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.
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.
Approved by the NAES Governing Board in 2024, this document offers best practices and guidelines for the Episcopal school admissions office.
Read More » As the past months have clearly shown us, Episcopal schools need support in their efforts to grow as communities committed to the work of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, and to be able to draw upon their very foundation as Episcopal schools in order to find inspiration, understanding, and courage for this work. The following statement hopefully serves as a reaffirmation, reminder, and recalling of our schools to the vital link between DEIJ work and our Episcopal identity. In essence, this is our playing field, what we are called to do and be, and we hope this statement from the staff and Governing Board of NAES will serve as a springboard for further initiatives and a deeper understanding of our very nature as Episcopal schools.
Read More » A compilation of chaplains' job descriptions from a variety of Episcopal school settings and grade ranges.
A sample list of typical duties and responsibilities of board members in a parish day school. This document reflects recommended best practices. It is intended as a draft document for discussion and for the creation of a list unique in each church and school.
In an Episcopal school, articulating the school's particular Episcopal identity, ethos, and traditions, as well as its relationship to any Episcopal Church entity such as a parish or diocese, are critical to a successful search for a new head of school. Here are some key questions that boards, search committees, and candidates can ask and answer as they embark upon the search process.
