NAES supports the work of the Compass Rose Society because it provides a meaningful way to engage with the missionary and outreach efforts of the Anglican Communion. Through this global connection, we remember that our Episcopal school witness is part of something larger—a worldwide family of faith that stretches across cultures, continents, and contexts.

The moments that haunt us—the conversations we wish we’d navigated differently, the lessons we could have taught more clearly, the decisions that seem obvious only in hindsight—rarely reveal what we fear they do. They are usually not evidence of some fundamental inadequacy. More often, they trace back to something simpler and more correctable: we were running on empty, our attention was fractured, or we had not stopped to actually think.

It was a Tuesday morning and eight-year-old Sarah was fidgeting at her table in the science lab. The microscope in front of her looked intimidating, and she wasn’t quite sure what all the knobs were for. Around her, classmates were already peering into their eyepieces and making excited noises, but Sarah’s slide just looked like a drop of murky pond water.

Lately, I’ve been preaching and speaking about the Collect for Young Persons found in the Book of Common Prayer. It does a wonderful job of framing the work and ministry of Episcopal schools. Earlier this year, I focused on the “unsteady and confusing world” we find ourselves in. My attention is now drawn towards the idea of failure being a “chance for a new start” as opposed to being a measure of worth. As Episcopal educators, we are called to see our classrooms not merely as places of academic achievement, but as sacred spaces where souls are formed and students encounter grace. Yet how often do we find ourselves trapped in the world’s definition of success and failure?

I think it is easy to lose perspective on our work as the speed of the new semester throttles up. We are not only setting classroom expectations. We are not only grading papers and providing feedback on assignments. Rather, we are creating communities where we can all experience the Kingdom of God here on Earth. 

The numbers tell a heartbreaking story. The Centers for Disease Control report that suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10–24. Nearly one in five high school students seriously considers suicide each year. Rates of anxiety and depression among children and adolescents have risen dramatically over the last decade with many of our students carrying burdens that feel too heavy for their young shoulders.