Equip

Fresh off their state title triumph, Coach MeriTaylor Pickle, junior Kate Spiegelman, and freshman Casey Vargo join the podcast. They share about the team's transformation, establishing the Eagles as the best team in their division. The achievement puts ECS in the record books as the first girls lacrosse team to claim a TSSAA DII-A championship.

As long-time art and yearbook teacher Lisa Field anticipates retirement, she walks us through the special people and memories who shaped her journey as a student (class of 1978), parent of graduates and faculty member. We cherished this time with her to hear great stories and wish her well in whatever God is preparing for her to do next.

Author and educator Dr. T. Durant Fleming knows well the obstacle dyslexia is to children. As he has overcome dyslexia he has made it his mission to equip teachers and parents with awareness and tools to help them come alongside students who may be struggling with this disorder affecting their ability to spell, write and read. He recently visited with our faculty to discuss innovative approaches to combating dyslexia.

High School and Middle School Choir Director Emily Hale joins juniors Niya Johnson, Brokke Scott, and Melody Loftis and sophomore Ellie Jones to share about the special connection they have performing with the ECS Concert Choir and our a cappella group, Flight. https://www.ecseagles.com/support-ecs/ecs-annual-fund  

Our tradition unlike any other - we sit down with the top scholars from the year's graduating class. Class of 2025 valedictorian Campbell Pallera, Salutatorian Sam Scull, and Meredith Porter join the podcast to share about what drives them to excel academically and what made their experiences at ECS so special.

Students and Discipleship Group leaders join host Brandon Artiles to relive and recap ECS' inaugural student service day: S.O.A.R. (Serving Others. Advancing Responsibility). They share how they served with various ministry and community partners. They also discuss how they recognized ways we can continue to love our neighbors well and be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Thank you to My Town Miracles executive director Whitney Williams for joining the podcast and helping this vision for student service to become a reality.  Featured guests: Whitney Williams (My Town Miracles), Head of School Scott Hauss, Suzanne Acuff, coach Kyle Story, senior Ashlee Adams, and freshman Blake South.  

Nationally known speaker Ben Tracy has taken his personal experience of a costly mistake on social media to educate youth on ways to protect themselves online and how to use smart phones responsibly. Tracy also shares how kids are specifically being targeted online by bullies, drug dealers, and child predators on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram.

Regular season games for ECS spring sports started up this week including our up-and-coming girls lacrosse team. We welcome new head coach MeriTaylor Pickle to ECS and the podcast to see how she is getting her squad physically and mentally prepared to compete.

Mission Church Lead Pastor and ECS dad Wil Franco was on campus recently to give our faculty encouragement about their special assignment to steward the souls of their students. Pastor Franco joined the podcast as well to share more about that concept, plus he digs into what God's Word has to say about the relationship between our head, heart and hands.

Well-known podcaster and speaker Sophie Hudson, aka Boo Mama, was a special guest on campus this week visiting with students and ECS moms to share about the importance of embracing opportunities to lead. As a part of stepping into daily leadership roles, she encourages students to use their spiritual eyes to “see” the needs of others and respond. Special thanks to ECS mom Shannon Clinton for joining the conversation and adding her insight.

ECS Lower School Learning Specialists Cassie Ring and Susan House join the podcast to share their passion for fostering a love of learning in students challenged by a diagnosis (ADHD, dyslexia, etc.), and how they challenge higher-performing students to meet their full potential.

Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC) CEO Ephie Johnson was a special guest on campus to share with our students a Kingdom vision of how we can love and serve our neighbors well, as Christ has called us to do. Johnson continued the conversation on the podcast, as ECS prepares for our inaugural student day of service, SOAR (Serving Others, Advancing Responsibility). NCC will be one of the many ministry partners our students will serve on February 5.

Local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) director Jeremy Wilbur visited ECS to share with our High School and Middle School students about living by faith instead of living by fear, which we discussed on the podcast. He also spoke about how God is using FCA to provide young people direction to where true identity can be found.

Seniors Lily Higginbotham, Drew Shelton, Meredith Rowland and Whit Dean join the show to talk about their upcoming production, “Hadestown”, which opens January 16. Director of Performing Arts Lynden Jones and Middle School Drama Director Abby Rooks, also sits in to share what makes this performance unique, challenging and rewarding for student-performers. For information on showtimes and tickets click this link - https://www.ecseagles.com/arts/theater  

Head of School Scott Hauss joins host Brandon Artiles to celebrate the end of the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year. He reflects on how he is seeing God's enduring faithfulness being revealed through our students, teachers and community. He also provides insight on ECS' evolving approach to student access to phones in the second semester.

ECS Director of Curriculum Alignment and Worldview Dr. John Grant joins the podcast to partner with parents as we navigate how to shepherd our children's hearts and minds in regards to technology. He also shares data from student surveys on how technology/social media impacts them, and how they responded to a recent day where students were cell phone free.

