Dear St. Elizabeth’s Community,

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference (PoCC) alongside 13 of our educators and administrators: Mrs. Hornbacher, Mrs. McNally, Ms. Carletta, Ms. Meallet, Ms. Floren, Ms. Brenda, Mr. Hilario, Señora Laura, Ms. Destiny, Ms. Emily, Mr. Jackson, and Mrs. Parman. It was a transformative experience, reaffirming the importance of creating spaces where educators of color are seen, celebrated, and supported. On Wednesday, led by Mrs. Hornbacher and Mrs. McNally and team of Ms. Meallet, Mr. Hilario, Señora Laura, Ms. Rupe, Mrs. Poulsen, Mr. Ben, Mrs. Johnson, and Ms. Loree, we hosted a sold-out site visit at St. E’s for over 20 educators from across the country. One visitor captured what we strive for every day: “a community where joy, belonging, and excellence are interwoven.”

The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: Joy, Purpose, and the Path to Academic Success

On Thursday, I attended a keynote session by Karen Walrond, author of The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy. Joy is not frivolous—it is essential, particularly in challenging times. She spoke about the transformative power of finding joy in purpose-driven work, explaining that joy not only sustains us but also amplifies our impact. 

At St. Elizabeth’s, we know that joy and academic success are inextricably linked. When children feel seen, valued, and safe, they are better able to engage, take risks, and thrive in their learning. Our commitment to fostering an inclusive community—one where every student and educator feels that they belong—is rooted in this understanding. Joy is not just a byproduct of our work; it is a foundation. It’s why we create classrooms filled with warmth and laughter and why we strive to inspire learning that transforms lives. Our children can excel because their mental real-estate is not tied up in having to put on airs, it is available to engage in meaningful work.

A Show-Stopping Performance

Speaking of authenticity, our choir brought the house down on Friday! Performing in front of 5,000 conference attendees is no small feat, and our students owned the moment. Why? Because they were relaxed and totally themselves on stage. Their joy was palpable, and it was contagious. By the time they finished, everyone in the room was on their feet. I might be biased, but they were hands-down the best student group to perform.

A huge thank you to choir director Emily Branam, parent and accompanist Paul Rasmussen, parent and songwriter Saxon Kincey whose song “Lead the Way” got everyone on their feet, and our incredible singers Genevieve (3rd), Joy (3rd), Rosie (3rd), Nadzjae (4th), Calvin (5th), Elisheba (5th), Colls (5th), Wren (5th), Ellington (5th), Jasper (5th), Quentin (5th), Lena (5th), James (5th), Martha (5th), Parker (5th), and Kiluna (5th). Shiloh (5th) and Aubrey (5th) were unable to attend but there in spirit!

Gratitude for Our Community

None of this would have been possible without the support of our entire school community. Thank you to the teachers Mr. Ashmore, Ms. Burns, Ms. De la Torre, Pastor Tory, Mrs. Hellyer, Mrs. Church, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Knowlton, Mrs. Knox, Mrs. McAfee, Mr. Ben, Mrs. Rupe, Mr. Stabler, and Mrs. Corriveau, and substitutes (we see you Stacie Hanson, Aimee Archer, Brittany Ballard, Monice Mills, and Katie Thomason) who covered classes to ensure our educators and administrators could attend PoCC, to the team who prepared our site for Wednesday’s visit, to the families who cheered us on—thank you. Together, we demonstrated the power of a joyful, inclusive, and excellent education.

Together, we are building something magical—something that inspires not only our students but also educators from across the country!

Best foot forward,