Chaplain and Chair of Religious Life

Episcopal Day School seeks a dynamic and enthusiastic Chaplain to be the spiritual leader of a PK3 – 8th community that nurtures hearts and minds, preparing them to lead lives of purpose, integrity, and impact. The Chaplain reports to the Head of School and serves on the Senior Administrative team.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

First and foremost, Episcopal Day School is a community of care. Our mission to nurture the hearts and minds of our students manifests daily– in the tenderness of a teacher’s interactions with a student, in the morning prayers recited by a student, in the special moments an older student interacts with a younger one, in the times of significant need, and in the small expressions of love and concern that happen every day. There is a sweetness to our community.

Episcopal Day School is also a school committed to living its mission to prepare students to lead lives of purpose, integrity, and impact. We want our students to understand their place in God’s world, develop a heart for others, and have the skills to make a difference. We work with intention to lay the foundations for learning, faith, service, character, and leadership and equip our students to make a difference. Our faith-filled community and our academic strength have been the leading reasons our families choose us.

The new Chaplain and Chair of Religious Life will come into the school at an exciting time. Enthusiasm for the school and among parents, faculty, and students is palatable and stems from a number of efforts in recent years.

The addition of the Flowing Wells campus (50 acres on a separate campus opened in 2019) has opened new opportunities for nature-based learning and athletic participation. The Flowing Wells campus includes a synthetic turf football/soccer field and a baseball complex, as well as 30 acres of natural areas for student exploration. The Nature School now enrolls nearly 50 students in pre-kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade, and they spend 80%-90% of their school day outside. Our Walton Way students have planned activities on the Flowing Wells campus every other week– exploring, conducting experiments, creating art, and working with literature. Our emphasis on nature-based learning opportunities serves as a differentiator in the market, and we continue to lean into those experiences– continually working to refine and add to them while remaining rooted in our Episcopal Identity.

Building on this momentum, the school has undertaken a number of school improvement initiatives in the last two years, including strengthening faculty salaries, expanding professional development opportunities, implementing research-based methods and curricula, and updating and enhancing facilities on both campuses.

Facilities Investments: The school has invested over $2.6 million in its facilities over the last two years to update and freshen spaces and infrastructure. Over $1,000,000 has been raised towards these facilities enhancements in the last two years. Moving forward, the school is poised to launch a modest capital campaign of $2,000,000 for additional projects on our Walton Way Campus to be completed in the next 18-24 months.

Faculty Investments: The Board understands that the faculty is the strength of the school and has dedicated considerable resources to increase salaries, improve benefits, provide funding for extensive professional development, and ensure that we are attracting and retaining talented and dedicated staff. The results speak for themselves as faculty morale is high, their talent is evident, and their care of children is unmatched.

Curricular Investments: The school leadership and faculty have taken on a number of new curricula and approaches– Singapore Math PK-7th, Language Arts from PK-8th, Science K-8th, Orton-Gillingham methods for reading instruction, Developmental Designs for Middle School for student culture, and enhanced programming around our use of the Flowing Wells property. Along with these new programs, the school has provided both personnel and training to support the work of the teachers. The impact of these programs is readily apparent and continues to increase.

Not surprisingly, this enthusiasm and these efforts have led to enrollment increases of 8.5% and 10% in the last two years. The increase for the 2024-25 school year was the largest in the last 20 years. Financial and volunteer support for the school adds to the vibrancy and positive spirit around campus. It is a great time to be a part of this special community.

ABOUT THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

As the largest ministry of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal Day School has been serving and leading in the Central Savannah River Area for 80 years. The Church of the Good Shepherd, chartered in 1869, is a large and vibrant Episcopal parish in the Diocese of Georgia. Through a unique arrangement between the Vestry and the Board of Trustees, the School operates essentially as an independent school. However, the School and the Church enjoy a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship that everyone respects and appreciates.

At the celebration of its patronal feast in the spring of 2024, Rev. Ted Clarkson, son of the founding Rector of the School, former school attorney, and (at the time) Interim Rector at the Church of the Good Shepherd, shared some of the history of the church– its naming, its legacy, and its life.  He wrote:

“Although our name was suggested by a small child, it reflects the understanding of our founders that this congregation was being called to minister to the community: From being one of the first churches on the “Hill,” to founding a school for the black children of the area in the late 1800s, to providing child care for women working at the Augusta Arsenal during WWII, to creating a school to educate and form the character of children of the area, to taking a lead on civil rights movement in the 1960s (including integrating EDS), to providing crucial financial support to dozens of local philanthropic organizations, etc., our congregation has seen its mission as being a good shepherd to the flock.  This history also makes it clear that, from its very beginning, our congregation has been focusing, not just on ministry to ourselves, but also on ministry to the people outside of our doors.  Jesus said “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

As a mission of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal Day School comes from the same cloth. Our heritage had been written by the members of the congregation for 75 years before this school was founded, and for the last 80 years, their calling has been our calling.

