Thomas Family Establishes Endowment for Faculty Teaching Award and Professional Development
March 11, 2025
The Episcopal School of Dallas is thankful to announce the establishment of The Thomas Family Endowment which bestows an annual Faculty Teaching Award. Through the generosity of this gift, the Thomas family empowers ESD to recognize teachers’ talent and achievement as outstanding among the best in the field of education.
After arriving in Dallas, Ellis and Stephen Thomas carefully considered the available choices for their children’s education. ESD's academic reputation, faith-centered mission and community aligned with their criteria. Furthermore, the amazing experiences of their children with their teachers affirmed Ellis and Stephen's choice to send their children to ESD.
Hobson Family Head of School, Dave Baad shared, “To have the top talented teachers requires offering a compensation and benefits package that attracts and retains the best teachers, along with creating a best-in-class teaching environment through mission-driven innovative programming, outstanding professional development experiences, and leadership opportunities,” in his Strategic Plan ESD2030. Ensuring the vision, great teachers make great schools, resonated deeply with both Ellis and Stephen, who were inspired to make this gift after hearing Dave share his priorities and recognizing the importance the endowment plays in achieving this goal.
In a conversation with Ellis and Stephen, they articulated “Competitive pay and top tier teacher retention is an asset for the school. The importance of qualified, caring teachers in the Lower School is a primary motivation. Providing a classroom environment where a child feels happy, safe, and valued, fosters learning, builds confidence and allows students to thrive. Capable teachers, who care about their students not only academically, but socially and emotionally - the whole child, are the foundation of a meaningful educational experience and partnership for parents.” Their family chose to support ESD2030 and Dave Baad's leadership and vision for ESD, by investing in endowment and creating The Thomas Family Endowment. Ellis and Stephen are leading the way, and are a shining example for other families, as they think about what support might look like for them.
Chief Advancement Officer, Denis Stokes stated, “The Thomas Family gift is noteworthy in multiple ways: their endowment strongly aligns with the ESD2030 strategic plan goal - Great Teachers make Great Schools - creating a permanent source of funding for ESD to provide a teacher award honorarium, while also lending strength to ESD’s professional development program.”
This is ESD’s time to soar and focus on our people and programs by attracting and retaining the very best teachers and students possible while simultaneously sustaining and further developing our programs that ignite lives of purpose. To an even greater degree, ensuring that the people and programs required to achieve this goal are meaningfully interwoven so that every learner and teacher at ESD will thrive for generations to come.
