Celebrating Our Time to Soar - a Campaign for The Episcopal School of Dallas

From left to right: Lori and Jerry Jones Jr. P ’24, ’26, Katherine and Eric Reeves P ’20, ’31,  Hobson Family Head of School Dave Baad, and Lauren and Stephen Swann ’93 P ’24, ’27, ’29

May 11, 2026

The Episcopal School of Dallas proudly nears the conclusion of its Our Time to Soar campaign, achieving and surpassing a landmark $50,000,000 goal to fortify the school’s endowment. This transformative effort ensures the long-term sustainability of ESD’s mission and cements its status as a premier national independent school.

Guided by the strategic plan ESD 2030, which calls for significant investment in people and programs, the campaign included three strategic pillars:

•  Great Teachers Make Great Schools - Increasing support for faculty compensation, retention, and professional development.
• ESDistinction - A Curriculum of Purpose - an added dimension of experiential learning with real-world application, allowing ESD to live more fully its mission.
• Community and Belonging - Strengthening the school’s commitment to ensuring each enrolled student has opportunities to fully participate in all that’s offered.

Leading the Vision 

The campaign’s success stands as a testament to Hobson Family Head of School David L. Baad’s leadership and his pivotal role in driving the ESD 2030 strategic plan. Alongside him, campaign co-chairs Lori and Jerry Jones Jr. P’24, ’26, Katherine and Eric Reeves P’20, ’31, and Lauren and Stephen Swann ’93 P’24, ’27, ’29 worked in close partnership to bring this vision to life. Through their thoughtful guidance and deep connection to the school, the co-chairs led with a collaborative energy that resonated throughout the ESD community. Together with the Campaign Cabinet, they harnessed the community’s collective support into the essential pillars that will support ESD 2030 for years to come. 

A Legacy of Generosity

The heart of the campaign lies in the profound commitment of the ESD community. In total, more than 200 families established new or enhanced endowment funds, providing a permanent foundation for the school’s future.

“We are filled with gratitude for the remarkable individuals—past and present—who have positioned ESD to be among the top well-resourced independent schools in the United States,” Chief Advancement Officer Denis Stokes noted. “To the families who have demonstrated their commitment through leadership and generous investment: we express our enduring gratitude.”

Lasting Impact

By surpassing this $50,000,000 milestone, ESD’s endowment will approach $100,000,000, joining fewer than 4% of National Association of Independent Schools with reported endowments of $100 million or more. The endowment will provide a perpetual source of funding, allowing the school to remain agile and competitive while living more fully its mission of Igniting Lives of Purpose.

Great Teachers Make Great Schools 

Thanks to the support of our generous community, over the last four years, faculty salaries have increased by 25%, almost twice the rate of inflation. In addition, there are now seven endowed annual teaching awards, each award professionally affirming, coupled with an honorarium for each recipient. ESD’s faculty compensation now draws closer to being on par with top independent schools in Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. 

ESDistinction 

Our families understood the vision of ESDistinction, an ambitious, school-wide initiative designed to widen the aperture of student experiences while providing a framework of discernment for the path to determining individual purpose. This intentionally aligned, Beginners through Grade 12 journey integrates interdisciplinary academics with vibrant extracurriculars, empowering students to discover their unique talents and navigate their own path toward a purposeful future. By investing in this vision, we have been able to launch 4 networks: 

• Business, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing
• Leadership, Government, and Public Policy
• Visual Design: 2D Art, Design, and Content Creation
• Engineering, Architecture, and Real Estate

Community and Belonging 

Ensuring every child at ESD can participate fully in all aspects of ESD resonated with our community. We have increased our support to families ‘beyond the classroom’ expenses from an annual budget of $50,000 per year, to $300,000 per year - all thanks to those selfless donors who wish to provide exceptional experiences for all. 

Thanks to many, ESD proclaims with complete confidence - it's Our Time to Soar!

Read more about impact and donor stories - Our Time to Soar - Donor Stories