The English department at EBHS is more than an academic department, is a close-knit group of teachers who work to give their students the best education possible in an enjoyable and interactive way. When they’re not trading riddles and jokes in their Whatsapp group chat, they spend a significant amount of time, in and outside of school, reading and discussing books to collaborate on activity ideas, Their bond and collaboration makes the department special and as successful as it is at preparing students.

The EBHS English curriculum has always been inspired by diverse, classic and contemporary literary voices that can enrich students’ lives. Recently, the department has changed the 12th grade curriculum in response to the teachers’ new goals for upcoming graduates. Ms. Powers shared that the team wanted to model the curriculum off of college courses, where students enroll in thematically based classes in which they write about a central topic of interest. This year, some “special topics” include Music & the Arts, Sports Literature, and Social Justice and Constancy, among others. This new structure allows teachers to get creative in their course design, while also offering seniors more choices. The department also now offers AP Seminar, a research based course, to juniors and it may also be open to seniors next year. Over the years, the teachers have been doing a great job engaging their students in various activities. Senior Matthew Grygorcewicz shared that he did a conspiracy theory convention which he really enjoyed because his teacher “decorated the classroom and got [the students] microphones to present.” Activities like these and the interactive classroom environment allows students to strengthen their English skills and capture the values and benefits of the department.

With the current state of AI in schools, teachers are prompted to think about the future of their classrooms and teaching styles. Especially with the prospect of a potential new high school, the possibilities for improved classroom environments are on teachers’ minds. Ms. Soder shared that she hopes classrooms will have “more flexible seating [to allow] easy access to creative and engaging lessons where students can have fun and interact with each other.” These new plans will work to benefit not only the teachers and students, but the department as a whole.