Have you ever been reminded of an important truth, then been reminded again a short while later? Because I am sometimes a little slow on the uptake, I think God orchestrates certain events in my life to repeat in close proximity so I will pay attention. 

For example, last week at the SAES New Head’s University event, I was reacquainted with an important truth by my friend Rev. Scott Brown – President of TMI Episcopal. Probably not coincidentally, this same important truth had also resurfaced a few weeks earlier at a dinner celebrating Dr. Susannah Wright – Rice University professor, author of the recently released translation of The Aeneid, and distinguished graduate of two very outstanding SAES schools (St. Luke’s San Antonio and TMI Episcopal)

Through the words of both Dr. Wright and Rev. Brown, God reminded me of an important truth originally articulated by 19th-century Danish-American journalist Jacob Riis.

"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."

By describing a stonecutter hammering away at a rock repeatedly, with no visible progress, until the rock finally split, Riis helps us to realize that it is not the final effort that produces the anticipated result, but the sum of all the efforts that came before it. This metaphor highlights the power of consistency and concentrated effort, applied day after day and year after year, that is needed to achieve a breakthrough or accomplish a goal. Moreover, this metaphor also points to the power of patience, persistence, and process. By reminding us that true transformation often requires considerable time and effort, we are less inclined to be discouraged by slow progress and more inclined to respect and enjoy the grind of working together to achieve a desired result. The idea of pounding the rock can take our eyes away from the temptation to chase quick victories and hollow trophies and frees us to concentrate instead on the profound power of incremental improvement and doing things the right way for the right reason.    

As teachers and leaders in Episcopal schools, we are each called to pound the rock in our respective communities just as we endeavor to help our students develop those same muscles. Day after day, we are called to keep showing up for our students and our families by focusing on the fundamentals – loving God and loving others – as we strive to guide those in our community to “navigate all of the struggles and joys of what it means to be an unfolding human being in a place that ultimately says, “I know you, I love you, you are important.” (Anne Mellow, 2020) 

LGLO

Developing A Marketing Plan That Will ACTUALLY Work

September 25, 2025

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CST

Presented by: Meg Hasten, Director of Strategic Communication, All Saints' Episcopal School, Fort Worth, TX

In a world of school choice and competition, our schools are feeling increasing pressure to develop marketing plans that will capture attention. While most want to start with pretty pictures and catchy slogans, the real work is understanding what motivates families to choose your school; only then can you effectively target and attract mission-aligned families. In this webinar, Meg Hasten, Director of Strategic Communication at All Saints' Episcopal School in Fort Worth, will use NAIS’s "Jobs to be Done" research to help schools understand and communicate their value proposition more effectively.

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Church/School Relationship - Part 1: What Every Rector and Vestry Needs to Know About Episcopal Schools

October 7, 2025

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST

Presented by: Ann Mellow, Certified Leadership Coach, The Leader Network

Rectors and vestry members often find themselves in a head-scratching relationship with their parish-connected Episcopal school. This is not uncommon! Churches as schools have significant differences which, when better understood, can head-off conflict. In this webinar, we will explore this vital relationship in the service of fostering a collaborative and productive partnership with your school partner. 

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In-Person Events

SAES Annual Leader's Meeting and

Leadership Symposium

October 3, 2025

All Saints' Episcopal School

Phoenix

Join leaders from across the association on the amazing campus of All Saints Episcopal School in Phoenix, AZ for a day of fellowship and professional growth, featuring Dr. Carrie Grimes,  Director of the Independent School Leadership Master's program at the Peabody Graduate School of Education at Vanderbilt University.  Open to all SAES Heads and Senior leaders.  Financial assistance is available - just email your request to rdevlin@swaes.org.

The Standards of SAES are grouped into eight areas.  Each set of standards forms a section of a school’s Self-Study and of the Report of the Visiting Team for an On-Site Visit.  SAES Standards are intended to be the baseline for the best practices for the Episcopal schools of our Association and should guide and undergird schools’ operations, programs, and strategic planning.  Over the course of this academic year, I want to comment and reflect on each of the sets of Standards of our Association. 

The first set of SAES Standards is entitled “Mission” and in fact contains only one standard:  “The school has a clear statement of educational mission that is in congruence with the school’s Episcopal Identity.” All SAES schools should have a Mission Statement, and that statement should clearly and succinctly express the school’s purpose AND should clearly indicate that the school is an Episcopal school.  

While the Mission Statement is intended to ground the school in a long-term purpose and should be able to serve the school over the years, that doesn’t mean it should never change.  Schools often benefit from reviewing their Mission and asking if it is still effectively guiding and supporting the school.  When is the last time your school reviewed its Mission Statement?  If the date of adoption is more than a decade ago, perhaps your board wants to revisit it and affirm that it still speaks to your purpose and context.  

That review process may result in a reaffirmation of a well-crafted and well-understood Statement with a new date attached to it.  Or, it may lead to revising for clarity or changed context.  Some will say the Mission Statement should be short enough for everyone to memorize.  Others like longer statements that suggest distinct approaches or historical traditions.  What is most important is that the Statement, regardless of its age, is alive for the school today and can serve as both guide and anchor.  Important decisions–in governance, financial management, or program development–should be made through the lens of the affirmed and well-understood Mission Statement.  

As a practical matter, SAES encourages displaying the Mission throughout the school and including it in school publications.  Trustee and Faculty meetings might begin with a recitation of the Mission as a way of keeping discussion and decisions appropriately focused.  The more the Mission Statement is understood by all, the more effectively your school can achieve what it says.

The mission of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools is to lead, nurture, and university Episcopal schools in order to advance academic excellence within the faith community of the Episcopal Church.

Chris Carter

Community   |   Faith   |   Integrity   |   Leadership   |   Support

The mission of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools is to lead, nurture, and unify Episcopal schools in order to advance academic excellence within the faith community of the Episcopal Church.