sayre
Entering the front hall of Old Sayre, I was greeted by two people: one faculty member peering down from the staircase, wondering who had wandered in unannounced, and the new head of school, Stephen Manella, who ushered me in with a warm smile.
Manella brings a wide variety of experiences to bear on his new position; he has been a teacher, coach, director of college advising and Upper School head previously, in addition to having worked in college admissions. His years at Shorecrest Preparatory School in Florida, Greenwich Academy in Connecticut, and New York University enable him to look at all that Sayre is, and all that it can be, with a broad, national perspective.
New energy downtown
Manella takes the reins at Lexington’s sole independent school offering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade instruction at an auspicious time. The downtown area is percolating with redevelopment and new faces and perspectives. Relatively new leaders nearby at Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky, both of whom also brought broad, outside experience to their institutions, have now settled in and are working closely with the community.
Manella hopes to help Sayre develop closer working relationships with both Transylvania and UK, as he feels that these three institutions enrich one another. He also sees Lexington’s thriving downtown area helped by the presence of so many students, making the urban core about so much more than commerce.
“We’re not just educating scholars, we’re educating compassionate citizens,” said Manella, describing the benefit he sees for Sayre students in attending school in the urban core. Students engage with all types of people and learn to embrace a wide range of circumstances, so as not to view the world through rose-colored glasses.
Engagement with the city
“At Sayre, the city is an extension of the campus,” said Manella, as he began to list projects undertaken by students and faculty. Hands-on service initiatives include 4th grade students making 25 gallons of beef soup for the Catholic Action Center, the Green Team periodically picking up trash in the surrounding neighborhood; Lower School art teachers and students collaborating with the Hope Center to make all of the art for their cafeteria, as well as art for the interior spaces of The Plantory.
Additionally, students have raised and donated funds to benefit the Hope Center for Women, Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, Habitat for the Humanity, CASA, Nathaniel Mission and Community Inn, Bluegrass Military Affairs Coalition Wounded Warriors Program, and L.I.F.E. House.
First things first
One of Manella’s top priorities is creating a strategic plan for Sayre’s future. Manella and the Board of Trustees will hold primary responsibility for the plan’s creation, but faculty and parents will have input into its development as well. This plan will identify programs, facilities and faculty enrichment programs warranting attention and, of course, fundraising. Sayre’s endowment stands at roughly $7.5 million currently.
Equally important to Manella is getting to know the individuals who make up the Sayre family. He is meeting individually with each senior and with each member of the faculty. He is beginning to meet parents and alumni, too, and is struck by the high level of engagement that each population feels with the school. Noting parents’ eagerness to help, he foresees more avenues for involving them directly, perhaps starting with admissions.
Also high on Manella’s priority list: meeting Mayor Jim Gray. He feels that the mayor brings a sense of innovation to Lexington, based on the growth and energy emanating from downtown. And he views Sayre as being in lock step with Lexington: Both have histories and traditions commanding tremendous respect, and both must “bring modern tools to bear on traditional strengths.”
Competitive marketplace
Reflecting on Sayre’s competition, Manella remarked that “it would be wrong to think narrowly.” He sees competitors in different spheres in the marketplace based on price, demographics and overall experience offered. Sayre, he said, must be aggressive in its marketing, telling its story effectively. And while he feels that Sayre cannot take any potential market for granted, he states emphatically that there is no place like Sayre in our region: pre-k through 12, independent and in the heart of downtown.
Currently, more than 20 percent of Sayre students receive financial aid, totaling roughly $1 million annually. Funds are available to new students as well as continuing students whose family circumstances change.
Manella is open to the idea of enrolling international students in the future, either placed with host families or, perhaps in the more distant future, in Sayre housing. Many boarding schools and colleges have turned to international markets to maximize tuition revenue. But, he added, “It always has to be about the kids.”
Downtown commitment
Manella is clearly delighted to have moved to Sayre and Lexington and is eager to enjoy all that the area offers, making special mention of the artistic energy here, which he relishes.
“I like university towns; they offer a wonderful quality of life balanced with outstanding cultural attractions,” he said. Perhaps most telling about this new school leader’s commitment to downtown is the fact that he and his family will be living on West Third Street, within walking distance of Sayre. If you pass him one morning, he’ll be the one with the broad smile.
Jane S. Shropshire guides students and families through the college search process and is Business Lexington’s Higher Ed Matters columnist. Contact her at Jshrop@att.net.