“Service to others” is in the ECS mission statement, because God's Word displays it as a critical part of living out the gospel of Jesus. My Town Miracles Executive Director Whitney Williams joins the show to share about how we can create opportunities for ECS students to come alongside community partners doing Kingdom work in an effort to love our neighbors throughout Memphis.

Fresh off the second of back-to-back state titles, five-time state champion coach Jordan Thompson and senior captains from the ECS girls soccer team join Equip to celebrate their triumph. Sarah Grace Clinton, Riley Davis and Essie Richardson share about the special opportunity they had to take on leadership roles this season, and how last year's success prepared them to do it again.

Lower School art teacher and mother of three ECS graduates Anne Smith, joins the podcast to discuss the recent Mentoring Moms event where she hosted a Paint Party. The evening was about a whole lot more than just putting brush to canvas, as ECS parents and alums Drace Tigert and Wren Robbins sit down with Anne to share how they were encouraged by her message.

ECS college counselors Alicia Armes and Tina Greene just walked our 9th-11th graders through PSAT testing. They share about the importance of practice tests, such as PSAT, and how our new ACT Prep class is helping students prepare for critical college admissions tests. They also celebrate the academic accomplishments of senior Sam Scull, who was recently recognized as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist.

Harvest Church Lead Pastor and ECS dad Dr. Kennon Vaughan joined us on campus for a Dads Discipleship lunch to discuss how a tragic event dramatically shifted his perspective on parenting. He sits down with Equip host Brandon Artiles to walk us through what God has impressed upon him and shares what he has learned with fathers in our community.    Support Fall Week of Week 2025 - https://www.ecseagles.com/support-ecs/fallweekofgiving  

ECS Academic Dean Jenny Shorten and Upper Elementary principal Luke Matzke join host Brandon Artiles to discuss the recent debut of the new library for our 4th-6th grade students. They share how the library and its variety of options has ignited a love for reading.

ECS alumna Stacey White operates our on-campus, student-managed tea and coffee shop, Sips. Stacey joins the podcast with some of her team, seniors Shelby Callaghan and Natalie Regel, and juniors Louise Harris and Kate Kizer, to share how this unique space has become a special place for community building and life skill development.

ECS Class of 2008 alumnus Barrett Jones returns to his alma mater to share with our young men a vision for biblical manhood. He wants students to know the abundant life (John 10:10) God desires for them, which offers them contentment, victory (over sin) and purpose. Jones also encouraged teachers to seize opportunities to make disciples of the students they impact every day.

ECS Early Childhood Director Bess Farris describes the vision and passion behind our Little Eagles, Pre-Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten classes at Lower School. Farris shares insights from recent brain research and how a quality early childhood program sets a child up for success, academically and beyond.

Director of Curriculum Alignment & Worldview John Grant discusses the content he is guiding our faculty through as part of their ongoing professional development. He shares how “Teaching for Spiritual Formation” is inviting teachers and coaches to examine their approach and inspire students to answer the call to be virtuous, according to God's Word.

ECS seniors Jed Dorrill and Kyle Mabie, and junior Ford Crane join Equip to talk about the launch of season two of their student-driven sports podcast, The Eagle Huddle. In addition to the podcast, they share about the variety of opportunities they have been exposed to, which has maximized their ECS experience.

David Butler walks us through his creative process in bringing the concept of “honor” to life. He shares about the significance of each element represented in this year's theme art. He also discusses some of the exciting opportunities for students in the arts, including the return of ceramics. www.ecseagles.com/honor-artwork

Scott Hauss welcomes students back to school for the first time as Head of School. In this episode he shares why Honor is our theme for the school year, and how he hopes to see that theme lived out in our students, teachers and community.

While he embraces a new title, Scott Hauss is no stranger to the ECS community. Scott joins host Brandon Artiles to share how God has prepared him for his new role as Head of School, and how the mission of ECS has eternally impacted his daughters and family.

The 2024 ECS Lacrosse team recently wrapped-up a fantastic campaign, which included a deep postseason run, four All-League player selections, and Coach Kyle Story being chosen as Division 2/AA-A coach of the year. Coach Story and rising seniors Lucas Cox and Grant Mariencheck join the podcast to share how an, “everybody has got something to give” mindset made this team special, and how unfinished business is motivating them for the year ahead.

Two Eagles returned from the 2024 TSSAA Track and Field Championship meet with gold medals! Pole Vaulter Campbell Pallera and sprinter Malik Truitt join host Brandon Artiles to celebrate their state titles, and share about the years of preparation and hard work that made their achievements possible.

ECS trap coach Robert Hastings is joined by sophomores Andy Holler and Meredith Lyle to share about how they are preparing for the region and state championships in June. They also celebrate how the program has grown over the years.

Senior English teacher and ECS English Department Chair Dr. Seth Holler joins host Brandon Artiles to share how the art of literature inspires thinking in our students. He also discusses how he weaves biblical truths through the texts they are studying and how God is revealed through creativity.

