By Bart Gummere, Associate Head of School

In the 2025-25 school year, Eastside Preparatory School will welcome Hye-Won Dandino as its inaugural Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Compassionate Leadership (EICL). I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hye-Won to learn about her journey, what drew her to EPS, and what excites her most about this new chapter.

BART Welcome to EPS! We’re thrilled to have you join us. What initially drew you to the school?

HYE-WON I moved to Kirkland from Los Angeles last year and took some intentional time off—to help my family adjust to life in the Pacific Northwest and to find the right professional fit. Honestly, after years in high-intensity leadership roles, I was considering a shift to EdTech. I wasn’t even looking for another in-person school role.

But when I came across this position, the opportunity statement really struck me. It didn’t read like generic HR language—it felt thoughtful and written by people who were truly invested. That signaled a deeper level of commitment from the school. The timing also stood out. At a moment when many schools were minimizing equity efforts, EPS was leaning in.

… TO CREATE A SPACE
WHERE EVERYONE FEELS
A SENSE OF BELONGING,
DIGNITY, AND JOY

BART What stood out during your interview visit?

HYE-WON Lunch with students was a major highlight—not just because the food was amazing! The students were funny, thoughtful, and deeply informed about equity and inclusion work. Later, I met with faculty and staff in an open session that had strong turnout and real engagement. The questions reflected a genuine curiosity and care. It was clear that the whole community is invested in this role and takes the work seriously.

BART Let’s step back. How did you first get into education?

HYE-WON After college, I planned to go to law school, but I needed a break from academia. I’ll admit—I thought teaching might be a short-term detour. I joined the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows and started working in public schools. Pretty quickly, I realized that the equity work I hoped to do through law could be done more directly—and urgently—in education.

Over the next five years, I taught in the district, earned my teaching certification from Penn, and completed my master’s in Educational Leadership at Columbia. Eventually, I became the Founding Co-Principal of a public charter school.

BART You’ve held leadership roles in several schools, including in Los Angeles. What lessons from those roles will you bring to EPS?

HYE-WON One key lesson is that leadership isn’t about making the “right” decisions on your own. It’s about bringing people along—building shared purpose and collective ownership.

I also learned that the work that gives me the most energy is supporting students and families who have historically been underserved. In past roles, metrics such as attendance, budget, and test scores were often at the forefront—and while those are important, they don’t reflect the heart of why I came to work every day: to create a space where everyone feels a sense of belonging, dignity, and joy. I’m excited to shift my focus fully into the realm of EICL.

BART Independent schools can be quite different from large public districts. Are you ready for that shift?

HYE-WON Absolutely. One of the charter schools I led in L.A. was actually modeled after an independent school, so I’ve had a taste of this environment. What excites me about EPS is the ability to be nimble. In public systems, decisions often have to work across a huge structure. Here, we can design solutions that are specific to this community.

Students feel that immediacy—they see how their voices and actions shape the environment. That’s incredibly motivating.

BART One question we asked your references was to name three adjectives that describe you. How would you describe yourself?

HYE-WON That’s a tough one! I’d say: connector, funny, and genuine.

BART That lines up with what others shared.

HYE-WON I’ve always been able to build trust and invite open, honest conversations.

BART You’ve led through some challenging roles. How do you maintain your humor and optimism?

HYE-WON Experience helps. Having navigated a lot of hard moments, I’ve learned we eventually move through them. And when I need to reset, I go sit in a classroom. Kids have this incredible energy. They make me laugh and bring me right back to why I do this work.

BART That’s a great grounding strategy. Tell us a bit about yourself outside of work.

HYE-WON I have three kids—two seven-year-olds and a nine-year-old—so my non-work hours are filled with snacks, carpools, and activities. Over the past year, I’ve gotten into Pilates. For the first time, I’ve found an exercise routine I actually love. In fact, if I’m cranky, my kids will say, “Mom, do you need to go to Pilates?”

Since we’re still new to the area, everything feels fresh. Every time I see Mt. Rainier or an eagle, I’m taken aback by the beauty we’re surrounded by. One of my favorite local discoveries has been the Seattle Bike Disco.

BART I’ve lived here nearly 20 years and never heard of it! Tell me more.

HYE-WON It’s this joyful community bike ride that starts at a pre-arranged spot and winds through the city, ending in a dance party—bonfire, DJ, the works. It’s so much fun and such a unique way to experience Seattle.

I also love to cook, and for the first time, I can actually grow food! L.A.’s sun was brutal on gardens, but here I inherited mature raspberry and noninvasive blackberry bushes. Lower (or really no) effort, higher yield—it’s been such a gift.

BART I didn’t even know blackberries came in a noninvasive variety! So, to close out—what’s the mantra you’ll carry into the 2025–26 school year?

HYE-WON For the past few years, I’ve kept a sticky note on my desk that reads “All Means All.” It’s a reminder that our responsibility as educators is to center our decisions around practices that uplift and include everyone.

A big part of my role is ensuring every student experiences a deep sense of belonging—and I’ll be carrying that same mantra into this next chapter at EPS.

BART We’re so glad you’re here and getting settled in. Thanks for sharing your story—and welcome again to EPS.