Mary Katherine Duffy, Deputy for Episcopal Schools in the Diocese of West Texas, shares an update on the Diocese of West Texas Episcopal Schools.
Please provide an overview of the Diocese of West Texas Episcopal
The Diocese of West Texas has 26 Episcopal schools. They range from standalone preschools all the way to our diocesan school, TMI Episcopal here in San Antonio. The enrollment ranges from 15 students all the way up to around 700 in a couple of our larger schools, and everywhere in between. Some are parish day schools, and some are standalone preschools. We are blessed to have a diocesan school as not every diocese has one. All of our schools are very family focused and episcopal identity focused. Our schools are dedicated to the whole child - the mind, body, spirit of approach to education. Of course, there are various ways in which they educate, but they're all focused on the mind, body, spirit approach to, to learning
What does your position as Deputy of Episcopal Schools encompass?
I am a resource for all our schools, providing training and all things related to the schools. I work with Bishop Read to support him as he supports the schools and serve as a liaison between the Bishop and the schools. Additionally, I spend a lot of time working with our schools, supporting the head of school or the director of the program and working with clergy and school boards. Because we have so many schools and they are supporting faculty, boards and students, we needed someone to be a resource that they could call. Having served 17 years as a head of school, most of the things that people are running into are things that I've run into myself. So, I believe my experience is helpful to them. Much of my time is spent on the phone, but I also spend a lot of time in person visiting the schools seeing what they need from me in terms of support, resources and information and providing connections to other schools that are doing some of the things that they're doing.
Can you talk a little bit about the identity of Episcopal schools and what type of spiritual enrichment is available for students?
What we hope for and in our schools is what we call Episcopal identity, and that is what makes an Episcopal school different. This identity means our schools are committed to academic excellence, academic rigor, social justice, community involvement and community support. But we're also committed to worship and spiritual formation for students. The Episcopal identity of our schools ensures that our students are receiving spiritual development - that can come in the form of worship. Most schools hold chapel at least two to three times a week, with some schools holding chapel four or five times a week. Spiritual development is also in the form of religious studies – the type depends on the grade level of the students. For instance, TMI Episcopal will do a more complex religious formation than a standalone preschool, but all of our schools are doing something in the way of worship and spiritual formation. It can look like godly play in our preschools all the way up to a regular selection of various religion classes.
One of the things that I love about Episcopal schools is the diversity. Our enrollment is rarely fully Episcopalian. Our schools are traditionally mostly non- Episcopalian. That’s different, and you may ask, “Why aren't these kids going to Episcopal churches?”. Well, that's because they come from various places representing various religious.
We have various socioeconomics, and we strive for diversity. That's a tenet of Episcopal identity that makes us unique and special in that we're serving a variety of people. Another thing that I think is special is something that we talk about a lot in parish day schools. Parish day schools are schools in which the parish started the school. Often a parishioner will ask, “Why aren't all these kids coming to our church?”.
And what I would argue is that they are going to your church. They go to your church every single day. They may not be there on a Sunday, but they are there almost every day in the form of religious studies, or chapel, or relationship with the priest, or any other number of ways. Our youth ministers are involved in the churches and in the schools. That’s what really makes Episcopal schools special.
I believe spiritual development is something that kids take with them. Many schools offer Reunion Chapel – a program that brings back high school seniors who talk about their memories and attend chapel. What continues to be the string that always comes across is how these students remember chapel. We hear, “I remember singing these songs. I remember praying for this”. So, the Episcopal School Network is one in which we are forming students spiritually. Sometimes they don't even realize it until they’re gone, and that is one of the most unique parts of Episcopal schools, being the spiritual formation
How do our diocesan churches support our schools?
The majority of the ways that churches and schools, especially in a parish day school, support each other is not necessarily in financial terms. Sometimes it’s financial through joint fundraisers, but where the support largely comes is through volunteerism. Many of the parish day schools have a lot of volunteerism - parishioners volunteer in the schools to help with faculty, reading, students, being on the school board, and other things. That’s super important. There is much collaboration in parish day schools around fundraising. They'll do a gala or a, a big event, and split the funds with the church. Capital campaigns are done together because the schools need permission from the church to be able to build. For example, St. Albans in Harlingen, did a joint school/church capital campaign as multiple buildings were going to be used both by church and school. Parish day schools are very good about collaborating and working together, especially when the priest is super active in the church and school.
There can be growth in the church because the, because the school is there. Where I see this happen is when a rector of the church is super involved in the school - in the lives of the kids and in the lives of the faculty. So, consequently when that happens, individuals who are unchurched or who are not going to church get to know the rector and the youth minister, and all of a sudden, their kids want to go to the church.
My belief is that collaboration is the biggest outreach of a parish day school. Church community is the school. You're not going to find a better way of evangelizing than to have a school. It’s not without its difficulties at times, but it's an incredible opportunity for a church to evangelize and to spread the word of Jesus.
About Mary Katherine Duffy
With almost 25 years of experience in education, the last 17 running an independent school, Mary Katherine Duffy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of independent school management and leadership. Mary Katherine began her career in business and real estate in 1991, pivoting to education when she was hired as a high school business education teacher in the Harlingen Consolidated ISD. In 2002, she was named the Head of School at St. Alban’s Episcopal Day School in Harlingen, Texas. During her time at St. Alban’s, she gained a tremendous amount of experience in faculty and student retention, enrollment strategy, financial management, and organizational development. Mary Katherine holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University and a Master’s Degree in Real Estate from Texas A&M University. She has served in various educational organizations including Secretary of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) - 3 years, Board Member of SAES - 6 years; Standards committee member of SAES for 12 years, Chairman of the Commission on Schools for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas - 10 years. She has both chaired and served on various on-site visiting teams for SAES in addition to serving as a team member for ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest) and SAIS (Southern Association of Independent Schools). She currently serves the Diocese of West Texas as the Bishop’s Deputy for Episcopal Schools and SAES as the Director of Professional Development.
New Episcopal School Opens its Doors in Cuero!
Grace Episcopal School in Cuero welcomed their first class of students to campus on August 7 and on September 25, The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas, traveled to Cuero to bless the school. Present at the blessing was Rev. Peter Thaddeus, Rector at Grace Episcopal Church, who was joined by parishioners, church and school staff, and members in the community.
Learn more about our Episcopal Schools around the diocese at dwtx.org/schools
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