Ensights Magazine

David Braemer at Graduation

Celebrating David Braemer

Editorial Staff
At this spring’s graduation ceremony, the Class of 2022 won’t be the only ones crossing the Ensworth stage for the last time. Head of School David Braemer will also be tossing his cap after a successful ten-year tenure at Ensworth.
David Braemer, along with his wife Timiny and children Hailey ‘19, Dax ‘21, and Wynne ‘25, joined the Ensworth community in the summer of 2012, coming to Nashville from Dallas, TX, where David had served as the Head of Upper School for Greenhill School for nine years. He brought Ensworth a depth and breadth of experience in independent schools, having worked as a teacher, coach, and advisor at Culver Academies, Blair Academy, and Durham Academy before moving into administrative roles.
 
When David began his first year as the seventh Head of School, Ensworth was still finding its identity as a K-12 school, having recently established the High School program. One of his first initiatives was to transition Ensworth from a structure of two perceptively different schools to a unified culture of “one school, two campuses.” David worked with leadership to align the administrative structure, enrollment management, and branding across both campuses. He also hired a Director of Curriculum and Instruction to establish curricular continuity across Grades K-12.
 
In concert with these efforts, David partnered with administrators to bolster the nascent high school program, strengthening the academic profile through expanded offerings of honors and upper-level courses and enhanced technology integration. He oversaw the development of Ensworth’s four-year college counseling program, the first of its kind in Nashville. Additionally, at the Lower and Middle School levels, the implementation of new STEM initiatives and after-school enrichment programs provided students with supplemental opportunities for experiential learning.
 
Since 2012, Ensworth has experienced an increase in enrollment from 1,058 to 1,189 in Grades K-12. David worked with the admissions team to ensure a focus on thoughtful growth, building balanced classes and a diverse community that would enrich the experience for all Ensworth students. During this time, Ensworth increased the percentage of students of color by more than 30% and faculty of color by more than 40%. In 2018, David spearheaded the establishment of a school-wide statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to guide Ensworth’s DEI efforts and appointed the school’s first Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion. 
 
The expansion of Ensworth’s programs and community under David’s leadership contributed to a growth in facilities, as well. In the past ten years, Ensworth completed over $80 million of donor-supported capital projects across both campuses, including academic and athletic facilities. The opening of the natatorium, tennis center, and golf facility and the creation of the college counseling suite enhanced offerings at the Frist Campus. At the same time, the renovation of Robinson Hall and the construction of the new Lower School building at the Red Gables Campus provided new and improved spaces for Lower and Middle School students.
 
Recently, David has led the school through one of its most challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He facilitated the planning and execution of strategies that enabled the school to implement remote learning when necessary and to safely and successfully transition back to daily, in-person instruction for all students throughout the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. Not only did the school persevere through these difficulties, but it also thrived, experiencing record enrollment and record annual fund support in the process.
 
President-Elect of the Ensworth Parent Association Amanda Graff observes, “In the past ten years, Nashville has seen unprecedented growth. Our city has evolved, and I think David has kept Ensworth ahead of the curve. He’s navigated our community through probably one of the hardest times in history, and he’s done it with a steady hand and a full heart. I think generations to come will be the beneficiaries of the indelible mark that he’s left, not only on Ensworth, but on the city of Nashville.”
 
Although the school has experienced tremendous growth in people, place, and program under David’s leadership, one of his most significant legacies might be the care and support he has demonstrated for Ensworth’s faculty, staff, and their families. Recognizing that faculty are the backbone of a truly outstanding school, David has championed efforts to attract and retain the best employees, enhancing the professional development program, advocating for competitive compensation, and expanding extended care programming for faculty families. Through these initiatives, he has worked to ensure that Ensworth provides its people with the resources and opportunities to help them succeed and grow, along with the love and support to promote their happiness and well-being.
 
 “David Braemer expects us to enter the arena fully and bring as much as we can to the table, only because he expects that of himself,” shares Grade 2 teacher Hope Moeller.  “He tells us all the time to put our families first and to take the time we need to take care of our families, and he reminds himself to do that. But I think what’s sort of unique about David is that he doesn’t really have an agenda. He’s there to give his best self to whatever the faculty, the parents, or the students need to move Ensworth forward and to be better.”
 
To honor David Braemer, Ensworth is establishing The Braemer Family Endowed Fund, which will provide financial aid for faculty/staff families. If you are interested in contributing to the fund, please contact Director of Institutional Advancement Bedell James. 

5 Questions with David Braemer

What do you think are the most significant accomplishments/areas of growth Ensworth has experienced over the past ten years?
I am proud of the fact that we function far more as a unified K-12 school today than when I first arrived. While there is still plenty of room for continued growth in this area, we have made great strides toward this goal.
 
I am also pleased with the work we have done to allow students to pursue excellence in the context of a balanced experience. For example, an increase in the number of honors classes that we offer and a more personalized 4-year college counseling program have helped us serve our students even more effectively.
 
Of course, there is also the growth and development of our physical spaces. Finishing construction of the Natatorium, building the Tennis Center, and significantly enhancing Founders Hall are just a few of the campus improvements at the High School. In addition, we have dramatically improved the infrastructure on the Red Gables Campus while completely reimagining the kitchen, servery, and dining hall and building a new Lower School building.
 
What is a memory from your time at Ensworth that stands out to you?
My best memories come from community events that pulled together the entire school. Whether it is the annual homecoming tailgate or the Pancake Breakfast, the spirit of Ensworth is particularly strong at these events.
 
On an even more personal level, it has been a privilege to share the Ensworth experience with my children. Seeing them engaged in school life and watching them grow through the years has been very special to me, and I am grateful for all that Ensworth has done for them. That is something that I will never forget.
 
What are key lessons you’ve learned through your Ensworth experience that you will carry with you into your new role?
That concepts like love and joy are not antithetical to the development of robust, successful programs and, in fact, are central to helping students use their talents to the fullest and be the best version of themselves.
 
What is your favorite Ensworth tradition, and why?
Probably Field Day. I love the school spirit, and I appreciate how it gives our students the opportunity to compete. At its best, Field Day teaches students how to win with dignity, lose with grace, and appreciate what it means to give your best effort in pursuit of a collective goal.
 
If you were to come back and visit Ensworth in ten years, what would you hope to see?
While I do not doubt that our programs and facilities will continue to evolve, I would hope to still see happy students who want to come to school each day because they are nurtured and challenged by faculty and staff who are truly invested in their development and well-being. That is classic Ensworth, and I hope that it never changes.
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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.