Insight: Inside the Boardroom – Perspectives from an EPS Alum Board Member

By Dr. Marta Picoto, Trustee & Class of 2014

About six years ago, I attended a winter alumni event held in the grand new TALI building. I remember looking at the building in awe, feeling a wave of jealousy for the current and future students who would be able to enjoy it every day. At the same time, I felt curious about the school’s expansion. Would EPS still feel like EPS with more students and bigger buildings?

At its core, part of the culture of EPS had always been about doing the most with very little space—the cafeteria doubling as a rehearsal hall for the all-school musical, running the mile around the parking lot in PE, and transforming whatever corner we had into whatever we needed. Students and faculty alike were innovative, resourceful, and passionate about doing everything the “big schools” did, but even better, because we built it ourselves. I wondered if that tight-knit community with big ideas would endure.

At that same alumni event, our former Head of School, the esteemed Dr. Macaluso, approached me about joining the Board of Trustees. “And how would you like to be the first alum on the board?” she asked. I immediately flipped through my mental rolodex of EPS knowledge. As a student, I knew the Board existed but had no idea who they were or what they actually did. I wasn’t sure if it would make me seem uninformed to ask, or if I should quietly Google it later. As a first-year grad student, however, I was well-trained in the all-purpose phrase, “And what would that entail?” In truth, it didn’t matter what it entailed. When Dr. Macaluso asks you to do something, you say yes. And I was thrilled to say yes.

Before I knew it, I found myself in a room full of unfamiliar faces: amazing parents who were far wiser and more accomplished than I was. Imposter syndrome kicked in immediately. What could I possibly offer this group?

As I reflect on my role as an alum on the Board over the past several years, this year’s theme, “Act Responsibly, Care Through Clarity,” captures what alumni uniquely bring: clarity about the school’s roots and culture, and the care required to speak honestly about what is working, what is missing, and what should never be lost.

As EPS looks to the future, it becomes even more important to articulate and protect its longstanding vision to create a better world. As an alum, I remember not just the list of mission points—Think Critically, Act Responsibly, Lead Compassionately, and Innovate Wisely—but how they felt in every class, project, assembly, EBC trip, or sports game. I’ve come to learn that my role is to help communicate that feeling to new students, parents, faculty, and fellow board members.

In boardroom conversations, I do my best to uphold the experience of being an EPS student. I share my stories, name gaps, and reflect on what helped or hindered my path through college and beyond. I speak about mental health and belonging at EPS: what allowed it to flourish, and what sometimes got in the way. And as one of just two alumni on the Board, I also work to represent the broader alumni community, whose experiences are diverse and equally important.

As our alumni body grows, keeping open lines of communication ensures the school continues to improve while still feeling like a place alumni can return to. In many ways, my role is to serve as a bridge, helping safeguard the heart and sense of possibility that defined EPS’s earliest days. Just as I once wondered, standing in the new TALI building, whether that original spirit would endure, I now have the privilege of helping ensure that it does.