Mr. Bowers' to Retire from St. James

April 2010

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Friends of St. James’ School,

When Fran and I arrived in Los Angeles in the summer of 2005, we intended to spend a year at St. James’ and then return to Las Vegas. We truly did not anticipate that this school would become the center of our professional lives for five years.

As I began working at St. James’, some things quickly became clear to me: this School is as close as any I have ever seen to living out its mission. I came to appreciate the great diversity of the St. James’ community: economic, ethnic, religious, and social. I understood how diversity can lend such richness to education and how much we can learn from each other. I learned to cherish the close ties between St. James’ Church and its School as we experienced tragedy and enjoyed celebration together.

I was happy to be back in a church school where we can face issues of right and wrong without flinching and where helping our children become good people is our most important task. I was impressed with how hard our students and teachers work and with how our parents are willing to sacrifice so that their children can receive an exemplary education.

I treasure the professional and personal satisfaction I feel from my time at St. James’. We have worked hard to make instruction more engaging, to meet the needs of the different kinds of learners in our student body, and to expand our repertoire of teaching techniques based on new understandings of how children learn and how their brains work. We have improved teaching through a prudent implementation of technology. We have stood firm in our commitment to an economically diverse student body in a time of financial uncertainty. We have resisted the temptation to water down our mission of inclusion and achievement as we fight against a culture that prizes materialism and possessions over spirituality and compassion.

St. James’ has lived by its Core Beliefs. These Beliefs are the foundation on which we will build the St. James’ of the future, and one of them is that “along with our emphasis on strong intellectual preparation, we help our students become empathetic, actively compassionate people who will use their talents in service to others.” If we keep this goal foremost in our mind and in our heart, St. James’ will never falter.
With all that we have accomplished, it is clear to me that our school is in a very strong position with a bright future ahead. I have therefore decided that the academic year 2010-2011 will be my last as Head of St. James’ Episcopal School. During the next year, the Board will be in the process of seeking a new Head, and I pledge to do all I can to help make the search successful. I will also be available to the new Head to ensure a smooth and uneventful transition. Above all, I will make every effort to ensure that next year each St. James’ student has an outstanding educational experience.

A prayer in Kreyol, the language of the people of Haiti, says,

Senye’, Si n’ap viv jodi-a malgre siklon, grangou, e maladi, nou dwe di, “Mesi, Jezi. Nou genle’ la pou yon bi.” (Lord, if we are alive today despite hurricanes, hunger, and sickness, we ought to say, “Thank you, Jesus. We are apparently here for a purpose.”)

Let us keep our purpose, the growth and nurturing of the children of St. James’ Episcopal School, in our hearts, in our minds, and in our actions. When we do so, we never go wrong.
Sincerely,

Stephen Bowers
Head of School