History

Founded in 1959, Grace Episcopal School has a rich history of growth, inclusion and an unmatched commitment by devoted teachers and staff members. These values on which we were built remain at the heart of our mission today.

Grace Episcopal School:
The Early Years

What we now know as Grace Episcopal School began in 1948 as a small half-day preschool of 19-25 parish children held in the basement of Grace Episcopal Church. Father Merrow, who served as the Rector at that time, was fully committed to the idea of a school as an integral component of his parish. With the addition of a parish hall in 1959, the small preschool was able to grow into a fully realized Grace Episcopal Day School. “Merrow Hall” offered sufficient space to open a formal grade school and remains a huge part of the Grace experience today. The Auditorium provides space for assemblies and programs, offers plenty of room for play and exercise when indoor recess is needed and serves as the “Grace Cafe” where graders (Grades 1-5) eat lunch together. Over the years, Grace’s school population steadily grew, as did its reputation for offering an outstanding elementary and early childhood “whole child” education in a nurturing environment.

A History of Inclusion

We are extremely proud of our tradition as an inclusive school. At the time of Grace Episcopal School’s founding, Alexandria City Public Schools were not yet integrated. Grace, however, has always opened its doors to children of all races, cultures and ethnicities. Father Merrow, who remained an active member of the school community until his passing in 1974, provided financial support to make a Grace education affordable to all families.

Shirley Tyler: An Influential Teacher
and Head of School

Mrs. Shirley Tyler’s long history with Grace began as a teacher in 1969, and she later became Head of School in 1975, remaining in that role until her retirement in 1989. Mrs. Tyler’s tenure undoubtedly influenced the strong culture of caring we have at Grace. She led Grace to meet accreditation standards and worked tirelessly to lead a small school in a big way with forward-thinking technology, community building and best practices in teaching. Named “A Living Legend” in Alexandria, Shirley Tyler made great strides in the worlds of education and community service in the 1970s and ’80s, becoming the first African-American woman to chair the Alexandria School Board from 1980-82. In December 2020, Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to name the public park at 3550 Commonwealth Avenue Park the Shirley Tyler Unity Park. The newly established park is located just around the corner from Grace and honors Mrs. Tyler’s many accomplishments and contributions to the community.

Grace Traditions: How They Began

Morning Greeting with the Head of School

Former Head of School Chris Stegmaier Byrnes introduced the morning handshake line as a way to get to know Grace parents and students during her first year as Head of School in 2004. The morning greeting was an immediate success and proved to strengthen the strong community feeling present at Grace. This tradition continues even in pandemic times with a morning greeting from Mrs. Culbreth in the car line.

Gala & Silent Auctions

The school initiated a silent auction in 1985 as part of Grace Church’s annual Christmas bazaar. The auction proved to be very successful and eventually morphed into the major school fundraiser held each fall, responsible for numerous playground renovations, technology upgrades and a new turf field in 2019. The annual auction and gala is now sponsored by the Parents Association and remains a popular and fun event.

Tom the Turkey

“Tom the Turkey” was brought to life in 2007 when Grace students first used donated canned goods to create the shape of a turkey in Merrow Hall. Tom’s look has changed through the years, gaining a waddle, snood and colorful feathers. Each year, our community looks forward to this schoolwide event and Tom’s special role in demonstrating our strong commitment to outreach.

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