St Stephens Episcopal School

I'm the parent of a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old at St. Stephen's. I have been extremely happy with the education my children are receiving at this wonderful school. When I pick up my children from their classrooms each day, they are excited, inspired, and full of new information. It is not at all unusual for my children to ask me to show them pictures or read them books about the subjects they have encountered at school. Because of the Montessori principles and the truly exceptional teachers, the students are encouraged to move at their own speed, such that they are always challenged just enough and never bored. The student body is diverse, and many of the children come from international families like ours. This, as well as the school's spirit, fosters a community of acceptance, tolerance, and intellectual curiosity in other points of view and cultures. As a family, we are very excited that St. Stephen's is adopting an IB curriculum for its high school, which we believe will provide an excellent opportunity for our children. We feel extremely fortunate to have found this fantastic school, and part of our decision to settle in the Houston area is based on the fact that we want our kids to continue to attend St. Stephen's.

My name is Michael A. Grusak. I’m a Board Member and also the parent of a child who has attended St. Stephens Episcopal School since first grade – he’s now in 11th grade. We firmly believe in all that St. Stephens has to offer its students. The learning environment is excellent, the teachers are caring and well trained, and the administration is responsive to student and parent needs. We only have one more year with St. Stephens, which is a real shame. However, my wife and I believe that St. Stephen’s has done a tremendous job in preparing our son for college, and all that life will bring him in the years ahead. I highly recommend this school to anyone who wishes to see their child grow, and learn, and be challenged, in a wonderful, nurturing environment.

From 18 months to 18 years, St. Stephen's has developed an integrated curriculum pathway that "follows the student" in ensuring his or her holistic development using the Montessori and IB philosophies and pedagogies. As a board member of five years it has been exciting to be a member of a school of excellence that truly puts the student and his or her growth first in all that we do. I can honestly say the board works hard to assist the head of school and his faculty and staff in all of the endeavors that must be accomplished to maintain a school of excellence and to pursue a culture of continuous improvement. The dedication and passion that exist within the faculty, staff and board is truly inspiring and makes for an environment where it is actually "fun" to attend board meetings and be actively engaged in school activities. SSESH is a very special place that has positively impacted not only the lives of its students but also the lives of the adults who are in its community.

I am a board member and the parent of a former St Stephen's student. As a parent, I was very pleased with the richness and depth of study offered, as well as life application teaching methods. As a board member, I am fortunate to work with others (board, faculty, staff) who demonstrate a high level of passion for and commitment to creating and sustaining an exceptional learning environment at St Stephen's.

As a parent of two students attending St. Stephen's Episcopal School, I have been very pleased with the value our school has added to our family. Both of the children are being nurtured in an encouraging, supportive, yet academically challenging environment. The partnership we have with administration, faculty and staff has proven to be productive. Having a background in education, I am quite impressed with the open communication, transparency of operations and focus on the well being of each child. I highly rate St. Stephen's in addressing the social, educational and spiritual needs of each student, as an individual.

We have two kids in the 11th grade at St Stephens. Our son began there two and a half years ago, and our daughter transferred there in August from a private high school here in Houston. St Stephens is an outstanding school. The faculty is top notch. Well-educated, enthusiastic, dedicated, kind, and professional are just a few words I happily use to describe the faculty and staff. Our daughter says she has learned more in the 3 months she has been at SSES than she learned in two entire years at her prior school. The educational standards at SSES are very high because of the quality of instruction. We think St Stephens is the very BEST of all the private schools in Houston that our children have attended. With Dr David Coe as the newly appointed Head of School, St Stephens is in great hands. Combined with a strong community of families and staff, St Stephens is an exceptional learning environment for children of many ages.

I currently serve as a Board member of St. Stephen's Episcopal School Houston. My daughter also attended as a student. I find St. Stephen's to be a rich educational environment which nurtures critical thinking and cultivates students wholistically. The board is proactive and creative; the faculty is exceptional and the administration is deeply committed. I highly recommend St. Stephen's.

St. Stephen's Episcopal School's faculty, staff and administration are committed to providing an extraordinary Montessori based education in a respectful, nurturing, diverse and caring environment. Knowledge, thoughtful decision making and service to others are instilled in our students throughout their educational journey. Our school is enriched by an active, involved and supportive parent and family community.

My son and daughter both attend St Stephen's Episcopal School, and I volunteer extensively at the school. This is our son's fourth year at the school, and our daughter's first, so we've had several years to observe the programs offered at several grade levels. The school truly provides a loving, nurturing environment in which to deliver a superior education. In a time when so many schools are cutting back on their arts programs, St. Stephen's maintains and continues to improve an already impressive fine arts curriculum that integrates art and music into what they are learning in their classrooms. Children attending St. Stephen's are encouraged to develop their creativity, intelligence, and individuality, and the teachers at St. Stephens really do an outstanding job of meeting the needs of the individual students. I cannot say enough good things about the teachers at the school; they care about the children, and they give them the tools to succeed both at their current level and later in life. The parent community is also active and involved, and many parents attend monthly coffee at the school to socialize with each other and get updates from the administrative staff. St. Stephens is a real blessing for the families who are fortunate enough to have found them.

I am a former Board Member at St Stephen's and my two sons have attended the school for the past five years. My husband Ryan and I chose St. Stephen's for our children because of its small, nurturing environment and excellent teachers, its Montessori curriculum (combined with an emphasis on Fine Arts), and Episcopal identity, all of which contribute to the development of each child as a unique individual. We were also drawn to the diversity of the student body at St. Stephen's, a diversity that spans race and ethnicity, religious beliefs and traditions, nationality, sexual orientation, and income level. I feel that, taken all together, these qualities make St. Stephen's a truly special place, and I don't think any other school in Houston can replicate the spirit of our school. My children are flourishing at the school, academically, artistically, emotionally, and spiritually. The teachers truly care about each individual student, and do whatever it takes to allow each child to thrive and develop in their own way. I am so happy to have such a wonderful place to send my children.

My name is Mark R. Yzaguirre. My wife and I are co-chairs of the Parent Ambassadors Committee (the parents organization) at St. Stephen's Episcopal School and our daughter is a student at St. Stephen's. St. Stephen's is a great school. The learning environment is both challenging and nurturing, as one might expect at a Montessori school, and our daughter has thrived there. The Parent Ambassadors Committee has worked well with the school's administration and they are an efficient and proactive group. I give St. Stephen's a strong positive review.