Insight: Role of the EPS Board – Sailing Toward the Future
By Mehrane Mokdad, 2024-25 EPS Board President
“What does the EPS Board do?” is a question I often receive. The answer is both simple and complex. The EPS Board steers the ship; it does not row.
As the governing body, we focus on four core responsibilities:
- Upholding the mission and values
- Setting strategic direction, priorities, and performance assessment
- Providing fiduciary oversight and risk management
- Supporting the Head of School
As stewards of the mission, the Board defines and upholds the values that anchor our community, setting the tone for the unique culture that defines EPS. These values form the heart of EPS, shaping every aspect of our students’ experience.
Our strategic priorities chart a clear course for Eastside Prep’s growth and development, positioning the school to thrive both now and in the years to come. The Board, in partnership with the EPS headship, crafted the EPS 2023-2028 strategic priorities guiding this path forward.
As a governing board, we also hold fiduciary responsibilities, focusing on prudent resource management, identifying and mitigating risks, and safeguarding Eastside Prep’s mission and vision for future generations.
In partnership with our Head of School, we guide long-term planning and strategic direction. While we don’t row the boat, we work closely with the Head of School to keep EPS aligned with its mission and purpose.
Through these responsibilities and with thoughtful governance, we steer EPS with clarity, purpose, and a steadfast commitment to its bright future—always with fidelity to our TALI mission.
“So, how does the Board accomplish all of this?”
Our efforts are effective through the oversight, dedicated work, and due diligence of our committees, each tasked with a core area essential to EPS’s success. Whether it’s safeguarding assets (Asset Management Committee), overseeing health and safety (Health and Safety Advisory Committee), advancing the institutional goals (Institutional Advancement Committee), or recruiting trustees and strengthening governance (Committee on Trustees), each committee allows trustees to dive deeply into the essential facets of effective governance and Eastside Prep’s success.
The committees’ recommendations are then brought to the full Board at the regular Board meetings. Here, the entire Board reviews, deliberates, and ratifies decisions based on committee insights and proposals. Together, we steer Eastside Prep’s course, guiding its progress thoughtfully and purposefully.
Our recent Board retreat on October 31 exemplifies how we come together to align our vision and adjust our sails as needed. This year’s retreat focused on reaffirming Eastside Prep’s core values, fostering a culture of civil discourse, and planning for sustainable campus development. Through these generative discussions, we look beyond the immediate horizon, envisioning a future where EPS is a center of academic excellence, and a community rooted in empathy, resilience, and integrity.
Looking Ahead with Purpose
With the mission as our North Star, we navigate a fast-changing world with adaptability and intention. We are dedicated to building a school that is open, inclusive, and responsive—a place where dialogue thrives and where each student is empowered to grow and explore.
We are immensely fortunate to have a dedicated group of trustees who bring passion and commitment to EPS. Their support of the mission and their shared enthusiasm for EPS fuel our efforts to create a vibrant and thriving learning environment.
In partnership with the Head of School, Sam Uzwack, the EPS Board remains committed to charting a course that prepares our students to go out into the world and make it a better place.