About D-E

We Are D-E

Dwight-Englewood School (D-E) is a coeducational, independent school of approximately 900 students, serving a seamless education experience for students in preschool through Grade 12. Comprised of three divisions -- the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools -- each with their own distinctive personality, D-E is the most ethnically-diverse school in Bergen County with students who represent over 80 communities in New Jersey and New York. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Dwight-Englewood gives the highest quality preparation for college and university work while fostering independent thinking; the ability to solve problems; and the skills, tolerance, and integrity it takes to thrive in our multifaceted world. To learn more, including our core values, and our Profile of a D-E Teacher and Profile of a D-E Graduate statements, visit www.d-e.org/values. To learn about our school history, please visit www.d-e125.org.

Mission Statement

“As a community of learners, Dwight-Englewood School strives to foster in each student a passion for life-long learning. We seek excellence, honor integrity, and embrace diversity in order to develop the skills, values, and courage to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better.”

D-E Election Reflection 2020


An overview of special virtual, school-day Assembly Zoom programs being held this Fall 2020 with and for our D-E students and faculty/staff. 

Questions regarding the Election Reflection series may be directed to Dr. Buggs at: buggsm@d-e.org 

D-E Election Reflection 2020 - Event Details

List of 9 items.

  • A Bulldog’s Guide to Ideology

    Presented/facilitated by Dr. Shawn Clybor & Mr. Alex Russell-Walker
    An Upper School Assembly Zoom Discussion
     
    Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 9:30 AM
     
    Doesn’t it seem like we can’t talk about anything these days without it getting political? Everything is so fraught. You’re either on our side or their side. You’re either liberal or you’re conservative. Democrat or Republican. Black lives or Blue lives. These either/or categories trap our minds -- once we accept them, we lose our ability to see anything else. But what if we zoom out for a moment and consider the larger arc of history?
     
    This assembly conversation -- the first in a series of D-E “Election Reflection 2020” Zoom assembly discussions* -- will engage students in learning how to identify the “classical” spectrum of political ideologies from left to right: communism, socialism, liberalism, conservatism, and fascism.
     
    Through presentation, dialogue and maybe a game or two, the speakers hope to demonstrate that political ideologies and leanings are way more complicated than “liberal” and “conservative,” especially when we look at the political landscapes of other democracies.
     
    Once we build this common understanding of terminology we can begin to explore larger questions, including:
    •     How has the American political spectrum transformed into a liberal/conservative binary?
    •     Why is this binary so harmful to American society?
    •     How can we move beyond it?

    Dr. Shawn Clybor     began his career as a historian of Eastern Europe who has published several articles on communist cultural politics and socialist realism in Czechoslovakia. While finishing his dissertation in Prague, he began working with the award-winning game development studio Charles Games on the historical serious game Attentat 1942, which has won several international prizes and was a finalist at the Independent Games Festival. He is currently working on two different articles that will outline his experiences play-testing games in the classroom for various organizations and academic projects. This is his 4th year teaching history at D-E.
     
    Mr. Alex Russell-Walker grew up in Rockland County, went to public school, and then to Boston University where he studied history and literature before teaching in Vietnam. Experiencing a different political system from up close, especially the apathy that a dictatorship desired and promoted in young people spurred his belief that education requires encouraging students (and adults) to be engaged and active citizens. After living and working in Vietnam, Mr. Russell-Walker attended Teachers College at Columbia University, and started teaching in New York City before ending up at D-E 7 years ago.
    Read More

  • The Cost of Free Speech

    Presented/facilitated by Dr. Marcia Chatelain, Georgetown University
    An Upper School Assembly Zoom Discussion
     
    Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 9:30 AM
     
    In this conversation about free speech, Dr. Chatelain explores different ways to think about the intentions, intensity and implications of what we say in community. In light of our nation’s current climate, we will think about the importance of respectful and meaningful engagement within our communities.
     
    Dr. Marcia Chatelain is a Professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University. She is the author of the book, South Side Girls: Growing up in the Great Migration and hosts Office Hours: A Podcast.

