Zoology. Multivariable Calculus. AP Psychology. Environmental Science. Creative Writing in the Digital Age. These are just a few of the many offerings found at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Sure, teachers cover traditional subjects in history, English, math, and science, but in keeping with the pace of today’s world, students are exploring more topics than ever and are gaining exposure in classes typically reserved for college campuses.
“St. Andrew’s faculty are experts in their field, as evidenced by the high percentage of those with PhDs,” said Dr. Julie Rust, associate head of Middle and Upper Schools for teaching, learning, and innovation. “Because of this, they bring high quality curricula to the material they teach, a curricula that is well-steeped in more global perspectives and more informed than many curricula that are common in the state of Mississippi.”
Rust works alongside faculty in these divisions as an advisor and an organizer for curricular programming, overseeing program structures, and providing departments guidance when making shifts and updates.
Dr. Shea Egger serves in the same role at the south campus as the associate head of Lower School for teaching, learning, and innovation. Since she joined St. Andrew’s faculty in 2016, Egger has noticed several key differences that make the school stand out in the metro area.
“There is an integration across disciplines and an intentionality to integrate social and emotional skills into everything that is taught,” Egger said. “The co-curricular offerings are incredibly enriching for students. Teachers collaborate across disciplines to make learning relevant and meaningful for students. Additionally, the focus on Responsive Classroom practices is an intentional effort to not only create good citizens, but to help students foster essential skills needed to be true independent thinkers and problem solvers; skills like empathy, collaboration, and communication. The phrasing that teachers ‘teach you how to think, not what to think’ is so true of our school.”
Despite the innovations and learning methodologies happening within St. Andrew’s, there are common misconceptions held by those outside of the school’s community: the school is far too traditional; classes are overly rigorous; and that St. Andrew’s is unconventional.
St. Andrew’s is making strides to enlarge and curate what is already a highly exploratory, active learning-based and technology-steeped curriculum through a movement known as i2: Inspire and Innovate.
“St. Andrew’s is already a haven for innovation,” said Rust. “i2 is a way to house, support, then further create opportunities not only for students and teachers to do new things, but also to improve the craft and the reach of things that they’re already doing.”
The i2 movement consists of three initiatives: the i2 Team, the i2 Labs, and three i2 Classrooms – one in each division. The i2 Team, comprised of St. Andrew’s faculty and staff, leads educators and innovators and is committed to helping teachers develop measurable strategies that maximize learning. The i2 Labs – one on each campus – are physical spaces that serve as brainstorming hubs where teachers can go for professional support, additional resources, and fine-tuning of ideas. The final initiative is i2 Classrooms, which feature flexible and mobile furniture, expansive white board walls, and cutting-edge video and projector technology for learning, discussion, and collaboration.
In addition to the i2 spaces, St. Andrew’s is part of the Malone Schools Online Network, which offers all students classes found at no other school in Mississippi. Taught by instructors at independent schools around the country, classes are presented in HD and include live, interactive components for virtual classroom real-time participation. Classes for the 2019-20 school year include but are not limited to: Multivariable Calculus, Intro to Organic Chemistry, Advanced Macroeconomics, Advanced Applied Math Through Finance, Philosophy in Pop Culture, and Explorations in Computer Science: Solving Multidisciplinary Problems with Computational Methods.
Beyond the Malone classroom, St. Andrew’s math and science classes provide students when an active and engaged learning experience, starting in their early years at the Lower School.
“Math lessons begin with an anchor task where students are given the opportunity to problem solve and share their strategies with the group,” said Egger. “Students aren’t passive participants in class, simply receiving information from teachers; instead, they are actively engaged in the lesson through exploration and inquiry.”
This approach carries over to the lab and researched-based science classes, where students are spending more and more time with hands-on, experiential learning.
The Malone classes – along with the variety of advanced classes found at St. Andrew’s – gives the impression that the school’s programming is overly rigorous, when in fact, the school caters to students of all learning styles.
“While we hold students to high standards, we have a wide range of student needs, strengths, and future career aspirations,” said Rust. “As a result, our curricula is increasingly built to accommodate student differences, to differentiate based on interest and ability.”
The needs of each student are met through St. Andrew’s Student Support Services, comprised of a team of professionals who collaborate in each division with a common goal of meeting the diverse needs of learners from pre-K3 through senior year by using a holistic approach to help meet the varied academic, physical, social/emotional, and spiritual needs of the school’s diverse student body. The Student Support staff consists of on-site, full-time learning facilitators, reading specialists, school counselors, and health and wellness director, a director of student health, registered nurses, and chaplains, providing resources in every division to support students in all areas.
Finally, St. Andrew’s is viewed as an unconventional school. In keeping with its tradition of strong academics and in the continuum of leading innovation, St. Andrew’s was the first to have a community service requirement for graduation, the first to have a Cum Laude chapter, the first to have an Honor Code for students on the high school level, the first in Mississippi to have AP classes, the first to field soccer and lacrosse teams, and the first to have a one-to-one laptop program.
“St. Andrew’s is distinctively open to a wide range of religious, philosophical, and political learnings,” said Rust. “In fact, the curricula opens up many opportunities to learn from those that believe differently from us. In this way, our students are better equipped to face an increasingly diverse world.”
Ultimately, this perspective is what has kept St. Andrew’s at the forefront of education for 71 years, and it is what will allow the school to continue to lead the way.
“We’ve been assessing what we do and always ensuring that a St. Andrew’s education prepares students for the next stages in their life,” said Head of School Tom Sheppard.
As school leaders look toward the future of education, they follow a common vision: “In 2021 St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a beacon of education innovation, inclusivity, and wellness, empowering generations of Saints to impact the world.”
Through this vision, St. Andrew’s will continue to focus on providing academic excellence and creating environments where students can thrive – both during their classroom years and beyond.
