In this insightful piece, Dr. Valaida L. Wise explores how ambient anxiety and societal division subtly creep into school decision-making, threatening to replace purpose with immediate relief. Expanding on the themes of her recent webinar on the same topic, Dr. Wise offers school leaders a grounded framework for leaning into mission and human dignity when navigating complex community dynamics. Readers will gain actionable perspective on maintaining trust, supporting faculty and families, and leading with steadiness through uncertainty.
Developed in 2013 by the Australian Anglican Schools Association and NAES, the Religious Studies Curriculum is a flexible curricular framework that provides key questions, skills, and outcomes in seven areas of study from early childhood through late adolescence: the Bible; World Religions; The Story of the Church; Ethics; Faith in Action (service learning); and Mediation, Prayer and Worship. After reviewing the attached PDF, members may contact NAES about access to sample units of study available on the Anglican Schools Association website.
The National Association of Episcopal Schools conducted the NAES Early Childhood Education Survey during the 2025-2026 school year and received 91 responses representing programs located in 24 states. The purpose of this survey is to provide a demographic profile of Episcopal early childhood programs across the country for analytical, comparative, and reporting purposes as well as to assist program directors, governing boards, and vestries in important program-level decision-making. The results provide a profile of Episcopal early childhood programs including characteristics of early childhood programs, parish early childhood programs, staffing, benefits, and governance.
Spring in schools often carries a particular kind of tension. Contracts are issued. Conversations begin. Quiet discernment happens in hallways and at kitchen tables. Leaders wonder who will stay. Teachers wonder whether they can. In Episcopal schools, where the mission calls us to honor the dignity of every human being, burnout is not simply an HR problem; it is a community concern. If we believe in the inherent worth of each person, then we must ask: Are we structuring our schools in ways that truly respect the human?
Teachers often teach how they were taught, yet the past three decades of research on how people learn requires rethinking our pedagogical foundations. At Breck, we had the question, “How should teachers teach?” and that seemingly simple question resulted in the design of our Instructional Framework, an artifact that is now intended to guide schoolwide instruction, professional learning, and teacher evaluation.
As Episcopal schools, we are committed to creating communities that welcome, affirm, and sustain students and families from diverse backgrounds. As schools discern their paths forward, this resource offers guidance to heads of school, trustees, and other leaders in making thoughtful, mission-driven decisions. The article also includes a sample board agenda and a simple breakdown of key opportunities and challenges.
In an increasingly complex and diverse world, leaders in Episcopal schools are called to guide their communities with a deep sense of purpose, compassion, and inclusivity. "The Three C’s Framework" offers a comprehensive leadership model that is deeply rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus and designed to foster a sense of belonging and communal well-being within Episcopal Schools. The framework is anchored by the Baptismal Covenant, a central tenet of the Episcopal School tradition that emphasizes the love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ and the image of God inherent in every person. This framework positions Christ as the ultimate model of leadership—one that establishes a community marked by sacrificial love, service to others, and a commitment to justice and peace.
This article discusses the five top institutional priorities for Episcopal schools in Haiti: teacher salaries, school food programs, teacher training, access to technology, and new/expanded/repaired school buildings.
Read More »
The purpose of this survey is to provide a demographic profile of chaplains and characteristics of the chaplaincy across the country for analytical, comparative, and reporting purposes as well as to assist heads of school, rectors, bishops, governing boards, and vestries in important program-level decision-making.
The NAES Culture and Climate Survey for Administrators, Faculty, and Staff is one of the resources developed by NAES in response to member schools requesting tools to support their efforts to strengthen and sustain their Episcopal identity and commitment to inclusion. This survey is designed to be one element of your school's ongoing reflective process by providing data from administrators, faculty, and staff about how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice exist in the school's programs and practices and the respondents’ experiences.
