After 16 years working in education, Mr. Eden Lewkowitz ’03 has returned to Brophy to teach Makerspace Essentials and Introduction to Robotics in the Innovation Commons.

After graduating from Brophy, Mr. Lewkowitz earned his Bachelor of Arts from Northern Arizona University. He began his teaching career at Magnet Traditional School, first as a teacher’s aide and then as a classroom teacher for a total of five years. 

He then spent 11 years at Arizona School for the Arts as a history teacher, three of which were as the Director of Operations. In that role, he managed about 65,000 square feet of building space, the school’s IT infrastructure, repairs, and a considerable budget.

Returning to Brophy has been a goal for Mr. Lewkowitz since his student days. “I didn’t even know that I wanted to be a teacher, but I think I knew I wanted to work at Brophy,” he said. He chose the IC because its evolution from weight room to library to innovation space reflects how Brophy honors its Jesuit traditions while reinventing itself.

At Brophy, Mr. Lewkowitz teaches two classes: Makerspace Essentials and Introduction to Robotics.

In Makerspace Essentials, students learn how to use CAD software like Onshape to 3D print and laser cut, how to use circuits and coding to have functional designs, and how to use a range of the tools available to students in the IC.

As for the Introduction to Robotics class, students learn how to use a kit robot, the VEX V5, to fabricate a variety of robots to perform tasks, and how to program them with C++ or block-based coding.

Under the leadership of Mr. Lewkowitz, the Innovation Commons has seen many changes over the summer, including major adjustments to the floor plan and a new shop with a variety of tools for woodworking, metalworking, and more.

Mr. Lewkowitz is enjoying his return, noting, “It’s by far the best career decision I’ve made.” He added that he loves sharing “exploration, innovation, for failing and then trying again,” and that Brophy embraces that mindset in everything it does. “I don’t see myself going anywhere.”