ST. PATRICK’S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
DAY SCHOOL CHAPLAIN 
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Position Available: July 2026

We invite potential candidates for this position to learn more about St. Patrick’s by visiting the Day School website at www.stpatsdc.org, including the redesigned Careers page under “Who We Are,” and the Church website at www.stpatrickschurchdc.org.

MISSION STATEMENT
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 participant 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.

ORGANIZATION 
St. Patrick’s seeks an enthusiastic, collaborative, and Day School  Chaplain who will support the spiritual and pastoral needs of students, faculty, and families in our vibrant PK3 through Grade 8 community of 460 learners in the heart of Washington, DC. At St. Patrick’s, students shine infinitely brighter as they discover their talents and stretch toward their full potential, grow infinitely stronger by developing their values, spirituality, and character, and care infinitely more as they gain confidence in their roles as compassionate global citizens.

The Day School’s relationship with St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church is a central, distinguishing feature of our existence and the foundation of the system of values we embrace. The education of our children is guided by our church-school identity and reflected in our commitment to children’s moral-spiritual growth, their participation in the liturgical life, and their service to others, found at the heart of the Episcopal tradition. 

Indeed, our Statement of Philosophy concludes with these words:

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School and the Parish that brought the school to life fulfill their sense of purpose in the acceptance, the care, and the nurture of God’s children. Through our efforts within a Christian community we enable young people of all races, creeds, and cultural backgrounds to achieve wholeness in their intellectual, social, emotional, moral and spiritual, and physical lives, in the present and well into the future.

THE CHAPLAIN
The Day School Chaplain represents a continuing ecclesiastical presence in the school in a manner that is both loving and supportive. By leading chapels, planning and reviewing religion curricula, teaching religion classes, and providing pastoral care and conversation, the Chaplain interacts with students and families at important times of spiritual and moral formation. The chaplaincy provides a confidential and thoughtful support system for students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Specifically, the Chaplain’s responsibilities include:

planning, organizing, and leading up to three chapels a week (Early Childhood Division, Kindergarten to Grade 5, and Grades 6 to 8), as well as special chapels that occur about once a month to mark various holidays and important celebrations in the church calendar and in the life of the school, such as the Opening Chapel, St. Francis Day, All Saints Day, Christmas Pageants, and St. Patrick’s Day; ensuring that the chapels for each grouping are developmentally appropriate and incorporate prayer, storytelling, and interactive elements that engage young children; fostering an understanding of and an appreciation for the interfaith nature of Episcopal schools, in general, and of St. Patrick’s, in particular; chairing the Religion Department. As Department Chair, the Chaplain, working with the Rector, Head of School, and members of the Religion Department, is responsible for developing, implementing, and providing ongoing evaluation for a program that is consistent with the National Association of Epsicopal Schools’ “Principles of Good Practice for the Study of Religion in Episcopal Schools”; teaching a set of religion classes to various grade levels, according to a schedule arrived at by agreement with other members of the Religion Department and the Senior Administrators; leading in developing school-wide religion curriculum by working with the Rector, Head of School. and members of the Religion Department; ministering to Day School students, parents, and faculty and staff, including confidential pastoral care and being available for general chaplaincy duties;
collaborating with the Division Heads, the Religion Department, and other entities to achieve all goals; participating as a member of the Day School Administrative Team, including regular meetings; participating as a member of the Pastors and Counseling Team (PACT); and, being a visible presence in the daily life of the Day School.

Additionally, past Chaplains have organized the Middle School Chapel Council and supported Community Service and Service Learning within the Day School.

THE CHAPLAINCY: PARISH RESPONSIBILITIES
The Parish of St. Patrick’s founded the Day School with a vision of serving the Palisades section of Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas, with an Episcopal education steeped in Christian ethics and morals. This Episcopal identity continues to provide the foundation for the Day School’s life and ministry. The Day School is an important ministry of the Parish, which takes an active role in ensuring its character, its health, and its vitality. The Chaplain serves an important and unique role, bridging the Church and Day School communities. 
Specifically, the Chaplain’s Parish responsibilities include: being an active member of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Parish; preaching at Church worship services five to six times annually;
participating in weekly Church staff meetings.

REQUIREMENTS
A successful candidate for the position of Day School Chaplain will demonstrate:
ordination as a member of the Episcopal clergy; 
a strong understanding of Episcopal liturgy, theology, and practice;
a nuanced understanding of what it means to be an Episcopal parish day school chaplain in a religiously pluralistic school community, city, and greater metropolitan area;
an ability to plan, organize, and lead developmentally appropriate worship services for children and young people—in St. Patrick’s case, students from three years old to 14 years old;
the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and Rectory and church staff, as well as with parents, parishioners, volunteer leaders, and service providers;
highly effective organizational skills and the ability to express themselves effectively both verbally and in writing;
successful completion of the required background check.

BENEFITS
The benefits available to the Day School Chaplain include:
a competitive salary commensurate with experience;
payment by the Day School of life and health insurance premiums according to diocesan guidelines;
payment by the Day School of the required assessment to the Church Pension Fund for clergy.

About St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School

St. Patrick’s is a co-educational Episcopal parish day school that opened its doors to children 67 years ago, having been created by resolution of the Vestry of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in 1956. Located in the Palisades section of Northwest Washington, D.C., and beginning with a Nursery School for 6 students in the Church basement, the Day School has blossomed into a Nursery to Grade 8 institution for 475 students on two beautifully appointed academic campuses and a third housing an expansive athletic field and outdoor garden and learning center. As an Episcopal School, St. Patrick’s welcomes community members of all faiths as well as community members who do not practice a faith tradition. Community members are encouraged to stand in their own faith or beliefs and be open to all. In 2017, a 19,000 square foot Middle School was opened for students in Grades 6, 7, and 8. Additionally, the School provides a robust, nurturing, play-based program for infants and toddlers, which is celebrating its 32 nd year. Recently revitalized outdoor play and learning spaces reinforce creative, healthy, and vigorous play and dramatically expand learning opportunities. The award-winn...ing Environmental Sustainability Program, with a commitment to outdoor education and stewardship of our planet, has evolved into one of the pillars of the student experience at St. Patrick’s. Tremendous care and thoughtfulness devoted to child-centered academic programming and teaching space design, coupled with a strong sense of joy and belonging, are the hallmarks of this school. The long- tenured faculty and staff devote themselves to providing excellence in education within the Episcopal tradition, while celebrating the whole child, helping to guide their students toward self- discovery, cultivation of their strengths, growth of personal integrity, and development into their best selves. Mission 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. The school is committed to developing character, advancing human understanding, and promoting academic excellence to shape engaged citizens who live with integrity, empathy, and purpose. At a Glance Established: 1956 Enrollment: 475 Grades: Nursery - Grade 8 Students of color: 38% Full-Time Faculty and Staff: 125 Faculty of color: 39% Faculty with advanced degrees: 73% Student/teacher ratio: 6.8:1 Students receiving financial assistance: 24% Interscholastic sports teams: 19 Music ensembles: 7 Art studios: 3 Campus size: 19 acres Mascot: Wolfhound Accreditations and Memberships: National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMSDC), Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association (MAESA, National Business Officers Association (NBOA))

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