Most students and faculty know Mr. Esteban Longoria as an Upper School Spanish teacher. But what many don’t realize is that long before he was teaching verb conjugations and leading class discussions, he was competing as a gymnast. 

Stories like this – the ones about unexpected experiences and personal journeys behind familiar faces –  fill Kinkaid’s community. These are stories that simply are not visible in day-to-day school life. This reality is exactly what inspired “Falcons in Focus,” a new digital storytelling initiative by Student Publications that was designed to highlight the personal stories of students, faculty,  staff, and alumni who comprise the fabric of the school.

Inspired by the project Humans of New York, which began in 2010 as a photography initiative documenting the stories behind people from all walks of life in New York City, “Falcons in Focus” pairs portraits with short 300-word narratives that reveal something meaningful and largely unknown about a member of the Kinkaid community.  The goal of the project is to move beyond people’s everyday profiles and instead focus on their unique talents and interests.

The idea for the project emerged as Dr. Kimetris Baltrip, the Upper School journalism and yearbook teacher, began thinking about how storytelling could expand beyond traditional print and online articles. 

“So much of what’s happening in the real world is social media, video, and digital storytelling,” Dr. Baltrip said. “I wanted The Falcon to experiment with new ways of connecting with our community.” 

Dr. Baltrip approached The Falcon’s editor-in-chief, senior Jack Susman, about the idea and he set up the platform on Instagram as part of his honors project.

“Honors journalism is really about doing something more and pushing beyond the curriculum. I felt like this could benefit not just me, but the entire class and program, which made it exciting to take on,” Susman said. 

Around the same time, members of The Falcon’s editorial staff were brainstorming ways to expand the publication’s social media presence. The idea gained momentum when The Falcon’s managing editor, Sloane Ballard, approached Dr. Baltrip with a similar concept inspired by moments she often notices around campus.

“I’m a big people-watcher, and around campus, I’m always noticing the unexpected friendships,” said Ballard, a junior who has been on The Falcon staff for two years. “It makes you realize how the people surrounding you have much bigger lives and things that define them as human beings outside of just school. I wanted to think of a way to bridge that disconnect and bring some of those personalities and quirks to light.”

By sharing these stories, Dr. Baltrip hopes to encourage curiosity and connection within the school community.

“Every person here has something that makes them special,” Dr. Baltrip said. “We all have passions that drive us, and we’ve all overcome different things. ‘Falcons in Focus’ is about peeling back another layer of the people we go to school with and work with every day.”

The initiative has unintentionally aligned with a broader initiative happening within the Kinkaid Strategic Communications Department. For the last few years, the communications team has primarily worked to document student and faculty life during the “All In” campaign’s major campus construction projects. As those projects near completion, the department has been shifting its focus. 

According to the Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Peggy England, the department has been working to increasingly focus on storytelling that centers on individual voices rather than simply reporting facts and accomplishments.

“Anytime you highlight an individual voice and authentic story, you give the audience a deeper understanding of what their values and beliefs are. I think that builds empathy among our community,” Mrs. England said. 

One example of her department’s authentic storytelling approach has been “The Perch,” a podcast hosted by Kinkaid’s Digital Media Manager, Mr. Mike Marrie. Through featured interviews, the podcast has offered listeners a more personal look at the people behind the school’s successes and growth. 

“If you’re not performing on the stage or competing on the field, you don’t know the preparation that goes into all of it or the person behind each accomplishment,” Mrs. England said. “What people often miss are the countless hours, challenges, and personal experiences that shape that moment. That is what ‘The Perch’ is trying to share.”

While “The Perch” has invited listeners into longer conversations through audio storytelling, “Falcons in Focus” captures those moments through short stories combined with photographs or brief videos. In many ways, the two initiatives share the same goal: revealing stories hidden in plain sight.

Indeed, hearing someone’s personal story can introduce perspectives people may not have previously considered and help them better understand the experiences of those around them.

Beyond its potential impact on fostering a greater sense of community, the “Falcon in Focus” project has also presented an opportunity for The Falcon staff to develop reporting skills. 

“I hope the initiative encourages students to step outside their usual social circles, approach unfamiliar members of the community, and build confidence in interviewing and storytelling,” Dr. Baltrip said.

As the project grows, Susman said he hopes “Falcons in Focus” will become an important part of how The Falcon documents the people of Kinkaid. 

“In the future, I hope ‘Falcons in Focus’ continues to grow into a lasting tradition that documents the voices and stories that shape our school each year,” Susman said. “I hope readers walk away feeling more connected to the people around them.”