Names are identity markers packed into a few syllables. This month SPA has launched a name program and audio database that will make correct pronunciation accessible.

The software Namecoach was piloted a few years ago in the senior class by US Technology Coordinator Angie Kritta, working alongside Director of Instructional Technology Tami Brass. “We thought that was an appropriate group since their names are being pronounced at so many different things during their senior year,” Kritta said.

Namecoach launched with faculty and staff this January alongside the senior class after trial and error. Starting at meetings on Jan. 8, US Counselor Josie Zuniga gave teachers the framing and steps to create and embed the audio file. The Namecoach program allows users to record their name, pronounce it, and attach it to an email signature. This technology ensures that the community can learn the correct pronunciation of everyone’s names through digital communication. “The Namecoach tool is pretty much all-comprehensive,” Kritta said, making it the preferred platform over the previously attempted Google Forms.

“What better way for everybody to feel like they belong than having your name pronounced correctly?” she said.

Senior Dashiell Horstman is optimistic about its potential. “It is a very streamlined process that’s easy to complete, and as someone with a name that is often mispronounced, I hope this program removes any awkwardness of having your name mispronounced at graduation,” they said.

With its success, the program is set to roll out to grades K-11 this spring. Teachers will have access to these recordings in a spreadsheet, allowing them to learn the correct pronunciation of their students’ names before the first day of school. Beyond simply avoiding an awkward moment, there is a deeper aim toward communal education on pronunciation through this technology. Kritta believes the program aligns with the school’s DEIB initiatives as, “There are a lot of students whose name they never hear pronounced correctly for years, and every year they have to reintroduce that to a teacher and hope the teacher remembers.”

Sophomore Ali Manzoor regularly experiences mispronunciation of his name, and believes that technology such as Namecoach has great potential for emphasizing correct name pronunciation in the community. “I do understand when people cannot pronounce [my name] correctly. I try my best to correct them most of the time,” he said. “I believe that if [Namecoach] is used more it will benefit the student body.”

According to Kritta, the rollout process for the student body will take place over the next few months and include an assembly announcement followed by an email link. “Details for Lower School are a little more complex because your name recording is associated with your email account,” she said. “So we have to work through that for Lower School … having parents help those kids.”

Despite the potential complications, the merits of the program strike Kritta as overwhelmingly worthwhile. “Namecoach is a huge step in making the SPA community more inclusive,” she said. “I think it’s a pretty amazing tool.”

To hear Namecoach in action, click the purple icon at the bottom of email signatures. A new window will open with an audio clip of the user’s name.