seniors a chance to hear about careers at a variety of stages.
To kick things off, Katherine Alexander '89 spoke at Alumni Leadership
Chapel on Monday, October 23, where she shared with EHS students
the importance of pursuing your passions and turning them into careers.
Alexander spoke about learning about yourself and your passions and
how they are something you can discover starting at EHS. “Try everything
you think sounds interesting or new or just fun. Try classes that challenge
you, clubs that enrich you, make friends that are different than you,” she
said.
While networking and internships are important, alumni emphasized
the value of classes and extracurricular activities available at EHS. All of
these opportunities help students discover interests and determine their
passions. This was a common theme throughout most of the discussions.
Panelists encouraged students to try new things, explore a variety of
interests, and always be curious.
–Ashley Long
28

Photos by Chris Bailey Photography.
Photo by Mauro Gomez 29

Q+A
with EHS
Teachers
Pop Quiz turns the table on teachers and asks them
to respond to 11 quick questions. Their enthusiastic
responses reveal the values, quirks, and interests that
make them so effective in leading EHS students.
30

AMALIA PFLAUMER
Spanish Teacher
Amalia Pflaumer was born and raised in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, where she graduated with
a degree in education. She has taught
English, Spanish History, and Literature,
and was a member of the assessment
committee (UCLES) University of
Cambridge Local Examination
Syndicate for Argentina.
Pflaumer moved from Argentina
to Minneapolis, Minnesota,
with her husband and three
children in 2002 and did postgraduate
studies at Hamline
University. Ten years ago, they
transferred to Houston, and
she promptly acquired four
teaching licenses granted by
the state of Texas.
This is Pflaumer’s 10th year at
EHS where she teaches Spanish
AP Literature and Spanish II & V.
Pflaumer is the Spanish translator
for the school, and in 2012, she
co-founded the first bilingual Chapel
celebration at EHS, which has grown to
become a popular tradition.
What’s on your playlist right
now?
The Beatles.
What was the first concert you
attended?
I went to Joan Manuel Serrat’s
concert in Buenos Aires with my
high school friends.
If you weren’t a teacher, what
would you pick for a career?
I would pick teaching again! Since
I was little I said I was going to be
a teacher.
What is your proudest
accomplishment?
My main goal is to embrace the
day, prep well, and make sure
students take something good
as they walk out the door. My
joy is to know that I am making a
difference, one student at a time.
Did you have a mentor
growing up who inspired your
career?
I had several outstanding
teachers that inspired me and
gave me the chance to enjoy the
subjects I teach today; I will never
forget them.
If you traveled back in time,
what period would you
choose?
I would choose The Renaissance.
That century changed the world
in just about every way one could
think of.
What’s your favorite city
abroad?
London, England. I enjoy the
history at every turn and, as a
lover of history and literature, it is
the home of some of the greatest
writers, but also the setting of the
most famous books, plays, and
poems ever written.
What trait do you most admire
in your colleagues?
Their honesty, professionalism,
and passion to teach.
What trait do you most admire
in your students?
Their energy, curiosity, and
commitment to learn. They bring
out my very best.
Read any good books
recently?
Daring Greatly and The Gift of
Imperfection by Brenè Brown.
If you could eat only one meal
this week, what would it be?
High-tea with a good friend or my
husband, home-baked scones,
and lots of French pastries.
31

