I have been trying to come up with words to describe my experience at the Biennial Conference 2024. It was spiritual to my core. This was my first trip, but not my last. I meet some of the most amazing people who make you feel at home. I taught at St. John’s Day School for ten years before becoming the director. I did not understand what it meant to be an Episcopal School until I joined ECE chats on Tuesday. At Biennial, I got to meet face to face and hug these wonderful women.
I took in as many workshops as I could (mostly in early childhood) and missed some I wanted to go to because they were at the same time. I learned, and I have grown spiritually. I brought back some of what I have learned to my school and the passion to keep our school an Episcopal school. They had more ECE workshops than I thought they would, and we even had a whole day dedicated to us.
I took away so much from Steve Pemberton’s keynote speech. It really got me thinking about the “lighthouses” that I have had in my life and made me hope that I one day will be someone’s lighthouse. To the wonderful ladies on my ECE chats, just know you are one of my lighthouses. To NAES, I don’t know if I would be the director, I am without you.
Thank you so much to NAES for putting together a great conference and for awarding me the grant money to allow me to attend. I hope to see you all at the 2026 one in San Francisco.
As I navigate this next chapter in our school, I will practice the Episcopal way. Love each other, learn from one another, and know there is always someone who will listen when needed at NAES.