New Teachers at Eaglebrook in the Winter Term

By Jacob Shin '25

Article from the Winter Carnival 2024 Hearth Issue

Ms. Syres:

Many consider theater and school separate fields. However, when the two worlds come together, it results in an incredible amalgamation of education and imagination. Ms. Karinne Syers is a new addition to the Eaglebrook School family after 20 years in New York as a performing artist. She will be teaching English for the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Forms. 

Ms. Syres’s experience with the students at Eaglebrook School so far has been positive. “I enjoy how expressive the students are during their class periods,” she told interviewers. “They are always so full of energy.” She believes Eaglebrook has a very compassionate schedule that allows for students to relax while being kept accountable for their responsibilities. “Eaglebrook has such a beautiful community,” Ms. Syres commented as she explained how welcoming the staff and students were during her first day. 

As a theater producer, Ms. Syres wrote plays and created shows in New York before coming to Eaglebrook. Her work is mostly related to live-action theater, and when she is not teaching, she is still coming up with different productions. “It was always my dream to be an artist,” she noted. “I majored in dance and philosophy because of that as well.” Ms. Syres stresses that theater and school are related to each other through real time relationships and the need for communication, which she also integrates into her teaching. As an artist, she also values playful, creative exploration in the classroom, something her students enjoy. 

Ms. Syres’s favorite part of teaching is the one-on-one relationship between a student and their teacher. She values this bond, especially when developed out of the students’ curiosity, so make sure to greet her whenever you see her in the hallway. 

Mr. Sanchez:

Often when one approaches two individual subjects, they can easily find it difficult to keep a separate mindset for each of the two classes. Mr. Kelvin Sanchez overcomes this challenge by taking a different approach. Hailing from New York, Mr. Sanchez pursued a teaching career in Scarsdale after his time in college, eventually leading him to Eaglebrook. 

As an English and science teacher for the Third Form, Mr. Sanchez feels that the students at Eaglebrook have a lot of energy and finds boarding life very interesting, stating, “I think it's nice that the entire community feels like one big family, students and teachers alike.” Mr. Sanchez enjoys having conversations regarding real-world topics while also being very curious about the beauty around him. His interest and undivided attention for his students guides and supports him while teaching two different subjects at Eaglebrook.

Mr. Sanchez places deep value in helping others and making sure his students feel safe in a classroom, much like he did as a student. “I want a classroom to be a space where they can go for learning instead of being correct,” Mr. Sanchez affirmed. Mr. Sanchez became a teacher because of his passion in dedicating himself to embolden others. He makes sure people feel comfortable with what they want to do without the pressure of comparison.