Associate Chaplain
National Association of Episcopal Schools
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The National Association of Independent Schools is seeking a full-time Associate Chaplain for St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School in Washington, DC. The Associate Chaplain will nurture the spiritual life of the school community, working closely with school leadership and other chaplains. Responsibilities include leading worship, providing pastoral care, and teaching religion classes.
This role requires ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church and experience working with children. A competitive salary range of $75,000 to $115,000 is offered, including benefits such as health insurance and professional development opportunities.
Qualifications
- Strong understanding of Episcopal liturgy, theology, and practice.
- Experience working with children and adolescents in educational, parish, camp, or chaplaincy settings.
- Ability to plan and lead engaging, developmentally appropriate worship experiences.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the Head Chaplain in planning and leading chapel services.
- Provide pastoral care to students, families, faculty, and staff.
- Teach religion classes across multiple grade levels.
Skills
Education
Job description
St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School strives to create a diverse and inclusive learning community of students, faculty and staff, and parents who recognize the infinite value of every individual as a child of God. We are committed to developing character, advancing human understanding, and promoting academic excellence to shape engaged citizens who live with integrity, empathy, and purpose.
St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School serves approximately 450 students from Early Childhood through Grade 8 in the heart of Washington, DC. In addition, the School operates a vibrant Infant‑Toddler Center serving children as young as six weeks old, making St. Patrick's a community that supports children and families across the earliest years of development through middle school graduation.
The relationship between St. Patrick's Episcopal Church and St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School is a defining feature of our community and a cornerstone of our mission.
As an Episcopal school, we welcome students and families from a wide range of faith traditions and backgrounds while remaining firmly rooted in the Episcopal tradition. We seek to nurture the intellectual, social, emotional, moral, and spiritual growth of every child and to help students discover lives of meaning, purpose, compassion, and service.
St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School seeks an ordained Episcopal priest to serve as Associate Chaplain. The Associate Chaplain will work closely with the Head Chaplain, Assistant Head of School for Spiritual Life, Rector, and school leadership to nurture the spiritual life of the school community.
The Associate Chaplain serves as a visible pastoral presence, worship leader, educator, and partner in advancing the Episcopal identity of the school. While the position's primary responsibilities will focus on students and families in Kindergarten through Grade 5, the Associate Chaplain will participate in the broader PK3–Grade 8 chaplaincy program and support the spiritual life of the entire school community.
This is a full‑time, twelve‑month position. In addition to responsibilities during the academic year, the Associate Chaplain participates in summer planning, faculty orientation, leadership work, parish‑school initiatives, and other activities that support the mission and Episcopal identity of the school throughout the year.
The Associate Chaplain reports to the Head Chaplain for responsibilities related to worship planning, religious formation, teaching, pastoral care, Episcopal identity initiatives, and the implementation of the school's chaplaincy program in collaboration with the Rector.
The Associate Chaplain also serves under the ecclesiastical oversight of the Rector, who provides clergy supervision and guidance regarding ordained ministry, Episcopal liturgy, theology, and priestly responsibilities.
The Associate Chaplain shall comply with the general administrative and academic requirements applicable to School faculty and staff and shall work collaboratively with the Head of School and other school leaders in support of the mission of St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School.
- Collaborate with the Head Chaplain in planning and leading developmentally appropriate chapel services in the Episcopal liturgical tradition for students in PK3 through Grade 8.
- Help students develop an understanding of Episcopal worship traditions while fostering respect for the diversity of faith traditions represented within the school community.
- Provide pastoral care to students, families, faculty, and staff.
- Collaborate with the Head chaplain and counselors as part of the Priests and Counselors Team (PACT) partnering with division heads and teachers in the pastoral well‑being of our students.
- Maintain an active and visible presence throughout the daily life of the school.
- Teach some religion classes as needed across multiple grade levels/divisions.
- Support the development and implementation of a developmentally appropriate religion curriculum consistent with the mission of St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School and the National Association of Episcopal Schools' Principles of Good Practice.
- Partner with the Head Chaplain, Rector, and Head of School in clearly articulating the school’s Episcopal identity across worship, religion curriculum, pastoral presence, and missional priorities such as EDI, sustainability, and service learning.
- Participate in community‑wide conversations related to mission and values.
- Amplify the relationship between St. Patrick's Episcopal Church and St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School.
- Partner with the Assistant Head of School for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and leadership team in fostering a community where every individual is known, valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique gifts for the common good.
- Partner with the Director of Community Service, to lead and support service‑learning initiatives that connect classroom learning, spiritual formation, and meaningful community engagement.
- Support the School's commitment to sustainability by linking it with creation care and environmental stewardship, helping students understand their responsibility as caretakers of God's creation.
- Serve as a member of the School's Administrative Team and contribute to discussions regarding student life, school culture, mission, and community well‑being.
- Engage in ongoing professional, spiritual, and programmatic planning with the Head Chaplain and school leadership team.
- Serve as a member of the Priests and Counselors Team (PACT), collaborating with chaplains, counselors, and school leaders to support student well‑being and pastoral care across the community.
- Serve as an assisting member of the St. Patrick's Parish Clergy Team.
- Work closely with the Head Chaplain in implementing the vision and priorities of the school's chaplaincy program.
- Participate in summer planning, faculty and staff orientation, and opening‑of‑school preparations.
- Preach nine times annually at the parish Sunday services, as mutually agreed upon with the Rector, with opportunities to also celebrate and officiate the Eucharist.
- Participate in parish and church‑school initiatives that amplify the partnership between church and school.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church.
- A strong understanding of Episcopal liturgy, theology, and practice.
- Experience working with children and adolescents in educational, parish, camp, or chaplaincy settings.
- An understanding of the distinctive role of Episcopal schools within a religiously diverse community.
- The ability to plan and lead engaging, developmentally appropriate worship experiences.
- Strong pastoral instincts and excellent interpersonal skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- A collaborative spirit and commitment to teamwork.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a dynamic school environment.
- Successful completion of all required background checks and Safe Church requirements.
We seek a priest who is joyful, relational, collaborative, intellectually curious, and passionate about helping young people explore faith, meaning, purpose, and belonging. The successful candidate will be eager to become an active member of a vibrant church‑school community and committed to nurturing the spiritual lives of children, families, and colleagues.
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
- Participation in clergy benefits programs consistent with Episcopal Diocese of Washington and Church Pension Fund requirements.
- Employer contribution toward health insurance in accordance with diocesan guidelines.
- Participation in the Church Pension Fund.
- Long‑term disability coverage.
- FICA reimbursement consistent with clergy compensation practices.
- Vacation, personal leave, and professional leave in accordance with School policies for twelve‑month administrators.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Additional benefits available in accordance with School policies.
Salary Range: $75,00-115,000
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of professional references to:
Jalene Spain Thomas
Head of School
thomasjs@stpatsdc.org
The Rev. Andrew Ogletree
Rector
rector@stpatrickschurchdc.org
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