  • Antisocial: How Social Media is Hijacking Modern Conversation

    Presented by Mr. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker
    Assembly Zoom Discussions
     
    Wednesday, October 7 at 9:30 AM - Upper School
    Wednesday, October 7 at 11:55 AM - Middle School
     
    How much of your life is online? Not just your social life, but your news, entertainment, and how you form your worldview? New Yorker staff writer and the author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation, Andrew Marantz, traces how the unthinkable becomes reality: social media has hijacked the global conversation. With clarity and courage, Marantz shares how we got into this mess—and how we can get out.

  • The 2020 Presidential Election Compared to Other Important Elections in American History

    Presented by Mr. James Aitken and Mr. Jonathan Davis
    A Middle School Assembly Zoom Discussion
     
    Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 8:15 AM
     
    Many adults are saying that the 2020 election is the most important in American history.  Have we had contentious elections before?  How do they compare to this one?  What makes an election more significant than other elections?
     
    James Aitken graduated from Colorado College with a degree in Political Science.  While there he wrote his thesis on Campaign Finance Reform.  James also has a Master’s in history from Simmons College and an Ed. Specialist degree from Northern Colorado University.  James has taught history in Massachusetts, New York, and at Dwight-Englewood. He is currently 7th grade Dean and teaches a Media Studies & Current Events course.
     
    Jonathan Davis attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he majored in History and focused on the early American time period.  His senior thesis examined Constitutional ratification in North Carolina and the political issues of the early United States.  He began his educational career in St. Louis teaching history at Whitfield School to students in both Middle and High School.  He also has taught history and English in St. Petersburg at Shorecrest Preparatory School, before moving into school administration. He is the Middle School Principal.

  • Upper School Half Day of Learning & Discussion: Pre-Election Day Zoom Presentations and Discussion

  • The Power of a Vote: With Power Comes Responsibility

    America's system and history of voting
    presented by Mr. Bryan Kessler, MS History Teacher
     
    A MS Assembly Zoom Discussion
    Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 
    Bryan Kessler earned his undergraduate degree in Art History from Rutgers College, his Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia, and his teaching credential in History from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Prior to teaching, he worked in curation and publications at the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust as well as designing museum exhibitions for James Madison's Montpelier and the Fredericksburg Historical Museum.  He has been fortunate to teach to all age ranges, from elementary through college through adult education.  Prior to joining Dwight-Englewood, he served for 5 years as a member of the Nevada Governor's Advisory Council on Holocaust Education where he designed curriculum for the 3rd largest school district in the nation on utilizing the lessons of the Holocaust to frame Anti-Bias.  He has worked with and been a consultant for the Anti-Defamation League, Yad Vashem, and Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation where he was named a "Person of Impact."  He is currently an 8th grade history teacher and Middle School History Curriculum Coordinator at Dwight-Englewood School.
        

  • The Presidency and the 2020 Election: A Primer for What's Coming

    An Upper School (US) Assembly
    Presented by Mr. Philip Swirbul, History Teacher
    Wednesday, October 28, 2020
     
    Let's explore the historical context necessary for understanding the importance, process, and possible outcomes of "the most important election of our lifetimes." Among topics to be addressed are a broad overview of the office, how the Electoral College works, past controversial elections and possible lessons for today, how identity impacts voting, and a few tips to stay informed and calm in what may be a contentious period in our nation's history.  
     
    Phil Swirbul majored in U.S. History and French literature at Washington and Lee University before receiving a Masters degree in American History at UCLA. He has been teaching at Dwight-Englewood since the last year of the Reagan administration (look it up!), and is currently teaching AP US History, Industry and War, History Honors Seminar, and the American Presidency. 
     
     
     

  • Journalism & The Election

    Hindsight 2020: Media and Journalism in Weird Times

    A Middle School (MS) Assembly Zoom Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Reniqua Allen, Ms. Susie Banikarim, Ms. Juju Chang P ‘22,     and moderated by Ms. Zahra Mamdani P ‘31
     Thursday, October 29, 2020
     
    About the Panelists
     
    Dr. Reniqua Allen is a journalist who produces and writes for various outlets on issues of race, opportunity, politics and popular culture. Her first book, It Was All A Dream: A New Generation Confronts the Broken Promise to Black America, about Black millennials and upward mobility is out now from Bold Type Books/Hachette. She has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, The New Republic, Quartz, Buzzfeed, Teen Vogue, Glamour and more, and has produced a range of films, video, and radio for PBS, MSNBC, WYNC and HBO. Dr. Allen holds BA/MA in Journalism and Political Science from American University and a Ph.D in American Studies from Rutgers University. She is currently working on a two new projects about Black popular culture and the American Dream and Black women and motherhood. She lives in the South Bronx. 
     
