EHS Pillars - Fall 2017

ZACH SCHWARZ
History Teacher, Coach, and Assistant Dean of Faculty
After growing up in Connecticut, and going to college
in New Jersey, Zach Schwarz would never have
imagined he'd be a Texan of 10‐plus years. But
after graduating from Princeton University with
a degree in history, he moved to Houston
and has been here ever since.
During his tenure at EHS, Schwarz has
helped coach the varsity boys soccer
team, developed the Independent
Study Program, and designed elective
courses on both contemporary
America and the 1980s. He currently
teaches history and serves as the
Assistant Dean of Faculty.
Now in his 11th year at EHS, Schwarz
most enjoys the chance to help students
make connections between the past and
their own lives, aiding them in the process
of becoming life‐long learners. In his free time,
he can be found reading, training for a marathon,
cheering on the Rockets, or searching for Houston's
best tacos.
What's on your playlist right now? I'm more of a podcast than a music
person. Malcolm Gladwell's "Revisionist History" is a favorite of mine, even if I find myself disagreeing with
some of his analysis. And "The Lowe Post" is my go‐to for all things NBA. What was the first concert you
attended? Dave Matthews Band in beautiful East Rutherford, New Jersey. If you weren't a teacher, what
would you pick for a career? Growing up I wanted to be a trial lawyer, but I think that was mostly because
I watched too much of "The Practice." What is your proudest accomplishment? Finding a career that I not
only enjoy, but also feeling like what I do makes the lives of others more enriching. Do you have a favorite
app or tech gadget? Memory. It's an app that tracks total phone usage and pickups on a daily and weekly
basis. I'm always trying to better my stats by using my phone less than the week before. Did you have a
mentor growing up who inspired your career? My 11th grade Physics teacher, Mr. Rhodes. He had a
unique way of making content relatable regardless of a student's intellectual interests. I realize that many
of my students do not care about Henry Clay or the Marshall Plan, but if I can help them develop skills that
they can use far beyond their experience in my classroom, that is what is most important to me. If you could
travel back in time, what period of history would you choose? There is something gritty and authentic
about the 1970s that fascinates me. The decade rests at the intersection of the modern and contemporary
worlds, with America struggling to find its place following Watergate and the Vietnam War, but before the
collapse of the Soviet Union. What trait do you most admire in your colleagues? Their humility. Nobody
becomes a teacher for public acclaim, but the preparation, dedication, and intentionality of our faculty for the
benefit of others is incredible. What trait do you most admire in your students? Their curiosity. I'm always
energized by the random and diverse interests of my students. Read any good books recently? Darktown
by Thomas Mullen, which documents the lives of the first African‐American police officers in Atlanta in the
late 1940s, was outstanding. And Rising Sun by Michael Crichton, which outlines the differences between
American and Japanese business and culture in thriller‐form, was a great summer read. If you could eat
only one meal this week, what would it be? Tacos—100% Taquitos off of Southwest Freeway has been a
staple in my life for over a decade.
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