Our History
The year was 1970 when a small group of community leaders met with their rector at Christ Episcopal Church. They dreamed of a school to provide an education with high scholastic standards and small classes. Their dream would become Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School.
The first Headmaster was the Reverend Rodman Kypke (1970-1971) and the entire student body numbered 198 students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Over the next four years, a new grade was added annually and included children from both Manatee and Sarasota counties. It was during the headmastership of the Reverend Louis Hayden, Jr. (1971-1976) that the graduation ceremony at Christ Episcopal Church was held. The first graduating class of 11 seniors received their diplomas in 1975.
In 1973 and 1975 respectively, an innovative, open-plan high school (now completely remodeled as the Intermediate School) and the Selby Gymnasium were added to the 22-acre campus. Additional property was given to the school for athletic fields.
A dedicated educator, the Reverend Bennett H. Barnes was appointed Headmaster in 1976. The Upper School enrollment doubled, new technology in the form of computers became commonplace and the foreign language curriculum was greatly strengthened. A site development plan for a permanent elementary building and administrative facilities emerged.
John Howard served as Headmaster from 1987 to 2003. Due to his vision and leadership, numerous advances in programs and upgrading of the physical plant were implemented over the course of 16 years. The Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year-olds was born in 1988. In 1989, student enrollment had grown to 222 and by 1995 to 447. By 1997, heavy demand from parents for admission to the Pre-K program resulted in the expansion of the existing building and student numbers were increasing rapidly. Over the years the school was fortunate to purchase additional acreage adjoining existing school property. In 1995, many of the original founders and past members of the Board of Trustees joined together to purchase seven acres for the athletic fields. Currently there are ten practice tennis courts, a practice soccer pitch and regulation soccer pitch, baseball and softball diamonds, and recreational playgrounds for the Lower and Intermediate Divisions.
Another 5.2 acres of adjacent land known as the Eckerd Plaza was acquired in 1999, bringing the total campus land area to 35 naturally-wooded acres. By 2000, the Saint Stephen’s family had grown to 684 students.
To maintain small class sizes and provide up-to-date learning facilities, the largest capital campaign in the 30-year history of the school was launched to build a core-complex of three new Upper School buildings. Construction began in November of 2000; the two buildings in phase one were dedicated and in use by January, 2002. The third building opened to students in November of 2003. In total, 60,000 square feet of new, enhanced learning facilities were added to the campus. The re-design of the campus increased visibility of the school from Manatee Avenue, the main gateway into the residential heart of northwest Bradenton.
Jan Pullen became the new Head of School in 2003. She has brought a new leadership style and new ideas combined with 22 years of Saint Stephen’s experience as a faculty member, administrator and parent.
In 2008-2009, the school once again began a capital campaign – One Community…One Vision. This multi-year, comprehensive campaign has a goal of $30 million which will provide the following:
Phase I
- Middle School
- Marine Science Center
- Athletic Fields Improvements
- Endowment
Phase II
- Athletic Center
- Performing Arts Center
- Endowment
The new Sunlight Middle School opened its doors in January 2010.
With improved facilities has come an increased demand for the type of rigorous education provided by caring and committed teachers in a small classroom setting and enrollment has increased. The faculty and administration take great care to preserve the sense of community which is a hallmark of a Saint Stephen’s education. The development of our excellent elementary academic program and secondary college preparatory curriculum has proven effective over time; Saint Stephen’s students continue to excel in academics, with standardized test scores at or above the independent school norms of the ERB’s and SAT scores consistently exceeding local, state and national test scores.
The unique traditions and standards of excellence that embody a Saint Stephen’s education remain as strong today as they were when first visualized by the founders of 1970: students who are well prepared for college through a rigorous academic program, and well prepared for a life of service for the greater good, with strong moral values of integrity, responsibility and respect.
