Insight: Continuing our Belonging Efforts

By Sam Uzwack, Head of School

At Eastside Prep, we believe that a true sense of belonging is fundamental to a thriving learning community. Our ongoing Belonging Audit, conducted in partnership with Blink Strategic Consulting, is about to engage students, faculty, and staff in listening sessions to help us better understand how members of our community experience EPS. This work is part of our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable environment. Although the audit is still in progress, it is already guiding important conversations and helping us identify opportunities to strengthen our community.

A key step forward, and one that has been two years in the making, is the creation of a new leadership role: Director of EICL. This position will be dedicated to advancing our belonging work, ensuring that EICL is not only a shared value but a lived practice across every part of our school community.

Today, February 14, we are posting the opportunity statement for this inaugural position, marking the beginning of the search process. I want to extend my sincere thanks to our EICL Organizational Design Group (ODG), composed of faculty/staff from various offices and disciplines—for their thoughtful work in crafting an opportunity statement that reflects our vision for this role and the future of EICL at EPS.

The search team will include voices from across our community—students, parents/guardians, faculty, staff, and senior leadership—ensuring a broad and inclusive selection process. Associate Head of School Bart Gummere will be leading the Search Committee.

This search is not just about hiring a leader; it is about continuing the important journey we began with the founding of the school—one that centers on listening, learning, and building a culture where everyone at EPS feels seen, valued, and empowered. We look forward to sharing more about the process and our progress in the May issue of Inspire magazine.