MATT FOX
English Teacher and Coach
Matt Fox graduated from Rice University, played
baseball for the Rice Owls, and after college he
played in the minor leagues with the Kansas
City Royals organization. This is his 17th year
overall as a teacher and baseball coach and
his 10th year at EHS.
At Episcopal, Fox teaches 12th grade
War Fiction, co-sponsors the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes, and serves as the
head baseball coach and assistant
athletic director. Throughout nine SPC
seasons, he has built a renowned
baseball dynasty that has earned six
SPC championships.
Fox and his wife, Leigh, have been
married for 16 years, and they have four
young children: one daughter, Ryan, and
three sons, Kade, Colin, and Jake. On
free weekends, he packs up the truck and
takes the whole gang for relaxing weekends
at a family home in Hunt, Texas, his “happy
place.” Last summer, an EHS Faculty Study Grant
took him to Vietnam, where he was able to “be still
and embrace the rich solitude with God while walking the
streets of foreign cities with no real destination, just to see what
surprises and delights I would stumble upon.”
32
What’s on your playlist?
A large variety, but mainly a lot of
acoustic sets: Chris Cornell, Blue
October, Johnny Cash, Whiskey
Myers, Robert Earl Keen, Chris
Stapleton.
What was the first concert you
attended?
Tool. I was 13 and not quite ready
for that concert.
If you weren’t a teacher, what
would you pick for a career?
I would enjoy being a sports
psychologist.
What is your proudest
accomplishment?
Being a father of my four kids
because they make me look
cooler than I actually am.
Do you have a favorite app or
tech gadget?
I’m technologically challenged so
I can’t say I have one.
Did you have a mentor
growing up who inspired your
career?
My 12th English teacher, Mrs.
Goodman, made me want
to teach English; a mentor of
mine from college named Tim
Cornelson made me want to
invest my life in others; my dad
just made me who I am.
If you could travel back in
time, what period of history
would you choose?
I would like to walk and talk with
Jesus when he was on earth, and
I also would like to see a Yankees
game during the 1920s at Yankee
Stadium.
What trait do you most admire
in your colleagues?
That’s easy…they are so
incredibly gifted at what they
do. I tell people all the time that
our staff is so very talented and
passionate, and most of all, they
care deeply about their students.
What trait do you most admire
in your students?
Their willingness to be vulnerable
in their personal writings in my
class.
Read any good books
recently?
I’m currently reading Extreme
Ownership (How Navy Seals Lead
and Win) by Jacko Willink.
If you could eat only one meal
this week, what would it be?
Fajitas.

EMILY BARRON
English Teacher and Coach
Emily Barron joined the English Department at EHS last year after
moving from Syracuse, New York, where she was working
as a nanny. A recent college graduate, Barron majored in
English and played Division 1 Lacrosse at Iona College
in New Rochelle, New York. At EHS, Barron coaches
girls lacrosse and teaches 9th and 10th grade English.
This year, Barron is leading a second SEED Project
group at EHS. SEED, a national initiative, is a
program to establish peer-led professional groups
in schools that create conversational communities
to drive change toward greater diversity and equity.
“We have sixteen members in this new group,”
explains Barron, “and a remarkable feature has
been the vulnerability that people have brought to
each meeting. Tough conversations are being had
and people are willing to share their thoughts, their
flaws, and a willingness to create change.”
When she is not in the classroom or on the lacrosse field,
Barron spends free time at home with her dogs and enjoys
working out and hiking. So far, she says, a highlight of living
in Houston is the world-class food. “I am obsessed with trying new
restaurants, specifically Thai and Mexican.”
What’s on your playlist?
Currently, I have a ton of up-beat
music on my playlist. I work out a
lot and these types of songs keep
me energized!
What was the first concert you
attended?
Britney Spears with my brother
when I was in elementary school.
If you weren’t teaching, what
would you pick for a career?
If I weren’t a school teacher, I
would move to the country and
open up a dog rescue.
What is your proudest
accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment
was playing Division 1 Lacrosse.
It was a goal of mine since I
can remember, and I will always
cherish the memories I made with
the Iona Lacrosse Program.
Do you have a favorite app or
tech gadget?
My favorite tech gadget is “Find
My Friends.” I moved to Houston
last year and it helps me keep up
with all my pals!
Did you have a mentor
growing up who inspired your
career?
My 7th grade English teacher,
Mr. McNamara, inspired me to
choose English as my major in
college.
What trait do you most admire
in your colleagues?
I admire their ability to adapt in
any given situation.
What trait do you most admire
in your students?
I admire their desire to improve in
the classroom. I also admire their
ability to take both academic and
social risks.
Read any good books
recently?
The Great Gatsby is a classic, and
I read it every summer. I could reread
it forever.
If you could eat only one meal
this week, what would it be?
Pizza and wings, all day everyday.
33