     
     
     
    Ms. Susie Banikarim joined VICE News in January 2020 as EVP and Global Head of Newsgathering. Based in VICE’s Brooklyn headquarters, Ms. Banikarim oversees newsgathering functions and daily newsroom operations for all of VICE News’ bureaus working across New York, Washington DC, London and LA as well as the news organization’s multi-award winning digital and social divisions. An award-winning journalist, director and producer, Banikarim most recently was the Editorial Director and Executive Vice President of Gizmodo Media Group where she set editorial strategy and oversaw Deadspin, Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Jezebel, Kotaku, Lifehacker, Splinter and The Root. She has received the Edward R. Murrow Award for feature reporting and five Emmy® Award nominations. Ms. Banikarim is a cum laude graduate of Barnard College and has a master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of Journalism. 
     
     
     
     
    Ms. Juju Chang is an Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News' "Nightline." She also reports regularly for "Good Morning America" and "20/20." She has covered major breaking news for decades for ABC News, including the extensive COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout on hospital ICUs, health care and essential workers. Chang covered Superstorm Sandy, the Orlando nightclub massacre and the Boston Marathon bombing. Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Northern California, Chang graduated with honors from Stanford University with a B.A. in political science and communication. 
     
    Ms. Zahra Mamdani was a journalist for 12 years before joining the D-E Library team. Most recently, she worked as a Field Producer for HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," where she won an Emmy and a duPont award for her investigative reporting. She is a graduate of Columbia's School of Journalism. She likes old books, new movies and cycling around the neighborhood with her son. 

  • Jon Meacham, Author ("The Soul of America")

    D-E hosted Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Jon Meacham on Wednesday, 11/18/2020, for a virtual Middle and Upper School Assembly. Mr. Meacham offered the D-E community some learning and reflection in a post-election “Election-Reflection” gathering.
     
    Mr. Meacham is one of America's most prominent public intellectuals. Known as a skilled orator with a depth of knowledge about politics, religion, and current affairs, Meacham brings historical context to the issues and events impacting our daily lives.
     
    His latest #1 New York Times bestseller, The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, examines the present moment in American politics and life by looking back at critical times in U.S. history when hope overcame division and fear. HBO has produced a documentary film based on Mr. Meacham’s book.
     
    Named a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow of the Society of American Historians, and chairs the National Advisory Board of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University. Meacham is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of History at The University of the South and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt. He is currently at work on a biography of James and Dolley Madison. 

Contact D-E

List of 11 items.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Dwight-Englewood is a non-profit corporation accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Dwight-Englewood School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, ethnicity, age, national origin, religion, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or military veteran status. The diversity of our student body supports our commitment to employ a diverse faculty and staff. Educators and staff from all backgrounds who bring knowledge and expertise in equity, diversity and multicultural education are especially encouraged to apply.

Reopening Plans & Resources Website



All D-E families and faculty/staff are invited to click here to visit the online website for reopening D-E in Fall 2020 and for managing through COVID. Find the most current information on the School's plans for a healthy and safe 2020-2021 school year. Go to reopening.d-e.org.

Learn More

Coping with COVID-19

Click here for resources to support your family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and strangers if needed during this difficult time of COVID-19. (D-E login required.)

An Open Letter from Dwight-Englewood School


In this moment of crisis in our country, we all need to work together to protect and care for each other. We pledge to do that here at Dwight-Englewood School. This letter affirms our commitment as a School to lifelong learning and dialogue, and to stand up for the humanity of all people at all times.

Click here to read the full letter and to see the members who have signed this letter.
If you are also in alignment with the spirit of this Letter and wish to add your signature please click here. 

We will regularly update this PDF as new signatures are received. Questions? Email buggsm@d-e.org. 

Fast Facts

D-E today Publications

Mailing Address: 315 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631
gps: 81 Lincoln Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-9500 Email: d-e@d-e.org
Located in Englewood, New Jersey, Dwight-Englewood is a greater New York City area private school with a rigorous college prep curriculum for boys and girls in preschool through grade 12.