By Sam Uzwack, Head of School

WHAT YOU NOTICE GROWS

AT EASTSIDE PREP, WE’VE ALWAYS KNOWN WHO WE ARE. Ask any alum what they remember most about this place, and chances are they’ll tell you the Mission and Vision are still rattling around in their heads—not because they had to memorize them, but because they lived them. Those words show up in the way we teach, the way we learn, and the way we treat each other.

But when it comes to our values? Well, that’s where things get a little squishier. We all have a pretty good sense of them—kindness, curiosity, collaboration, resilience. You can see them in action every day if you look. But we’ve never quite nailed them down the way we have with the Mission and Vision. I think it’s time. Not because anything’s broken. Not because we’re trying to fix something. But because values—when they’re clear and shared—can guide us even more intentionally. We’re not reinventing who we are. We’re just finally putting words to what’s already true.

SO, WHY NOW?

This work kicked off at our October 2024 Board retreat. We talked about how the values we have previously written down are good, but maybe not quite complete. There was a sense that it was time to take a fresh look, not to change direction, but to deepen our understanding.

Now, here’s the thing: I spent way too long trying to come up with the right word for this process. “Clarify” felt too bland. “Revitalize” sounded like something was wrong. “Codify”? Yawn. Eventually, I landed on illuminate. That felt right. We’re shining a light on the things that already matter deeply to us. Or maybe even better: we’re crystallizing them—turning what’s felt into something we can see, name, and use.

THE HEART OF IT: KINDNESS AND CURIOSITY

If you ask me what makes an Eastside Prep student tick, I’ll tell you this: there’s no single mold, but there are some common threads—and the biggest two are kindness and curiosity.

Take curiosity. You can see it all over campus. It’s in the way students dive headfirst into independent curriculum or a TELA (Topic, Evidence, Linking, Analysis) discussion, then can’t wait to tell you every detail. It’s in the questions that keep faculty on their toes. It’s in the packed room we had last year for a parent/guardian focus group on Artificial Intelligence. Curiosity doesn’t belong to just the students here. It’s baked into how our parents, guardians, teachers, and trustees show up. Everyone wants to understand more, do better, and grow. That’s a rare thing.

Then there’s kindness. It’s in the little moments—one student holding the door for another—and in the bigger ones, like when students organize drives for communities in crisis. It shows up when faculty step in to help a colleague who’s having a rough day or brainstorm ideas over a plate of fettuccine in the LPC. It’s not performative. It’s just who we are. It’s the water we swim in.

But here’s the catch: when something’s everywhere, it’s easy to take it for granted. That’s why naming these values matters—so we keep noticing them and keep developing them.

BUILT IN FROM THE BEGINNING

If these values feel like second nature, it’s because they’ve been part of our DNA from day one. This school wasn’t built to be like every other school. It was founded to offer something different—a place where learning was challenging, yes, but also joyful. A place where students could ask big questions and not be rushed to the answer. A place where they could feel supported enough to stretch themselves and take risks.

Over the years, we’ve added programs that support this vision—learning support, SEL, EICL, physical wellness. None of these are bolt-ons. They were built so students could feel their best and do their best. The point was never just academic success. It was building thoughtful, kind, curious, resilient people. And if that’s the goal, then we’d better be clear on the values that get us there.

WE ALREADY KNOW WHO WE ARE. NOW LET’S NAME IT.
LET’S CRYSTALLIZE IT.

LET’S GROW WHAT WE NOTICE.
BECAUSE WHEN VALUES ARE CLEAR, SHARED, AND LIVED—
THEY DON’T JUST DESCRIBE US.

THEY DEFINE US.

HOW WE’RE DOING IT: A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

This isn’t a top-down exercise. I’m not sitting in my office drafting a list of values in a vacuum. We’re talking to everyone—because this community belongs to all of us.

It started with the Board. Next up is the Senior Leadership Team. Then faculty and staff, students, and families. At our Heads Tables this fall, we’re asking families: “What do you see as the core values of Eastside Prep?” And we’re asking new families and new staff to tell us what they notice—what stands out, what’s missing, and what feels especially alive.

It’s iterative. It’s messy. But that’s how you get something real. My job is to gather all of this input, look for the common threads, and then reflect back what I’m hearing. Eventually, we’ll bring a recommendation to the Board for adoption. But this is about synthesis, not spin.

TIED TO EVERYTHING WE DO

These values aren’t sitting off to the side somewhere—they’re baked into our strategic priorities, our academic program, our partnerships, and our professional culture. You don’t have to dig deep to see them.

We talk about preparing students with “durable skills.” That means teaching them how to think critically and treat each other with care. We build community partnerships not just because it’s good public relations, but because we believe deeply in collaboration and connection. We want students to see the world, engage with it, and feel empowered to make it better.

And maybe most of all, we’re preparing students to be comfortable with ambiguity. The world doesn’t come with an answer key. The students who thrive will be the ones who can sit in the gray space and say, “Let’s figure this out together,” and develop an appreciation for the unknown.

FROM POSTERS TO PRACTICE

Could we print the values and stick them on classroom walls? Sure. But this isn’t about posters. It’s about practice.

I’d love to hear students say to one another, “Hey, that wasn’t kind,” or “Get more curious.” Not because they’re quoting a rulebook, but because those values have become part of how they see themselves and each other.

I’d love for students to have aha moments—not just about a science concept or a historical event, but about themselves. Moments when they realize, “I just showed real resilience right there,” or “Wow, I really listened with empathy.” That’s when we’ll know the values have taken root.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER EPS

We don’t know exactly what the world will look like when today’s sixth graders graduate college. But we do know what kind of people we want them to be. They’ll need to be able to work with others, adapt to change, approach problems with curiosity, and treat people with compassion. AI can write code or draft a memo, but it can’t build a relationship. It can’t lead with empathy. That’s our job.

If we center creativity and connection, if we equip our students to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it, then we’ve done our job—no matter what tools or technologies come along next. Our values, along with the Mission and Vision, are key to this work and the outcome we seek.

YOUR ROLE: A CALL TO ACTION

By the time you’re reading this, many of our community conversations will have happened. But there’s still plenty of room at the table. If you’ve been part of this community for years, think about what rises to the surface when you reflect on what really matters here. What values are so essential that if we didn’t have them, we simply wouldn’t be Eastside Prep? If you’re new to EPS, we need your fresh eyes. What stands out to you? What rings true? What feels like we say it, but maybe don’t live it fully?

And when we eventually land on a clear, collective articulation of our values, treat them with the same reverence some give to checking Canvas or reading a student’s essay. These values are the long-lasting part. They’re what stay with you long after the textbooks are returned and the lockers are emptied.

FINAL THOUGHT: LET’S SAY IT OUT LOUD

We already know who we are. Now let’s name it. Let’s crystallize it. Let’s grow what we notice. Because when values are clear, shared, and lived—they don’t just describe us. They define us.