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Lucy Whittle Goldstein '97 and Kiamani Wilson '14
In 2014, 17 years after graduating from Episcopal, Lucy Whittle Goldstein ’97 returned to the Hill as an English teacher and ninth-grade dean. That same year, Kiamani Wilson ’14 celebrated her commencement ceremony on the lawn in front of Hoxton House. Seven years later, Wilson joined the Episcopal faculty as a math teacher. Their original journeys, though divergent, have brought both alumnae back to their beloved High School as Wilson finds herself under the mentorship of Goldstein.
As the daughter and granddaughter of Episcopal alumni, Goldstein’s childhood was intertwined with campus life, often attending events with her father, Rob Whittle ’69. She described the School as “a mystical place for boys” until it transitioned to coed when Goldstein was in seventh grade. “I grew up coming to Episcopal and knowing it wasn’t available to me,” she said. “When it became coed, I was thrilled because I wanted to build my legacy at the School—echoing my father’s friendships and relationships that lasted well after he graduated.”
Wilson’s journey to Episcopal began in the Bronx during seventh grade when a guidance counselor encouraged her to explore different programs for high school. She successfully secured a spot in the TEAK Fellowship, which is sponsored by the Heckscher Foundation for Children. According to their website, TEAK “helps motivated New York City students gain admission to top public, independent, and parochial high schools.” As a native New Yorker, Wilson felt connected to the vibrancy of living near a major metropolitan city, which influenced her decision to choose Episcopal. “I had such a positive experience at EHS. From day one, I felt like I had teachers who genuinely cared about me.”
Both Goldstein and Wilson were inspired to become teachers and, eventually, administrators, which stemmed from their time at Episcopal. Influential faculty members like Thomas Hummel, Bill Hannum, and Marcia Jones impacted Goldstein. “All three of those teachers were amazing and influential, but Dr. Hannum was truly the reason I wanted to become an English teacher,” she said. “He set the bar incredibly high, and I feel like I did some of my best writing with him.” For Wilson, Molly Pugh played a pivotal role from her first day on the Hill. “To have a faculty member that did not look like me affirm my identity so many times on campus, she changed my whole EHS experience,” Wilson explained. In a beautiful full-circle moment, Wilson and Pugh now work together in Episcopal’s Office of Community and Equity.
Just prior to her graduation from the University of Virginia with a major in English, Goldstein received a call from Chuck Jones ’86, the former Head of Middle School at Forsyth Country Day School. “He invited me to interview to become an English teacher, and the rest was history,” she said. “That was a real moment of thinking; this is where I am supposed to be, and I absolutely loved how difficult but rewarding it was.”
Wilson started her teaching journey after graduating from Haverford College with a major in economics. She participated in Teach for America at the Urban Assembly School for Applied Math And Science in the Bronx. She stayed for two years before moving to a charter school in New Jersey. “That time in public school taught me so much, especially during the pandemic,” Wilson shared. “These kids had to pick up jobs to help their parents pay the bills and they were babysitting their siblings.” Her students taught her about sacrifice, and her devotion to them taught her how much she could care for each of the children in her classroom.
Committed to fostering deeper connections with her students, Wilson began to consider boarding school, where she would see them not only in the classroom but on the athletic fields, in the arts, and more. She began at Episcopal in the fall of 2021, after an initial interview with Goldstein. Now heading into her fourth school year at EHS, she credits Goldstein with playing a pivotal role in her professional growth. “Lucy has been the only Dean of Faculty in my career, and she does a phenomenal job. How she invests in her faculty is rare and deserves to be celebrated. She is always there whenever you need help or guidance.”
Early on, Wilson shared her future plans with Goldstein about eventually becoming a Head of School and opening her own institution. “I feel really honored that I’ve been able to mentor and guide Kiamani in this part of her career,” Goldstein remarked. “Being the Dean of Faculty means I’m working with people who are further along in their life stories than teenagers are, and while it’s challenging, it’s also a huge gift.”
