History of Epiphany School:
Celebrating 50 years
Respect for the past, Responsibility for the future
Like most independent schools, Epiphany School began as an idea. The founding Head of School, Dr. Elmer B. Christie, was the Rector of Epiphany Parish and saw that Epiphany Church facilities were rarely used during the work week and could be used to meet the pressing need of the larger community by providing a quality primary education for Seattle’s children. Thus, Epiphany School began in September 1958 with students in Kindergarten, First and Second Grades. The academic commitment of the School was clear from its earliest inception; admission was based on a personal interview and satisfactory test scores, with preference given to siblings and children of Epiphany Parish.
In 1963, Father Raymond Gayle, Associate Rector of Epiphany Parish, was named Headmaster. He took the time to visit every child’s home and every child’s birthday became a reason for school-wide celebration. One of the School’s challenges during Gayle’s tenure was a growing concern within the Parish community over the cost of running a school of 150 students, 25 percent of whom were Parish children. By 1968 the School was its own entity, legally independent of the Church but still regarded as a definite part of Parish life.
With the hiring of Head of School Robert Spock, younger brother of renowned baby doctor Benjamin Spock, the School moved away from its sectarian roots towards a model focused on academic preparation, inspiring teaching, and individual responsibility. Under Robert Spock’s leadership, Epiphany was one of the first schools in the Pacific Northwest region to offer a learning skills program. The School gained a reputation for challenging bright students who learned differently and preparing them for the most demanding middle schools in the area.
Mr. Spock left a legacy of healthy enrollment for the Heads of School who followed him, Mark Kimball (1975) and Joseph Morton (1976-81). In a typical year, the School would receive 80 applications for 25 openings. Mr. Morton saw the necessity of the School having its own dedicated classrooms and mobilized the school community to expand the campus.
The decade of the 1970’s was one of change for Epiphany School. In 1971, the School became a member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) and bought two brick houses adjacent to the Church campus. Thanks to tremendous community and parent support, which has been a hallmark of Epiphany throughout its history, the School was able to renovate those buildings and transform them into a classroom building named Spock Hall.
Jean Augustine was appointed Headmistress in 1981. Mrs. Augustine’s hands-on leadership style combined with her energy, commitment, and skill led to the expansion of the School’s play areas and hiring of many talented faculty and staff, some of whom still work at Epiphany today. Under her guidance, construction of the Sander-Alvord Gymnasium became a reality. She was a champion of the School’s endowment, diversifying its student body, and building the family atmosphere of the School.
After Mrs. Augustine’s retirement the School was led by David Selby. Mr. Selby introduced Latin into the upper elementary curriculum. In 1996, the Board of Trustees completed a successful capital campaign raising $1.5 million to build Augustine Hall.
John Hyslop served as Interim Head of School for the 2000-01 school year during a nationwide search for a permanent school head. The selection of George Edwards as Epiphany’s new Head of School occurred in February 2001 and in 2002 the School began an extensive Strategic Planning process.
In 2003, in response to 2002 Strategic Plan recommendations, the School began adding one section per grade, starting with Kindergarten. In 2004, the School began acquiring private homes adjacent to its campus and launched a $15 million capital campaign to pay for the expansion.
For nearly 50 years, Epiphany School has been educating the children of Seattle. The School continues to emphasize the superior educational experience and close family atmosphere that have been its hallmarks throughout its history. Epiphany has graduated nearly 1,000 students who often return to the School and increasingly bring their own children to be educated here. It has been a remarkable institutional journey, full of challenges and risks, but with a clear road map that has always led to doing what is best for Epiphany’s students. If the past is one indicator of the future, Epiphany School has very bright prospects.
