This fall, Eagle Eye News reporters sat down with the newest faculty in PCDS Upper School. From unexpected hobbies to memorable moments, these interviews offer a glimpse into the lives of the new faculty teaching and working on campus. 

Mr. Oviedo, PCDS’s head of Upper School, has a background in journalism and once worked for the NBA, where his job consisted of watching and logging basketball games. Outside of school, he enjoys golfing, watching movies, and listening to music. Students may have noticed his Zara Larsson playlist along the Walk of Champions; he’s currently looking for more song recommendations. His favorite Batman movie is Batman Begins, and one of his goals is to play golf at St. Andrews in Scotland. He also remembers getting lunch detention in fourth grade after throwing a rock—a moment that left him in tears. This year, he hopes to continue improving PCDS while building a positive school culture.

Mrs. Porras, PCDS’s new college counselor, has a few interests students might not expect. Although she describes herself as outgoing and loves the color pink, her favorite music genre is ‘90s and 2000s pop punk, where she enjoys listening to bands like Green Day and Yellowcard. She watches rom-coms, with “People We Meet On Vacation” being her current favorite. She spends her free time golfing, doing pilates, and working part-time as a barista at Light Heart Cafe. One of her bucket- list items is to snowboard in New Zealand in July. At PCDS, she’s most excited to build relationships with students and make the college counseling office a welcoming place for anyone who needs support. 

Mrs. Dzubay, who teaches freshman and senior English, enjoys reading, writing, running, and playing musical instruments (recently the banjo). She has run three marathons and hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Colorado Trail. Her favorite hiking scenery is in Maine during the fall. Last summer, she worked as a caretaker at a remote campsite in New Hampshire, where she helped hikers and maintained the site. This spring, she’ll teach environmental literature, an elective she describes as a “dream” class she has wanted to teach for years. 

Mrs. Mueller, who moved from the Lower School to the Upper School, teaches sophomore and junior English. She enjoys philosophy, music, and spending time with her family. She’s a fan of hip-hop and electronic music, and likes watching shows such as “Ted Lasso” and “The Office.” If she could instantly master any skill, she would choose ancient Greek so she could read texts in their original language. She would also like to try kite surfing and hopes to have the chance to travel more in Mexico. 

Ms. Cunningham, who teaches sculpture, woodworking, and experimental materials, has a background in three-dimensional art and is excited to bring more opportunities for students to explore it. She described teaching these classes as her “Super Bowl.” Outside of school, she creates her own art, including a current series of mosaics. One of her bucket-list destinations is The Lightning Field in New Mexico, an art installation where visitors can stay overnight and potentially see lightning interact with the landscape.

Mrs. Cox, who teaches Geometry and Algebra II Plus, enjoys attending concerts, hiking, paddleboarding, and spending time with her miniature Australian shepherd, Max. She attends several concerts each month and enjoys indie music and movies like “The Princess Bride” and “Little Miss Sunshine.” After teaching middle school classes of around 36 students, she’s looking forward to getting to know students in smaller classes at PCDS. She’s also excited about the cafeteria food and prom, especially after coming from a school without a cafeteria. If she could instantly gain any superpower, she would choose the ability to sleep upright on planes and trains. She also hopes to visit Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and attend a music festival in Manchester, England.