EA Unlocked

Curious who is reading five books a month, has returned to the classroom as a teacher's aide, and recently read a translation of The Odyssey?  With a combined 115 years of service to The Episcopal Academy, retired teachers Lynne Hay, Tim Kent, and Nancy Reinhard catch listeners up on their action-packed retirements and strong connections to the EA community.

The Episcopal Academy college counseling team recently hosted Kirk Brennan for a day on campus. The Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Admissions met with students, parents, faculty, and staff to discuss the college process. His talk was titled: Redefining Success: Guiding Your Student Through High School and Beyond.  Kirk Brennan talks about the misconceptions about the process and how...

For some students math can be intimidating. But an inspiring math department and teachers can make a real difference. EA Unlocked host Dr. T.J. Locke talks with Episcopal Academy math teacher Dr. Tom Goebeler, who has taught many of EA's higher-level math offerings for the last 14 years. As Dr. Goebeler explains, "There is a lot of runway here" when it comes to math. Dr. Goebeler also talks about...

'Tis the season at The Episcopal Academy! Students in Lower, Middle, and Upper School shared their musical talents and spread the spirit of the holidays during their instrumental and choral Winter Concerts in December. Listen in on the sounds of the holidays performed by EA's talented singers, orchestra and band students.  

More than 100 colleges and universities have visited The Episcopal Academy over the last few months as EA's team of seven College Counselors have visited campuses around the world. In our College Counseling "quick takes" EA Unlocked series, Head of School Chris Torino is behind the mic and talks with Executive Director of College Counseling Catalina Guzman and her team on the importance of strateg...

Each year, The Episcopal Academy brings accomplished professionals to campus for the Walter W. Buckley, Jr. '55 American History Lecture Series. In November, historian, author, and Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer spent the day speaking with students and faculty. Mr. Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton. His book F...

We have all been there, desperate to retrieve information during a conversation, for an assessment, or project. During a recent professional development day, faculty and staff at The Episcopal Academy worked with cognitive scientist and Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music, Pooja Agarwal. She is the author of  Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning. Dr. Agarwal has resea...

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of work underway at The Episcopal Academy surrounding College Counseling. The initiative is led by Assistant Head of School, Chris Torino. Throughout Season 5, EA Unlocked host T.J. Locke is handing over the mic to Chris for some "quick takes" on the college counseling landscape. This first "bonus" episode features Catalina Guzman who was welcomed to c...

Senior Jack Gallagher spend three weeks in Namibia over the summer with the National Geographic Student Travel Program. Armed with two cameras, multiple lenses, and plenty of water, Jack captured stunning photos of the landscape and wildlife that wander the arid region. His work kicked off the 2024-25 season at The Episcopal Academy's Crawford Campus Center Art Gallery. The exhibit is titled  Mbi...

This fall a new initiative is underway at EA, designed to help students, faculty, and staff learn more about productive civil dialogue. The Episcopal Academy is fortunate to be a school that is grounded with strong values, moral character, respect, and civility through the Chapel program and the Stripes. EA Unlocked host Dr. T.J. Locke talks with Middle School Head Laurie Piette about the rollout...

It was an especially exciting summer for four Episcopal Academy alumni as they competed in the Summer Olympics in Paris. Rower Nick Mead '13 competed in the coxless men's four and won gold. It was the first gold medal for the men's four since 1960. Nick was also selected to carry the American flag in the Closing Ceremony alongside fellow medalist and swimmer Katie Ledecky. Open water swimmer Ivan...

As the 2023-24 school year wraps up, EA Unlocked host Dr. T.J. Locke ventured down to the new Lower School playground. Fourteen swings, two basket swings, zip lines, tube slides, and creative wooden dodecahedrons, (think 12-sided beehive) have all made for a lot of fun and adventure for playground visitors of all ages. Listen in as EA's young students serve up sand pies and cookies made daily at t...

As work continues on health and wellness to support students at The Episcopal Academy, 6-12th grade students, and their teachers, took part in a relationship mapping exercise in the fall. The goal is to ensure that every student has at least one trusted adult at EA that they can turn to any time they need support. Upper School Mental Health Counselor Caroline Graham, Upper School Head Mike Letts,...