Head of School Braxton Brady joins host Brandon Artiles to say goodbye to the ECS community as his family prepares to start a new chapter in Texas. He shares some of the memories he'll cherish the most, celebrates how he has seen student culture improve, and expresses thanks to all the people who have made his time as Head of School a joy.

With graduation just days away, ECS' Class of 2024 Valedictorian Graham Carpenter, Salutatorian Savannah Lofton and Bartusch Scholarship recipient Noelle Brink join Brandon Artiles to share about their most cherished experiences in their time at ECS. They also celebrate some of their favorite teachers and give a little advice to the students coming up behind them.

ECS Director of Curriculum Alignment & Worldview John Grant joins host Brandon Artiles to offer insight on some concerning trends amongst teens and adolescents in our culture in regard to mental health, life priorities and technology/social media. He compares national data with what we are seeing with our own students in how culture is influencing them.

Upper Elementary art and music teacher Anna Pearson joins host Brandon Artiles to share about UE's inaugural spring musical, “Let's Go to the Movies”. Talented sixth graders, Emmy Murphy, Raston Goff  and Cameron Williams jump in on the conversation to let us know how they prepared and what they learned from the process. The performance is Thursday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. in the Mark Brink Auditorium.  

ECS Director of Teacher Development Daniel Warner joins host Brandon Artiles to share about some innovative approaches he has implemented, offering opportunities for our faculty to grow professionally. He also fills us in on a new effort, which debuted this semester celebrating student achievement! Spring into Giving Link

ECS Middle School Principal Andy Gross joins Equip to showcase areas in which 7th and 8th graders are flourishing. As we build students for life, he also walks us through the practical ways they are encouraging students to grow in ownership, accountability and empathy.

ECS class of 2024 seniors Lainey Bowden, Lynlee Wilkins, Donovan Smith and Riley McDaniel join host Brandon Artiles to share about their experiences in Discipleship Groups. They discuss how D-Groups have created a space for them to be known, forced them out of their comfort zones, helped them build relationships with their peers and teachers, and encouraged them to be disciple-makers for Christ.

ECS Digital Sports Media students launched a podcast this semester. “Eagle Huddle” hosts, senior Will Seay and junior Jed Dorrill, as well as, ECS Technology Director Cindy Brock join Equip to talk about the exciting and challenging experience of hosting their own show.

After a 40 year hiatus ECS resurrected its varsity wrestling team last year. Year two was punctuated with two qualifiers for the state wrestling tournament. Wrestlers Crews Gieselmann, Luke Wallace and Max Orman join Equip host, and ECS Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Brandon Artiles to discuss how the program is progressing.

ECS families and student Discipleship groups will gather at the Shelby Farms campus on Saturday, March 2, for a Day of Service. ECS PTF's Katelin Walker and Student Development director Ben Todd share about how this opportunity encourages students to be the hands and feet of Christ as they partner with local relief organizations and ministries.

ECS alumnus and parent Tony Fisher (class of 2000) serves as worship leader for our students' weekly chapel gatherings. Tony, who is also Worship Pastor at Harvest Church, shares how his experience at ECS prepared the way for him to use music to minister to the body of Christ.

“Eagle's Eye” Editor in Chief Libby Bourland (senior), Co-Associate Editor Drew Shelton (junior), and writer Cooper Acuff (junior) join Equip to discuss their experience putting together ECS' school newspaper. While it's a fun experience they share what they've learned through the process of writing and editing.

ECS Head Varsity Girls Basketball coach Steven Kaspar discusses the special opportunity athletics present to impact our students. Coach Kaspar joins host Brandon Artiles to share his passion for coaching as it creates pathways for encouragement, growth, and discipleship.

Host Brandon Artiles welcomes in ECS' star student-performers for the Fine Arts Department's presentation of “Mary Poppins”, which opens January 26. Senior Campbell Williams, junior Cooper Acuff, sophomore Emma Sanders Brady, and Performing Arts Director Lynden Jones share about the excitement of preparing for such an ambitious show.  https://gofan.co/app/school/TN8750?activity=Performing%20Arts  

Recent scores illustrate how Lower School students are excelling in reading compared to their peers both locally and nationally. Principals Ashley Colley and Cathy Boyd share how the success ECS students are having is the results of years of work and research.

Annual Fund Director and Equip host Brandon Artiles welcomes two guests who have witnessed ECS' generational impact for God's Kingdom and the gospel. Both Paula Cowart and Nancy Binkley are former educational leaders at ECS, as well as current grandparents and parents of alumni. They share how ECS engages its grandparent community throughout the year, including through the annual Christmas tradition, Jingle Mingle.

ECS Varsity Basketball Coach Tim Wise sits down with Equip host and Annual Fund Director Brandon Artiles to share about his passion for coaching. Coach Wise discusses the importance of building relationships with student-athletes, while inspiring them to uphold the five Biblical pillars that support the program.