October is such a beautiful time of year. The leaves are changing, the colors are warm and welcoming, and there is excitement in the air as we look forward to fall events. The school year is well underway, routines are becoming familiar, relationships are growing, and we are getting to know our students and one another in deeper ways. But October can also be the time when we really start to feel the school year. The excitement of the beginning has worn off, and the reality of

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 Well, we made it to September. The bulletin boards are up, the lesson plans are moving, and we've learned most of the students' names. Or at least gotten pretty good at pointing and saying, "Yes... you." Give a teacher two weeks and a class list and we'll give you a scouting report. This one's going to remind me when I forget to collect homework. This one w

A devotion written for a bunch of educators in the month of August is just begging to talk about the idea of “new.” “New Beginnings.” “Behold, I am doing a new thing…” “A blank page!” “A fresh start!” Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Sorry to disappoint, but this devotion will not cover any of those ideas. Rather, as the summer passes and the school year begins, one could consider this a time of transition. And almost everyone can attest to the fact that making a “smooth” tra

“Abide in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4 As another school year comes to an end, teachers often carry a mixture of emotions- relief, exhaustion, gratitude, disappointment, joy, and uncertainty. Some students soared this year. Others struggled. Some lessons landed beautifully. Others felt like they disappeared into the air before they ever reached a chil

I recently shared with our staff a word that has been coming to my mind often lately to describe us at St. Paul’s: gritty. I’ve spent some time reflecting on what that really means and how it relates to our work. When you describe a person or an organization as “gritty,” you’re talking about toughness and determination, especially in the face of challenges. Gritty people don’t give up easily. They push through discomfort, setbacks, and failure. They have resilience and mental