Dr. Po-Shen Loh is a social entrepreneur and inventor and works across the spectrum of math, education, and healthcare. He's a math professor at Carnegie Mellon University and was the coach of the USA International Mathemtical Olympiad team. Dr. Loh recently spent the day at The Episcopal Academy as part of The Clare   Foundation  and Hinton Family  STEM   Speaker Series. After speaking with stude...

Harvard University historian Annette Gordon-Reed recently spent the day at The Episcopal Academy for this year's Walter W. Buckley, Jr. '55 American History Lecture Series. Ms. Gordon-Reed is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University. She has won 16 book prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2009 and the National Book Award in 2008, for The Hemingses of Monticello: A...

Volleyball is coming to The Episcopal Academy! The popular and growing sport grew nearly ten percent last season as programs are being added around the country, including at the collegiate level. EA Unlocked host Dr. T.J. Locke gets the scoop from EA Athletic Director Todd Fairlie and Assistant Athletic Director Katie Duffie who played an important role in this decision.  If you are a new follower...

It was a record-setting season for The Episcopal Academy boys' and girls' indoor track and field teams. This incredibly talented group set a combined 14 school records! The boys won the Pennsylvania State Indoor Championship for the second consecutive year and Coach Zach Richards was named Coach of the Year. Several of these student-athletes earned All-State and All-American honors. Host Dr. T.J....

While students dashed off campus to start their spring break, Episcopal Academy faculty and staff attended a professional development day with cognitive science researcher Dan Willingham. Dr. Willingham is a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia where his research focuses on the brain and how it learns and remembers. His most recent book is titled "Outsmart Your Brain – Why Learnin...

Students of all ages juggle a lot in their daily lives. Add in the additional pressure of sports and that can make for a very full and sometimes stressful day. Many parents feel the pressure as well. Sports Psychologist Dr. Joel Fish works with athletes of all abilities and levels ranging from high school students to professional athletes. He recently spoke with Middle and Upper School students an...

The Episcopal Academy's Chapel program is an integral part of who we are at EA. Each week during Chapel, students in all three divisions hear from and have the opportunity to reflect on, powerful thoughts and messages from their peers, teachers, staff, alumni, and outside guests. There are well over 100 speakers each school year. This episode highlights some of those speakers. Like last season's e...

Curious who is learning how to restore furniture? Is a soccer mom? And who is helping to manage a golf course? Listen in on this entertaining conversation with some of EA's well-loved retired faculty and staff. With over 90 combined years at The Episcopal Academy, this trio has not slowed down. Podcast guests: Cheryl McLauchlan - retired math teacher, Form Dean (24 years at EA) Tom Kossuth - retir...

Episcopal Academy Head Chaplain Tim Gavin discovered his love for writing in 5th grade when he authored the Christmas play for his school.  He published a book of poems in 2018 and recently released his book, A Radical Beginning - A Journey through the Prayer of St. Francis. Father Tim shares details of the book and what inspired him to write it in this episode of  EA Unlocked. A Radical Beginning...

'Tis the season at The Episcopal Academy! Students of all ages shared their musical talents and helped spread the spirit of the holidays during their instrumental and choral concerts throughout December. Listen in on the sounds of holidays, and the beautiful music performed by our Lower, Middle, and Upper School students.

Join us as we go behind-the-scenes of EA's Middle School Harlequin Ensemble's spectacular production of Frozen JR. Fifty-five members of the cast and crew wowed audiences of all ages.  Listen in on how the cast managed six costume changes, how the impressive set came together, and the brilliant touch of making it snow on stage. Guests: Frozen JR. Cast Gina Tomkowich/EA Middle School School Drama T...

Each fall, exchange students from Australia and South Africa arrive in the United States and jump right into life at EA. This year, four students are living with EA host families, taking Upper School classes, and playing on the fall athletic teams. This enthusiastic group recently stopped by to talk with EA Unlocked host, Dr. T.J. Locke. Listen in as they share their favorite American foods, exper...