Leadership

David L. Baad, The Ann and Lee Hobson Family Head of School

As Head of School, David Baad is charged to oversee all operational aspects of the school, support the Mission and Founding Tenets, and serve as a visionary leader to the school community. He believes that "Episcopal schools like ours must wrap all that we do in the classroom and on the fields in the moral framework that a faith-based school provides." His goals are to help shape students' lives and to sustain an atmosphere in which teachers can create and excel. Baad came to ESD from the St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., one of the oldest and most respected Episcopal schools in the country. He has operated on the front line throughout his 28-year career in virtually all aspects of the school, including: strategic planning, admissions, budget management, technology, curriculum development, faculty recruitment, and professional development, as well as board governance support for development and finance. 

David earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, was a member of the prestigious Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, and played varsity baseball for Rollins College in Florida. He received a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Ruth Burke, Associate Head of School

Ruth Burke is the Associate Head of School at The Episcopal School of Dallas, overseeing Enrollment, Communications, Community Culture, and Strategic Initiatives.  

Ruth’s experience in independent school administration spans 28 years with 21 in service to ESD, at three nationally-recognized schools, The Bolles School, University Liggett School, and ESD, in the roles of administrator, teacher, coach, advisor, and dean. She has served as conference chair for the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) Admission Conference and led numerous panel discussions and seminars for the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and ISAS.  From 2009-2012, Ruth taught four-day seminars for Independent School Management (ISM), leading admission professionals from across the country in the application of best practices and admission trends.

Ruth grew up in Maryland and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Masters in School Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where she played basketball and ran track and field.  

Rebecca Brady, Chief Academic Officer

As the Chief Academic Officer of The Episcopal School of Dallas, Rebecca Brady promotes ESD’s mission as it relates to the development, delivery, and assessment of the school’s educational program. The CAO holds the primary responsibility for overseeing the curriculum grades PK3-12 to ensure the proper scaffolding of skill-building and content acquisition. 

Rebecca is charged with leading ESD’s learning and teaching priorities, developing targeted professional development, supporting a system of practice that attracts and retains exemplary educators, and implementing and refining a professional growth system for faculty.

Rebecca began her teaching career as a high school English teacher and cross country and soccer coach. Before ESD, she served as Academic Dean at The John Cooper School in The Woodland, TX, and at St. Agnes Academy in Houston, TX, where she oversaw the quality of instruction, professional growth, and academic policy. 

Rebecca graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Loyola University in Maryland, where she played varsity soccer, and earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Towson University. She earned her Secondary School Administration/ Principalship Certification from The University of St. Thomas in Houston.  
 

Tracey Shirey, Head of Lower School

As Head of Lower School, Tracey Shirey is responsible for orchestrating the school experience of ESD students from age three to fourth grade. This includes academics, enrichment and special programs, Kids on Campus, and community life. She serves on the Executive Committee and collaborates closely with the Middle and Upper School Division Heads to ensure continuity of the ESD experience. 

For the eight years prior to Tracey becoming an Eagle, she and Amy Cuccia co-founded Thinking Matters, a teacher coaching and curriculum development firm committed to helping teachers reach their full potential in the classroom for the benefit of each child. Her clients included ESD, Hockaday, St. John's Episcopal School, and Ft. Worth Country Day. Tracey spent the first 15 years of her career as an elementary classroom teacher. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she served at Hockaday as the PK-4 Language Arts Coordinator, co-founder and co-director of the Hockaday Writing Institute, Ten-year ISAS Evaluation Chair, and the Curriculum and Scheduling Coordinator. At Highland Park, she was the fourth-grade team leader, technology chairperson, a member of the systems alignment and math mapping team, and two-year nominee for Teacher of the Year.

Tracey holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Gifted and Talented Education from SMU.  

Jonathan Chein, Head of Middle School

As Head of Middle School, Jonathan is responsible for guiding the Middle School experience, which encompasses academics, extracurriculars, and community life. He serves on the Executive Committee and collaborates closely with the Middle and Upper School Division Heads to ensure continuity of the ESD experience.

