School Chaplain

School Overview:

Located in the center of San Mateo just minutes south of the San Francisco Airport, Episcopal Day School is a vibrant, pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, co-educational, Episcopal school with 310 students. The beautiful historic Episcopal Church centers the campus – physically and metaphorically. Students begin their days in Chapel services three days a week, and a hallmark of the Episcopal Day School experience is delivering an Eighth Grade Chapel Talk. Episcopal Day students are known for their grace and their eloquence, for their innocence and their maturity. We are devoted to a top-notch academic program that fosters critical inquiry and develops excellent writers, collaborators, problem solvers, and creators. The Mustangs shine on the athletic field and on the stage. Episcopal Day families are partners in the work of the School. Together, we raise children to be deep thinkers and socially responsible and civically engaged young adults. Our students matriculate at excellent high schools through the Bay Area and return as alumni proud of their accomplishments and deeply connected to their roots at Episcopal Day School.

Mission: The School’s mission is to inspire, through an academically challenging course of study, the intellectual curiosity, confidence, moral courage, and character that prepare students to be leaders of positive change in the world.

Motto: This is my day. What will I do?

Job Description:

The religious life of the school is the joint responsibility of the Head of School and Rector of The Episcopal Church of St. Matthew’s Parish, who work in close partnership with the Chaplain to uphold the Episcopal values and practices in the life of the School. The School Chaplain is appointed by the Head of School, approved by the Rector, and reports to the Head of School.

Role and Responsibilities:

Worship

• Plan developmentally appropriate, joyful and mission-aligned Chapel services and community events
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in all aspects of worship services
• Celebrate all faith traditions in worship services
• Coordinate student and community participation in Chapel (eg. as acolytes, ushers, readers)
• Organize and facilitate the Eighth Grade Chapel Talk program
• Help organize and lead faith-based community events such as graduation and May Day Chapel

Pastoral Care

• Support the spiritual and social-emotional well-being of all members of the community
• Counsel and provide pastoral care to students, faculty, and families
• Take an active role in ensuring that all people are respected for their religious traditions
• Facilitate experiential retreats, fostering growth-oriented activities and conversation around spiritual and social concepts in a nurturing and positive environment

Education

• Develop school-wide curriculum for religion classes that focus on both the Judeo-Christian tradition and other major world religions and that support students in understanding their own religious/spiritual traditions
• Teach religion classes
• Fulfill all faculty responsibilities

Community Service and Service Learning

• Provide leadership in developing and implementing the service learning and social justice program
• Cultivate and maintain robust community partnerships
• Coordinate and support community service projects, including school service opportunities, projects supporting local agencies (e.g., Samaritan House), and joint efforts with the DSPA and/or St. Matthew’s Parish
• Manage and facilitate student community service requirements

 Church Staff Member

• Attend church staff meetings during the school year and promote Church-School relations and communication, including coordinating and preaching at Day School Sunday each year.

Skills & Abilities: 

• Ability to uphold and model the Episcopal identity and mission of the School
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information discreetly and interact tactfully with staff, faculty, students, parents, and other school constituents while maintaining high standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity
• Excellent work ethic: proactive, responsible, reliable, punctual, and attentive to deadlines
• Ability to actively collaborate with all School constituencies
• Ability to remain professional and composed under pressure while handling a multitude of duties and situations simultaneously, and respond with appropriate professional judgment
• Ability to manage numerous tasks and projects simultaneously, anticipate and meet deadlines, problem-solve independently, as well as effectively work in a team environment
• High proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Google Suite) accompanied by a willingness to learn new technologies
• Openness to constructive feedback and direction
• Flexibility with the special needs associated with an academic calendar and schedule

 Qualifications:

• Associate’s or higher degree in Divinity Studies or related degree; higher degree preferred
• Experience working in a school environment preferred
• Excellent communication and organizational skills required

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Work in an active, fast-paced environment with various challenges, deadlines, and contacts.
• Must regularly move safely and comfortably over a large campus.
• May stand for extended periods of time (up to 4 hours per day).
• Work primarily in a traditional climate-controlled classroom environment and outside in cold and wet weather (80+ degrees).
• Ability to safely and occasionally lift up to 30 lbs. And regularly lift up to 10 lbs.
• Regularly sit, talk, walk, hear, and interact with students, parents, staff, and visitors.
• Regularly use close and distance vision.
• Able to climb stairs
• Turn, bend, reach, and occasionally use a step ladder.

Salary:

 Episcopal Day School offers a generous benefits package, is committed to equitable hiring practices, and enthusiastically encourages professionals of all backgrounds to apply. Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to work@episcopaldaysanmateo.org titled “School Chaplain”.

The salary range is $72,000.00 – $116,000.00 per year, depending on personal qualifications and experience.

Contact Information