Photos by Chris Bailey & Scott Cunningham
#FindInnerGenius
34

WHY I TEACH:
FOR THEM
by Dr. Brad Telford
The Last Word
When I first came to work at Episcopal High School, I
didn’t know a lot about teenagers. Then, I met Them.
Them? Those bizarre and wondrous (and often loud
and sometimes sticky) creatures flying from Chapel
to Break to Tutorial to Field Hockey. Whatever you call
Them, I met Them, and everything changed. Thanks to
Them, I have reaped 10 years of professional and personal
blessings like I never intended, wanted, or imagined. I have
also learned to fear Them when they are hangry for break
cookies and/or stampeding toward the snow cone cart. But I
digress.
I was maybe six days into my work at EHS when I walked
into my sophomore English class and sensed that something
was up. There was tension. You could almost touch it. I grew
anxious. My plan had been to discuss the reading, as the
protagonist in our literature had behaved badly in the previous
night’s reading and, I thought, it would make for productive,
reasonable discussion. Even though I could feel the class’s
sketchy energy climbing up the back of my neck, I decided it
was best to plow ahead with my plan.
Then, They exploded (which is so Them!). The protagonist’s
bad choices (specifically, his infidelity) sent each and every
young person into a teen rage. Anne was incensed about how
he justified it. Madison was outraged that he thought he could
get away with it. Caroline was furious how his wife tolerated
it. For about 5 seconds Spencer and Mark tried defending
him. Then Isabel and Betsy got up out of their chairs like
they were going to make bad and bloody choices on both of
those poor boys’ heads. The whole class was impassioned,
unreasonable, salty, and loud. It was the most active,
engaged, and essential kind of learning I’d ever witnessed.
Why?
Because it was real. They were outraged, offended,
heartbroken. The protagonist was bad, he could have been
so good, and it just wasn’t right or fair or tolerable for Them.
Their energized reality (my goodness, They were mad!) was
literary imagination rendered in breath and pulsing flesh. For
Them, it was real, and it made it real for me, too. Witnessing it,
participating in it, made me feel privileged and alive in a way
that teaching for years at universities never had.
Suddenly, I worried. The class started manifesting such
strong Episco-wrath that I knew it was time for a redirect.
Somehow, I calmed Them down and taught “the lesson” I
had prepared. But the genuine lesson was the one I learned
that day and have since never forgotten: that moments
like these are at the heart of what we do at Episcopal High
School—that the best teachers here (and there are so very
many) intentionally create student-centered events that flash
in energy that is alive, vibrating, and so very real you can
sense it on your skin and in your bones. I have spent the last
10 years chasing every opportunity to make as many such
events as possible. For me. For us. And, especially, for Them.
Dr. Brad Telford joined Episcopal High School in 2010. Before
arriving at EHS, he taught creative writing at the University
of Houston. Dr. Telford has a Ph.D. from the University of
Houston, an M.F.A. from Columbia, and a bachelor’s degree
from Princeton. A published poet and author, his work has
appeared in more than 50 journals, including Yale Review and
Ploughshares. His poetry collection Perfect Hurt debuted in
2009, and his humorous book about cats, The Rules for Cats,
and a paper-doll spoof of Martha Stewart called Mad About
Martha, can sometimes be discovered at local Half-Price
Books.
35