Jonathan brings to ESD a track record of success as the Head of Upper School (grades 5 - 8) at Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut, for seven years. In addition to being Whitby's Head of Upper School, he immersed himself in school life, also teaching math, science, or life skills throughout his tenure. Other responsibilities have included Dean of Students, Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator, Interim Head of Lower School, Community Service Coordinator, and coach for girls and boys basketball, baseball, and softball. Jonathan is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Accreditation Site Visitor and Workshop Leader. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Carleton College and a Master of Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. 

Henry Heil, Clark Family Head of Upper School

As Head of Upper School, Henry Heil is responsible for guiding the Upper School experience, which encompasses academics, extracurriculars, community life, and college placement. Heil also serves as the active voice for academics on the executive committee, representing the Division Heads and Department Chairs.

Prior to joining ESD, Heil was the Founding Director of Residential Life and Assistant Dean of Students at Woodberry Forest, one of the nation’s top boarding schools, where he served for thirteen years. Heil was also the Founding Director of the Peer Leadership Council, Director of Community Service, Administrative Master, and Founding Director of the Woodberry Cup, a strategic initiative that engages students in project-based learning competitions. Before Woodberry Forest, Heil was the Director of Athletics, History and Sociology Instructor, and Head Baseball Coach for Oak Ridge Military Academy, a co-ed 8-12 grade day school in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Heil earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Davidson College, where he played varsity baseball, and a Master of Arts in History from the University of South Carolina. He was the English-speaking Union Scholarship Recipient at Felsted School in Essex County, England, and a Cum Laude Society member and the Honor Committee Chair at Virginia Episcopal School.

Nate Bostian, Stemmons Family Senior Chaplain

As Senior Chaplain, Father Nate connects with children in all three divisions and is primarily responsible for leading upper school daily worship and ensuring our ministries align with our Episcopal Identity and the ideals set forth by the National Association of Episcopal Schools.

Father Nate comes to us from TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio, where he has served as head chaplain for 11 years. Before moving to San Antonio, Father Nate served at Saint Michael and All Angels in youth and adult ministries and as the college chaplain for Canterbury Episcopal Ministries at SMU. He also served as the family and student pastor at the Church of the Apostle. Interestingly, ESD grandfather, The Right Reverend James Stanton, is who ordained Father Nate to the Sacred Order of Deacons in 2008 and the Sacred Order of Priests in 2009.
 

He graduated magna cum laude from the Perkins School of Theology at SMU. He earned his bachelor of art in history with a minor in classical studies from Texas A&M University, where he was also a powerlifting team member. Additionally, he completed significant graduate coursework in counseling and social work and worked for several years as a counselor of abused children before becoming a priest. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kim, who he met at Newman Smith in Carrollton. 

Elizabeth Goatley, Ph.D., Director of Diversity and Inclusion

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Goatley is responsible for creating and maintaining an inclusive educational environment that celebrates the individuality of each student, faculty and staff member. Dr. Goatley supports the inclusive culture of the school through student programming, professional development and strategic forecasting. 

Prior to her work at The Episcopal School of Dallas, Dr. Goatley served as an Assistant Professor at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University in Waco, TX.  While at Baylor, Dr. Goatley’s research and scholarship focused on includes community interventions in addressing human trafficking and communal social justice responses through empowerment modeling. Dr. Goatley’s research resulted in the first research faculty grant from The Dallas Women’s Foundation, now known as, The Texas Women’s Foundation, and a Big XII University Faculty Fellowship. 

 Dr. Goatley’s practical experience includes serving as the Program Director and Victims Advocate for Commercial Sexual Exploitation Unit of the Sandy Springs Police Department and as a Family Specialist for the Intensive Family Intervention team, both in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Goatley has extensive experience working for social justice and community mental health in several states across the southern United States.

Dr. Goatley received a BA in Psychology from Spelman College, a Master’s of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work and Ph.D. in Social Policy and Administration in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University.

Dan Gill, Director of Athletics 

As the Athletic Director at The Episcopal School of Dallas, Dan Gill is responsible for sustaining and enhancing the excellence of our athletic programs and infrastructure. Coach Gill is building on ESD’s rich athletic history and will continue to move the School's athletic programming forward in tandem with ESD's Mission and core values of honor, respect, and integrity.

