The Commons, the NAES blog, provides timely—sometimes tough—questions and insights directly from Episcopal school leaders on leadership, governance, Episcopal identity, community life, and myriad other issues.
The views expressed in these blog posts reflect the perspectives of individual authors and may not represent the views of NAES.
I was not raised in the Episcopal tradition. In fact, before stepping into my role as Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School almost sixteen years ago, I could not have told you much about it. What I did and still do have is a deep and abiding faith. My father’s roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and my mother’s in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church shaped my upbringing, and my brother’s calling as an ordained pastor further grounded our family in faith. So when I arrived at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, I found a space where I could live fully into my beliefs while doing the work I loved; it felt like a blessing I had not known to ask for.
The work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is often challenging and, to be honest, it is not always popular. In a time when the validity of these principles is increasingly questioned, I feel grounded in the community that surrounds me. I believe that the intrinsic value of Episcopal schools lies in their commitment to lead with love. Rooted in the teachings of Christ, our schools actively seek service opportunities not simply to respond to them; they invite us to see one another fully and to act with compassion, justice, and humility.
Though my primary role in my career at independent schools has been that of a diversity practitioner, I am, at my core, an educator. I pride myself on being able to create pathways for others to learn and grow and practice their craft with cultural competency and confidence. My philosophy is simple: children learn best when they feel loved, supported, and validated for who they are right now, not just for who they might become. The late educator Rita Pierson reminded us that “kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” I would add to that and say that children do not learn when they do not feel loved.
Over the years, I have come to understand that skills like grace and empathy are essential in education. They are the foundation upon which relationships are built and sustained. To be part of a beloved community requires intention, awareness, and a steadfast commitment to purpose. In this work, the victories are milestones along an ongoing journey, not merely triumphs in the end. Episcopal schools embody this balance so beautifully, pairing academic excellence with a deep sense of social responsibility. The rigor of high standards is complemented by a culture of care, where intellectual growth and moral development are intertwined.
As educators, we are called to teach, but also to nurture and to inspire. What is our role, if not to help students become the fullest versions of themselves? Episcopal schools remind us that learning and love can be wrapped beautifully together. And as our world becomes increasingly interconnected, we are called to prepare students not just for success, but for service. I am often reminded of the charge in Isaiah 1:17: “Learn to do right, seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” This is not just scripture; it is a call to action. One that Episcopal schools are uniquely positioned to answer.
KiKi Davis is Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA.