In 1952, leaders at three central Austin Episcopal churches, including the Right Reverend Scott Field Bailey, recognized the need for an Episcopal day school to educate the city’s children. They launched a program for 32 students in grades 1-3 in a house on Pearl Street. Their legacy has grown into a nationally recognized 1-12 school with two campuses on 85 acres and an enrollment of approximately 830 students.
The constant in our growth and development as a school has been our Episcopal Identity. Spiritual formation is the context for everything done at St. Andrew’s: every service project, academic endeavor, artistic expression, and athletic engagement. Chapel has always been and will always be the center of each of our campuses and the core of each student’s day. In this way, we “honor, celebrate and worship God as the center of life.”
3 As an Episcopal school, our community welcomes and affirms different faiths, cultures, and traditions. Episcopal schools “invite all who attend and work in them-Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians, Christians and non-Christians, and people of no faith tradition-both to seek clarity about their own beliefs and religions and to honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their own lives.”
4 Diversity is an important aspect of our identity and an integral source of our strength.
Twenty-nine years ago, Lucy Nazro began her tenure as the Head of St. Andrew’s, and perhaps no other person has had such a profound influence on our school’s development. She oversaw the formation of the Middle School in 1982, the expansion of the Lower School in 1998, and the creation of the Upper School in 1998. Under her leadership, each of these divisions thrives, and together they comprise a widely respected 1–12 school. She has worked tirelessly to make St. Andrew’s what it has become: “a crown jewel in the network of Episcopal Schools.”
5 With a vocational zeal, Mrs. Nazro endeavors to make St. Andrew’s a place that exemplifies “God’s grace and love . . . and respects the dignity of every human being.”
6 Mrs. Nazro says:
We must ask out of love, teach out of love, model love, and love one another in our community above all else. If not, everything else we do is meaningless or for naught. We in Episcopal schools strive above all else to see our students as God’s children, entrusted to us for a time; it is our privilege to connect with them, to lead them to grow in knowledge and to grow in love of God.
Everyone involved in the school understands this charge and follows her direction. She leads by example and models caring, capable leadership.
In 1999, with the involvement of faculty and parents, St. Andrew’s initiated the Social and Emotional Learning Program. This program stresses self-awareness and emotional maturity; communication and relationship skills; and concern for community. By emphasizing respect for self and others, the program fosters self-reliance and interpersonal skills. Mrs. Nazro’s intent is to have St. Andrew’s students graduate as compassionate, capable people leading purposeful lives. Since its inception, the Social and Emotional Learning Program has become an important catalyst for nurturing these qualities in our students and plays an essential role in a St. Andrew’s education.
For more than 56 years, St. Andrew’s has equipped children with the reasoning capabilities to understand and improve a rapidly changing world. This is a hallmark of Episcopal education, and gets to the heart of St. Andrew’s mission. Decades after he founded the school and just months before his death, the Right Reverend Scott Field Bailey preached at our St. Andrew’s Day service in November of 2004. His sermon upheld the Episcopal idea that reason is a necessary, God-given gift. He explained that an Episcopal education embraces new discoveries, engages difficult questions, and uses faith to help understand them. Lucy Nazro’s Parents’ Night address in 2005 reiterated this idea: “An Episcopal education does not separate the religious from the secular. It is an education both of the mind and of the heart. With the mind’s eye we see a world of fact and reason. . . . We cannot forsake our hearts and we cannot abandon our minds.” Episcopal schools nurture the reasoning skills needed to engage and analyze the world, and the moral integrity to better it. St. Andrew’s is an Episcopal school in mission and in practice.
This intentional cultivation yields a transformative experience for St. Andrew’s students. Parent and former Trustee Donna Osborn summarizes:
The St. Andrew’s experience is about integrity. The school fosters more than just intelligence; it cultivates wisdom. It is not about where my children go when they graduate, but who they have become as they have grown up here. They are strengthened intellectually, physically, and spiritually. For the rest of their lives, the principles imparted at St. Andrew’s will guide them in using their gifts of knowledge and compassion to make the world a better place for all people.
THE PICTURE OF THE IDEAL ST. ANDREW'S GRADUATE
For the work you have given us to do, for the truths you have shown us, for the insights to which you have led us; For the opportunity to learn from and serve those whose lives are less fortunate than ours; For the gifts of art and music through which we glimpse the beauty of heaven; For the times of sport and recreation that rebuild our bodies, renew our minds, and open our spirits to the goodness of your Creation, we give our thanks, Gracious God.7
In 2007, the Lower, Middle, and Upper School faculty collaborated in developing “The Picture of the Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate.” Collectively, they determined their ultimate goals in nurturing the qualities that they hope a St. Andrew’s graduate will embody.
According to our faculty, the Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate will have certain attitudes and attributes.
He or She:
• Is compassionate and caring;
• Is open-minded and tolerant;
• Is optimistic and confident;
• Possesses a sense of humor;
• Is curious;
• Is independent and self-motivated;
• Is responsible and hard-working;
• Perseveres and is resilient;
• Possesses integrity and a strong moral compass;
• Is humble and respectful;
• Is self-aware and balanced; and
• Is engaged with the world.
Our Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate will have particular skills.
He or She:
• Thinks critically and creatively, and solves problems;
• Knows how to learn independently;
• Communicates effectively;
• Is organized and manages time well;
• Reads critically and writes skillfully;
• Can compute and reason mathematically;
• Uses technology effectively;
• Maintains health and fitness;
• Can apply his/her knowledge; and
• Has strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
With these attitudes and skills we expect our Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate to acquire and be able to apply the following knowledge:
• World and U.S. history, acquiring perspective and cultural awareness as well as facts;
• Systems of government, uses of power, and current events;
• Geography and the influence of global positions on life and history;
• Western and world literature with exposure to a range of cultures and perspectives;
• English language, speaking and writing with fluency and clarity;
• The scientific method and the excitement of scientific discovery;
• Biology, chemistry, and physics, understanding these disciplines in order to predict nature and be a good steward of our environment;
• Mathematics, working with analytical, graphical, and numerical perspectives and appreciating the beauty of how these paths interconnect;
• Secondary language, functioning fluidly in reading, writing, speaking, and within the language’s indigenous cultures, appreciating cultural differences and commonalities;
• Fine arts, participating in its expressions, appreciating its creations, and experiencing how the arts enhance life;
• The Bible and other fundamental texts of world religions;
• Technology, understanding its significance and capabilities, and using it with competence;
• Health, the human body, and the importance of physical fitness; and
• Personal heritage and its value.
GOAL ONE: SUSTAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE CULTURE OF ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOLBACKGROUNDSt. Andrew’s is a Christian school in the Episcopal tradition. The school is named for the Christian saint who was the first to be called into the service of Christ. We express our Episcopal Identity through daily worship according to The Book of Common Prayer and instruction according to the teaching of the Episcopal Church. Episcopal clergy serve as our school chaplains and regularly lead our worship services. As an Episcopal school, we aspire to create an atmosphere throughout the school that is a reflection of God’s grace and love.
Also, as an Episcopal school, we actively seek students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. We are a diverse, inclusive community and value each other’s beliefs. As the National Association of Episcopal Schools states best:
The intentional pluralism of most Episcopal schools is a hallmark of their missions. . . .Episcopal schools are clear, yet graceful, about how they articulate and express their basic identities, especially in their religious curricula and traditions. . . . Above all, Episcopal schools exist not merely to educate, but to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings as creations of a loving, empowering God. 8
Our commitment to the Episcopal tradition has generated a school culture that honors tradition, excellence, and the individual gifts of each of its students.
As we look toward the future, we seek to continue what has begun so well, and by continuance build a lasting tradition that will form the scholars, artists, athletes, and servants that St. Andrew’s honors. A strategic plan that places Episcopal Identity at its very foundation must address ways in which the leadership of the school upholds such a vision. Episcopal Identity will shape the ways in which school leaders serve as stewards of the school’s culture.
9GOALAffirm and uphold the unique culture of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and ensure that our mission, core values, and commitment to the Episcopal tradition inspire and permeate the life of the school.
OBJECTIVES• Reinforce and communicate our Episcopal Identity through daily chapel, curriculum, and service opportunities to prepare St. Andrew’s
students for lives of meaning, purpose, and service as citizens of the world.
• Ensure that the programs and practices of St. Andrew’s support the mission and core values of the school, reflect the continual pursuit of
excellence, and provide proper balance in the spiritual, moral, intellectual, artistic, and athletic development of each student.
• Continue and strengthen efforts to support ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity throughout the school community in order to
enhance the educational environment and promote understanding, tolerance, and respect for others.
• Preserve and strengthen the special sense of community at St. Andrew’s, with emphasis on the successful inclusion of all students and their
families in the common life of the school.
GOAL TWO: PROMOTING INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE: EXCELLING AS A 1-12 SCHOOL
BACKGROUND
In addition to the attitudes, skills, and knowledge we cultivate in our Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate, we wish to create opportunities for our scholars, athletes, artists, and servants to be future leaders in these roles. The characteristics of a leader are varied, but among the most important are the abilities to create, explore, and innovate. St. Andrew’s seeks to provide capable students with the chance to develop their own unique ideas and pursue excellence as they mature at our school.
Periodically, we need to review the master plans to ensure that our facilities continue to “facilitate.” This will allow us to prioritize future capital projects and expenditures with the goal of providing the most effective facilities to our students.
We also believe that the school’s faculty and its various departments, which have functioned so well for so long, should be accorded support so that they might further excel. In this way, our exemplary school will continue to be a leader among independent schools.
We consider the eventual transition of administrative leadership at every level, and continue to have effective institutional mechanisms, practices, and history in place so that as these transitions occur, St. Andrew’s will continue to excel.
GOALEncourage the vision and promote the systems for St. Andrew’s to develop each student’s potential, so that he or she can become the Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate and a societal leader.
OBJECTIVES• Research methods and pursue strategies that build on St. Andrew’s academic and programmatic excellence.
• Reinforce an organizational structure that has balanced advocacy for scholarship, artistic endeavors, athleticism, and service.
• Expand current programs and foster new opportunities to teach leadership skills in the St. Andrew’s community.
• Update the master plans for both campuses to recognize and prioritize facilities needed to enhance the development of our Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate.
• Support and encourage the school’s faculty and its various departments to help meet the above objectives, such that St. Andrew’s continues to excel as a 1-12 school.
GOAL THREE: COMMUNICATING OUR SCHOOL'S UNIQUE QUALITIES AND PROGRAMS
BACKGROUND
When St. Andrew’s Episcopal School was founded in 1952, Austin was a small town, and people heard about the school from friends and neighbors. Such word-of-mouth marketing still happens, but today Austin is a city characterized by dynamic growth and change, so greater effort must be made to impart the essence of St. Andrew’s to a broader range of potential families. Effective communication will help us fulfill our mission by attracting students who possess the ability and motivation to become Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduates and families who will support their children and the school during that process.
We recognize the importance of continuing to inform current families, alumni, and alumni families about the many programs, qualities, and accomplishments of the school. Clearly communicating our culture and excellence will keep the St. Andrew’s community involved and invested in the future of our school.
To potential St. Andrew’s families and the community at large, we must convey the added value of the St. Andrew’s experience, which largely consists of the profound intangibles experienced by the students and families at our school.
A focus on communication is crucial to articulate the significance of the school’s mission and the work done at every level to fulfill that mission. Such a focus will help perpetuate our school culture, build lasting relationships, and promote institutional excellence.
GOALCommunicate St. Andrew’s unique identity to reflect the school’s mission, enhance community involvement and lifetime advocacy for St. Andrew’s, and attract students who have the ability and motivation to manifest the attributes of the Ideal St. Andrew’s Graduate.
OBJECTIVES• Articulate St. Andrew’s identity as an overall 1-12 school and as individual divisions (Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools) to convey our culture and excellence at all levels and as an institution.
• Reinforce and expand effective approaches to communicating the essence of St. Andrew’s to our communities.
• Provide welcoming, secure campuses for current and prospective students and their families.
• Assure that alumni and their families become lifetime advocates for St. Andrew’s.
• Support the institutional departments, especially the admissions, communications, and development offices, that help meet the above objectives.
GOAL FOUR: DEVELOPING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO REALIZE OUR VISION AND ENSURE OUR LONGEVITY BACKGROUNDSt. Andrew’s financial health is excellent.
From 2004 to 2008, St. Andrew’s generous community completed a $16.5 million capital campaign. These gifts have funded necessary capital projects for all three divisions of the school, including a new Middle School building and a gymnasium/kitchen complex on the 31st Street campus and further expansion at the Upper School. Looking forward, we realize that some older facilities will need to be updated and more facilities will need to be built to further our educational objectives.
Gifts to the capital campaign have also funded a significant increase in our endowment, effectively tripling its size in the last five years. Endowments are the most effective means for subsidizing programs, increasing financial aid, and holding down tuition costs over generations. We must continue to advance our endowment to perpetuate our long-term financial stability.
In the last several years, our Annual Fund has grown not only in the attainment of higher goals, but also in the percentage of parents, friends, and grandparents participating each year. Building on those successes, our goal is to cultivate awareness in and even greater participation by our community. Through annual unrestricted giving, we can meet the variables in expenses each year and promote a culture of philanthropic involvement by all friends of the school.
Charged with the fiduciary responsibility for the school, the Board of Trustees pledges to move from a place of strength to one of even greater strength in the development of resources.
GOALContinue to improve St. Andrew’s current and long-term sustainability by managing finances effectively, enhancing development practices, and deepening the culture of philanthropy at our school.
OBJECTIVES• Refine the long-range financial plan to secure future financial strength and achieve institutional excellence.
• Continue active management of the annual operating budget to control tuition increases; ensure the prudent use of capital funds; and maintain supervision of endowment management to maximize investment performance.
• Increase annual contributions and broaden participation to supplement the operating budget; increase the financial aid budget to improve access and meet growing demands; promote endowment gifts to sustain long-term viability; and cultivate capital pledges to fund facilities.
• Ensure sufficient resources for the business and development offices to achieve annual and long-term financial goals.
• Emphasize philanthropy and philanthropic education as core community values.
THE NEXT STEP
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation…10
The Board of Trustees, the Strategic Planning Committee, and St. Andrew’s staff will develop an implementation plan to chart the methods and timelines necessary to reach the goals and meet the objectives listed in this Strategic Plan. The perpetuation of institutional excellence, culture, communication, and sustainability will guide every deliberation and every step taken.
NOTES
1. “Burial I.” The Book of Common Prayer (NY: The Church?Hymnal Corporation, 1979) 481.
2. “Prayer 31,?For Schools and Colleges.” BCP, 824.
3. ibid.
4. “About NAES.” December 16, 2008 <http://www.episcopalschools.org/about>.
5. The Rev. Canon Thomas Clarke.
6. “About NAES.” December 16, 2008 <http://www.episcopalschools.org/about>.
7. “A Litany of Thanksgiving at Graduation.”
8. “About NAES.” December 16, 2008 <http://www.episcopalschools.org/about>.
9. For further reference, please see The Rev. Philip Turner’s pamphlet entitled “Episcopal Identity: The Foundation of St. Andrew’s Culture” available in the Upper and Lower School libraries.
10. “Collect 23, For Education.” BCP, 261.