As a school, we are proud of that heritage and the legacy so many have left for us. We take the stewardship of that legacy seriously while also working to maintain the school’s leadership for the years to come.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHAPLAIN

We view the role of the Chaplain as central to the life of the school. That view is reinforced by the fact that the Fain Chaplaincy and Chair of Religious Life is funded by two different endowments. It is currently the only endowed position at the school. More centrally, our Episcopal heritage and our call to love God and others form the foundation of who we are and why we do what we do. The Chaplain spurs us to love and good deeds; champions our Episcopal Identity; and calls us to a deeper understanding of God’s love for us. As a member of Senior Administration, the Chaplain will ensure we continually consider decisions through the lens of our core values, remain mindful of the emotional and spiritual health of our community, and provide support for and be supported by his or her colleagues in our collective work and inevitable struggles.

Beyond these general responsibilities, the Chaplain leads in the following areas and ways:

Spiritual Leadership: In collaboration with the Head of School and Rector, the Chaplain provides spiritual leadership for the school.  As a member of the Administrative Team, the Chaplain helps ensure that administrative deliberations and decision-making are considered through the lens of our Christian values and Episcopal tradition.

Chapel and Prayers:  The Chaplain is responsible for planning and conducting school chapels each week and all other special school chapels, and liturgies. The Chaplain is responsible for preparing the prayers at the beginning of each school day and for leading the school community in prayer at assemblies, meetings, and other school functions where appropriate.

Religious Instruction:  The Chaplain is responsible for overseeing the Religion Department consisting of the Chaplain and two Godly Play/religion instructors. The Chaplain is currently responsible for teaching the religion classes in seventh and eighth grades.

Outreach:  The Chaplain is responsible for overseeing, administrating, and coordinating as necessary all of the school’s outreach and community service activities.  The Chaplain is specifically responsible for administering the Middle School Beyond EDS Service Program and school-wide outreach programs such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Enhancing and expanding service opportunities is a strategic priority for the school.

Community Relations: The Chaplain shall help nurture the school’s image and relationship in the broader community, especially with area church communities. Connecting the school to the area Episcopal churches is a point of strategic emphasis.

Pastoral Care: The Chaplain is responsible for providing pastoral care to students, school families, faculty, and staff as appropriate. The Chaplain works with the Head of School, Division Heads, School Counselor, and others as necessary to ensure the emotional, moral, and spiritual support of all Episcopal Day School students.

Other Administration:  The Chaplain is responsible for other administrative tasks as assigned by the Head of School.

Other Priestly Duties: While the Chaplain is an employee of the school, reporting to the Head of the School, he or she will also be invited to support the work of Rector at the Church of the Good Shepherd in ways that match the skills and interests of the Chaplain and the needs of the church.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHAPLAIN

• Ordained in the Episcopal Church
• Maintains a vibrant personal faith in word and action– informed at all times by the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention and our Diocese
• Works well with preschool through middle school-aged children– fostering their sense of wonder, relating Scripture in age-appropriate terms, inspiring spiritual growth, and engaging in joyful worship
• Works well with adults– conveying warmth and authenticity; leading with integrity and understanding; collaborating effectively and without ego
• Operates with flexibility, joy, and care

ABOUT AUGUSTA

Augusta, Georgia, offers a vibrant mix of Southern charm, cultural richness, and natural beauty that’s hard to find elsewhere. Nestled along the Savannah River, Augusta combines the warmth and ease of a smaller town with many of the conveniences typically found in a larger city. Known for hosting the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament each year, it also boasts an array of cultural and recreational opportunities, from world-class golf courses to the bustling Riverwalk with scenic views, outdoor concerts, and festivals. The mild climate allows for year-round activity including many of the activities around the region’s lakes and streams. Augusta’s thriving arts scene includes the Augusta Symphony, the Morris Museum of Art, and a variety of theaters and galleries, along with a growing culinary scene that highlights Southern flavors and innovative cuisine. The city’s central location makes weekend getaways easily accessible, with quick routes to both the mountains and beaches. Augusta is home to an expansive medical community with a medical and dental school. It is also home to the Army’s Cyber Command at Fort Eisenhower, which attracts several civilian contractors to the region. Other significant employers include Augusta University, John Deere, Club Car, ADP, and Trane. With an affordable cost of living, beautiful neighborhoods, and a strong community spirit, Augusta is a place where you’ll instantly feel at home.

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