Prior to joining ESD, Coach Gill was the Athletic Director at Central Catholic High School, a large independent co-ed high school in Toledo, Ohio. Gill oversaw all aspects of 24 sports programs; mentored and developed coaches and student-athletes; collaborated with the leadership team; division heads; and department chairs to ensure alignment; and professionally represented Central Catholic at the conference and state level. Gill served two years as the Associate Athletic Director for the University School at Nova Southeastern University, a large, co-ed PreK-12 independent day school in Davie, Florida, and five years as the Director of Athletics/Assistant Recruitment Director/Head Boys Basketball Coach at St. Mary's High School, a co-ed independent day high school in Lancaster, New York. He served The Ohio State University Men's Basketball Team as team manager, sat on the Lancaster/Depew Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, and acted as the Diocese of Buffalo High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Chairman. 

A Buffalo, New York, native, Gill earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from The Ohio State University. From Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, he earned a Master of Science in Sports Administration and a Master of Science in Physical Education. Gill is a member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association through which he is designated as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator. He is also a Certified Sports Administrator through the George Washington University School of Business and a Certified Interscholastic Coach via the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Mary Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer

As the Chief Financial Officer for The Episcopal School of Dallas, Mary Hernandez oversees all accounting, business operations, facilities, technology, campus safety, and food service functions. 

Mary is a CPA who received her BBA from SMU in 1997 and MBA from Baylor University in 2016. She has worked in the business office at ESD for 12 years, most recently as the Director of Finance. Working closely with the Board’s Finance Committee and Endowment Trust, she played a key role in developing the school’s financial strategy.

Denis Stokes, Chief Advancement Officer

As Chief Advancement Officer for The Episcopal School of Dallas, Denis Stokes oversees The ESD Fund, Alumni Relations, and the comprehensive campaign, Together, We Will.

Appointed in November 2017, Denis joined ESD from Christ School, an Episcopal boarding and day school for boys located in Asheville, North Carolina. With more than 30 years in school administration, he has extensive experience in admission and development work, which has included travel domestically and internationally.

Administrative assignments, in addition to almost 15 years at Christ School as Admission Director and then as Advancement Director, have included time at his undergraduate alma mater, Belmont Abbey College, as Vice President for Enrollment, Providence Day School, and Tulane University. He holds an MBA from The McColl School of Business, Queens University, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Denis and his wife, Felice, originally from New Orleans, have two grown children—Tyler, a Clemson University graduate beginning a career in school administration and coaching with Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, Ohio; and Corinne, a University of South Carolina graduate in her second year of nursing school.

Bernadette Gerace, Chief Human Resources Officer

As the Chief Human Resources Officer for The Episcopal School of Dallas, Bernadette Gerace oversees the recruitment, development, and retention for all faculty and staff.

Bernadette was previously the Executive Director of Human Resources at Prosper ISD. In that role, she oversaw the recruitment, development, and retention of over 2,700 employees, including the annual hiring of approximately 650 teachers and staff. During her time in Prosper, she founded the District’s Human Resources Office ten years ago and built out multiple best-in-class programs. Among them were the First Year Teacher Induction Program, the District Leadership Cohort, and “stay interviews” that focus on how to keep excellent teachers. Bernadette was honored for her work by being selected the 2021 American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) Herb Salinger National HR Administrator of the Year.

Bernadette was born in the Philippines, but she grew up in Lake Highlands and went on to earn a B.A. in Psychology from Texas A&M University and an M.A. in Educational Administration from Concordia University. She is currently a candidate for an EdD in Educational Administration from Dallas Baptist University. Bernadette brings the heart of a teacher to her human resources work. She started her career in the classroom, teaching both Spanish and Psychology for fifteen years as well as serving as a department chair. She was selected Prosper ISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2012. 

2022-23 Board of Directors

OFFICERS

Mary Adair Dockery, Chair
Chris Elliston '88, Vice-Chair
Kit Sawers, Secretary
Jim Skochdopole, Treasurer and Chair, Finance Committee
Stephen Swann '93, Chair, Advancement Committee
Jay Grogan, Chair, Building and Grounds Committee
Suku Nair, Ph.D., Chair, Education and Student Life Committee
Kimberly Ballard-Madison, Chair, Episcopal Identity Committee
Veretta Frazier, Chair, Human Resources and Compensation Committee
Brendon Riley, Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee

BOARD MEMBERS