St. James Episcopal Day School is proud to share exciting news and a well-deserved celebration from our campus community. During Eucharist this week, we had the honor of recognizing Mrs. Lynley Rhodes as the 2026 recipient of the SAES Connie Wootton Excellence in Teaching Award. SAES Executive Director Rob Devlin presented Mrs. Rhodes with the award in front of students and faculty, creating a meaningful moment of gratitude and joy for our entire school.

Named in honor of Connie Wootton and presented by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES), the Connie Wootton Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize educators who demonstrate exceptional passion, innovation, and service to Episcopal education. Each year, SAES honors teachers who not only uphold high academic standards, but also nurture the whole child—mind, heart, and spirit.

The Wootton Awards celebrate teachers who:

  • Display passion for teaching and innovation
  • Demonstrate a deep appreciation for professional development
  • Possess an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Desire their school to reflect an ongoing commitment to excellence
  • Love their students and strive daily to help them achieve their personal best
  • Exhibit commitment to the Episcopal approach to education, often described as “faith seeking understanding”

In even years, the Lower School award recognizes an outstanding teacher working with students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year, that honor belongs to Mrs. Rhodes.

A Teacher Who Inspires Curiosity and Confidence

Mrs. Rhodes is known for her intentional approach to teaching—one that sparks curiosity, invites discovery, and empowers students to take ownership of their learning. Her classroom is a place where students feel seen, challenged, and encouraged to explore the world around them.

As her nomination beautifully described, “Through her thoughtful use of Project Work, she empowers her students to investigate meaningful, real-world questions, encourages them to pull on threads of interest, and then communicate their thinking with clarity and confidence.”

At St. James, we believe that learning is most powerful when students are engaged in authentic experiences, and Mrs. Rhodes embodies this philosophy every day. Her projects are not simply extra activities added on for enrichment. As her nomination continued, “These projects are not ancillary enrichments; for Lynley, they are carefully thought out, developmentally appropriate, and academically sound, all reflecting her professional expertise.”

Mrs. Rhodes consistently creates learning opportunities that are rigorous, purposeful, and deeply engaging—allowing students to build both academic skills and real-world understanding.

A Gift for Teaching… and a Gift for Music

In addition to her excellence in the classroom, Mrs. Rhodes is beloved for the joy she brings to our school community. One of her most special gifts is her love for music, which she shares freely with students year after year.

As her nomination shared, “Lynley is well known throughout St. James for her beautiful singing voice and love for music. She is often singing with her class or in the hallway, joyfully sharing this gift with her students each year as they learn the Grandparents Day song and perform onstage alongside her.”

Many St. James families have witnessed this joy firsthand. Whether she is rehearsing with students, leading them in song, or performing on stage, Mrs. Rhodes creates lasting memories that strengthen community and build confidence in our children.

Her nomination also highlighted the many roles she has embraced over the years: “Over the years, she has taken on roles ranging from Dorothy to Peter Pan to Karen Carpenter, delighting students and families alike. Her students beam with pride as they sing by her side.”

These moments are more than performances—they are examples of how Mrs. Rhodes brings learning to life through creativity, courage, and connection.

A Well-Deserved Honor

The SAES Connie Wootton Award is a prestigious recognition, and recipients receive a $5,000 cash prize in celebration of their dedication and excellence. For St. James, this award is also a powerful affirmation of the mission we strive to live out each day: nurturing students through love, learning, leadership, and faith.

Mrs. Rhodes exemplifies what it means to be an educator who inspires, innovates, and leads with heart. Her impact reaches far beyond her classroom, touching the lives of students, colleagues, and families throughout our community.

Congratulations, Mrs. Lynley Rhodes! We are incredibly proud of you and grateful for the gifts you share with St. James Episcopal Day School.

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