The National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) is pleased to welcome Bill Bennington, Spencer Taintor, and the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley to the NAES Governing Board. “Mr. Bennington, Dr. Taintor, and Bishop Woodliff-Stanley bring a wide range of gifts to NAES,” said the Rev. David A. Madison, D.Min., Executive Director. “Their experience and commitment to Episcopal education will be a blessing to our work.” Each will now begin a three-year term, running from 2025 until 2028.
Bill Bennington comes to NAES with decades of expertise in global finance. He founded Bridgewater James Limited in 2006, and prior to that was a partner at Pantera Global Macro Fund, with additional leadership roles at J.H. Whitney & Co. and Alex. Brown & Sons. A graduate of Princeton University and St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, Mr. Bennington is deeply committed to Episcopal education, currently serving on the boards of both Grace Cathedral and Cathedral School for Boys in San Francisco, CA, in addition to various other educational and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and abroad.
Spencer Taintor, Ph.D., MBA, is a lifelong Episcopalian with longstanding familial ties to Episcopal schools. He brings with him over twenty years of service as an educator—fifteen of which in headship—and has served as Head of School at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Fort Lauderdale, FL since 2019. Dr. Taintor’s breadth of experience encompasses education, business, and church life, and he has spent his career combining insights from both the classroom and the broader educational landscape. His book on the topic of student resilience, Building Authentic Confidence in Children, was published in 2016, and he is a frequent contributor to the national conversation on the future of education.
The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley was consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina in 2021 and is the first woman to have served in that role. Bishop Woodliff-Stanley has a rich background in diocesan leadership, parish ministry, and social justice advocacy. She has also worked as a consultant with dioceses—particularly those facing significant challenges—offering expertise in conflict transformation, strategic planning, and stewardship, in addition to her longstanding commitment to anti-racism and LGBTQ advocacy. With degrees from Swarthmore College, Yale Divinity School, and Columbia University, she brings deep knowledge and academic rigor to her work in the Church and beyond.
At this time, NAES also wishes to recognize the service of Silvia Larrauri, the Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens, and Byron Lawson, whose terms on the Governing Board have now concluded. NAES is especially grateful for Ms. Larrauri’s tenure as Governing Board President, and her decades of dedication to Episcopal education.
To learn more about the NAES Governing Board, please visit www.episcopalschools.org/about-naes/the-board/.
The National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) is an independently incorporated, voluntary membership organization that supports, serves, and advocates for the vital work and ministry of those who serve nearly 800 Episcopal schools and early childhood education programs throughout the Episcopal Church, as well as school establishment efforts. Chartered in 1965, with historic roots dating to the 1930s, NAES is the only pre-collegiate educational association that is both national in scope and Episcopal in character. The Association advances Episcopal education and strengthens Episcopal schools through essential services, resources, conferences, and networking opportunities on Episcopal school identity, leadership, and governance, and on the spiritual and professional development of school leaders.
For additional information, call (800) 334-7626, ext. 6134, or (212) 716-6134; or email info@episcopalschools.org; or visit www.episcopalschools.org.