Our History

When a group of area residents—both parishioners and non-parishioners—proffered the idea for a parish day school in 1951, they envisioned a school that would be part of the St. Francis Episcopal Church children’s program, would be self-supporting and would use parish facilities. When St. Francis Episcopal Day School was officially founded in 1952 as a mission of St. Francis Episcopal Church, it welcomed a class of 24 preschoolers. 

• In 1959, Sarah W. Woolrich joined St. Francis as a first-grade teacher. At this time, the school offered classes for students from nursery level through the third grade.
• In 1965, Ms. Woolrich became the school’s first principal.
• In 1973, St. Francis added a sixth grade and constructed the early-childhood building.
• In 1976, the Texas Education Agency formally acknowledged and accredited the school.
• Between 1978 and 1985, the school board conducted several successful capital campaigns, which funded a gymnasium, a dining hall, additional classrooms and the Sarah W. Woolrich Education Building.
• In 1986, Ms. Woolrich retired after 27 years of service to St. Francis.
• From 1986 to 1993, Dr. Kay P. Walther served as principal of the school.
• In 1994, Dr. Annette Smith became St. Francis’ head of school. At that time, St. Francis served 706 students, from three-year-olds to eighth graders.
• In 1997, St. Francis’ Outdoor Activity Center was constructed behind the gymnasium.
• In 1999, the U.S. Department of Education named St. Francis a Blue Ribbon School.
• In 2000, Dr. Smith resigned, and The Rev. Louis H. Hayden was named interim head. Also in this year, coordinated capital campaigns for the construction and renovation of the school and church began.
• In 2001, Dr. Susan Lair was named head of school, culminating a nationwide search. The school year began with new and renovated facilities, including a new Lower School Building, library, Fine Arts Center and technology center, as well as a renovated Dining Hall, gymnasium and People Place, among other spaces.
• In 2001, the Leadership Council System was established.
• In 2002, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.
• In 2003, the tradition of awarding neckties to incoming eighth graders to establish them as leaders of the school began.
• In 2004, the Sarah W. Woolrich Fund for Faculty was established. To date, nearly 60 grants have been awarded for faculty development and enrichment.
• In 2007, the Rev. Stuart A. Bates was named acting rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church. In addition, the school celebrated its 55th anniversary.
• In 2008, Dianne Barker, head of Primary School, and Anne Chisholm, head of Middle School, retired. Michelle Symonds was appointed head of Primary School, and Colleen Curran was appointed head of Middle School.
• In 2008, St. Francis Episcopal Day School and St. Francis Episcopal Church established the One Community Fund.
• In 2009, the House System was established.
• In 2010, Nancy Church, head of Lower School, retired. Elisse Hayes-Karlsson was appointed head of Lower School.
• In 2011, Stephen Lovejoy was appointed Interim Head of Middle School, and in January 2012 he was appointed as the Head of Middle School.