Ensights Magazine

David Braemer and the new building

Message from the Head: Threads That Connect

David Braemer, Head of School
Mr. Braemer, Head of School, reflects upon ten years at Ensworth and the threads that binds our community together.
When I arrived at Ensworth almost 10 years ago, one of the first things I did was to meet with every member of the faculty and staff in small groups. Whether it was the Second Grade Team, the Middle School History Department, or the High School Facilities Crew, these meetings were extremely helpful to me as I began the process of getting to know my colleagues, learning what they valued most about Ensworth, and hearing about their aspirations for the school. Not surprisingly, many of the insights that I gained through this crash course in Ensworth culture stick with me today.
 
Out of these conversations, certain themes quickly emerged. First and foremost was the deep, genuine care that these individuals expressed for their students and for each other. The fact that Ensworth is, at its heart, about people came through loud and clear. This truth continues to be a defining strength of our school, and the foundation upon which excellence in all areas of school life is built.
 
The challenge, however, is ensuring that this strong sense of community transcends a school that has grown rapidly across two distinct campuses separated by seven miles of speed trap infested road. This concern was expressed during these meetings as well, and the desire to feel more like one school represented another major theme. For some, it was about working towards more intentional curricular alignment. For others, it was the desire for programmatic needs to drive facility development on each campus. For all, it was a desire to feel connected.
 
It is not easy for a large, multi-campus, K-12 school with the breadth of programs that we offer to function cohesively and to engender a strong sense of community and continuity. To that end, there are many well-regarded independent schools nationally that have struggled with this challenge for far longer than there has been an Ensworth. However, it is our relative youth as an institution and our spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that drive our development, allowing us to make greater strides in this regard than many of our peers.
 
A recent example is last month’s opening of the new Lower School building. This is the culmination of a multi-phased building project that has brought facilities on the Red Gables Campus more in line with those on the Frist Campus. Additionally, we have made tremendous progress in acting upon the goals that we established as part of our most recent accreditation with the Southern Association of Independent Schools. These cross-divisional and cross-departmental initiatives focus on the development of core academic skills, the health and wellness of our students, and the desire to be a more inclusive community. Recognizing that such significant progress has continued to take place during the throes of the COVID pandemic makes this work even more impressive and reflects our genuine desire to be a truly unified school.
 
In looking ahead, there is still a great deal to be done to further strengthen the ties that connect our people, programs, and campuses. Fortunately, Ensworth can approach these opportunities from a position of strength. There is tremendous positive momentum on both of our campuses that is based upon the desire to best meet the needs of our students now and in the future. It is also rooted in the recognition that Ensworth has always been, and must always be, a school that puts people first.
 
David Braemer
Head of School
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Red Gables Campus (K–8)

Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 383-0661

Frist Campus (9–12)

Nashville, TN 37221
(615) 301-5400
Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.