Charles Estes
On November 15, the EHS community lost a great teacher, mentor, and colleague—Charles Estes. When students
performed and read tributes to him at his Benitez Chapel memorial service, it became clear that more than music
was created each day in the Band Hall. The students—a mix of his advisory members and musicians–eulogized
his friendship, character, wicked sense of humor, and care for the individual.
(Excerpts below from the memorial tribute)
"Although I’m just a sophomore this year, I knew Mr. Estes the entire time he was at EHS. In those three
years, he taught me not only how to be a better musician but also how to laugh on bad days and how to
make a joke out of anything. Mr. Estes taught me how to always look on the bright side by using a bit of
sarcasm and a lot of terrible jokes. He was the best band director I ever had and, frankly, I couldn’t ask for
a better mentor or friend than the man who taught me to be a better person."
"Mr. Estes took the time out of his very busy life to personally arrange the song that I wanted to play,
and I don’t know if everyone knows how band stuff works, but I don’t know of any other band director
that would do something like that for his students. At the time, though, it didn’t even phase me, because
that’s how Mr. Estes always was: He was just such a great guy and cared so much about his students."
"Mr. Estes was an incredible man and the greatest advisor I could have asked for. He was funny,
welcoming, thoughtful, genuine, and kind. ...He was great because of the little things he did for his
advisory: being genuinely interested in what we had to say, telling us stories about his kids, giving us a
relaxing environment that I looked forward to every Tuesday, and being a mentor and guide for us. I can’t
even begin to imagine life at EHS without him. Our advisory will never be the same without him. I will
never forget all he’s done for me and I am so thankful I got to be in his advisory."
"Every single day after every single class I say thank you to the caring teacher who shared knowledge
with me and put up with my consistent distractions, and every single day after every single class I mean
it. After I said it to Mr. Estes he looked back at me and with a very dramatic tone, he said,
'No, thank you.'"
"Over the summer, I decided that I would be president in 2036. Most people who I shared that with
wouldn’t take me seriously because, honestly, it is kind of a crazy dream. The reactions never really
bothered me because I knew how absurd it sounded to hear a junior in high school declare that they’ll be
running the country in 18 years, but when I talked about it with Mr. Estes, he said, 'I know you can do it.'
Now it might seem like just a nice comment, but to me, it meant the world.
Someone who I looked up to believed in me."
Thank you, Mr. Charles Estes.
36

Photo by Chris Bailey
37

38 Photo by Scott Cunningham

2018 ‐ 2019
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chairman
The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle
Executive Chair
Randa Duncan Williams
Frances Alexander, Henrietta K. Alexander, Matthew K. Baird, Shelley Torian Barineau, J. Craig Chandler, W. Craig Childers,
Greg Curran, Rod Cutsinger, William A. Edens Sr., J. Todd Frazier ‘88, The Rev. James M. L. Grace ‘94, Terri Havens, Elizabeth
K. Howley, Jenna Junell, Alecia Lawyer, Clay Manley, George O. McDaniel III, Laurie N. Morian, Dis Netland, Townes G. Pressler
Jr., Joe Pyne, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Trey Snider, Duncan K. Underwood ‘89
Life Trustees
John F. Austin III, Edward C. Becker, The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez † , W. Craig Childers, Lacy Crain, The Rev. Laurens A. Hall,
Victor A. Kormeier Jr., Frederick R. McCord † , Laurence B. Neuhaus, The Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, Joel I. Shannon, Lynda
Knapp Underwood, The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly
Executive Committee
J. Craig Chandler, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, William F. Galtney Jr., Melinda Budinger Hildebrand, Victor A. Kormeier Jr.,
George O. McDaniel III, Dis Netland, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Lynda Knapp Underwood, Randa Duncan Williams, Thomas
M. Wright
LEADERSHIP
Head of School
Ned Smith
Associate Head of School
Nancy Laufe Eisenberg
Director of Finance
and Operations
Evelyn Cambria
Principal
Kim Randolph
Dean of Faculty
Nguyet Xuan Pham
Director of Advancement
Peggy Haney
Dean of Spiritual Life
The Rev. Beth Holden
Dean of Arts and
Innovation
Jay Berckley
Director of Athletics
Jason Grove
PILLARS MAGAZINE TEAM
2
Director of Communications
Claire Fletcher
Graphic Design
Scott Cunningham
Photography
Claire Fletcher, Mauro Gomez, Scott Cunningham
Contributors
Rohan Asthana '19
Chris Bailey
Ashley Long
Dr. Brad Telford
Emma Tsai

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