For the last seven years, Brendan Sullivan has led St. Michael's School in midtown Tucson.
As head of school of the K-8 campus, Sullivan has spearheaded the creation of a strategic plan and worked to ensure that the 300 students and nearly five dozen staffers live up to St. Michael's core values of balance; community; diversity and inclusion; excellence; and integrity.
But it's not his own voice that he's most interested in projecting. It's ideas and feedback from his staff members that he's constantly seeking out.
Whether it's through his open-door policy, all-staff meetings, an annual survey or inviting teachers and other employees to engage in shaping the vision for the school, Sullivan seeks to provide opportunities for others to share what's working and what could be improved upon.
It is those practices along with generous benefits and a shared set of values that have earned the Episcopal school the title of the No. 1 Top Workplace in Tucson for 2024 for the small business category.
The school's staffing is one reflection of that. Despite an ongoing teacher shortage statewide and nationally, Sullivan says St. Michael's hasn't had a lot of attrition.
"People want to stay to here," he said. "My top goal each year is to maintain and sustain and build an excellent faculty and staff."
Twenty percent of the school's teachers have worked at St. Michael's for 15-plus years, including four who have more than two decades under their belts. About 15% have 10 or more years of experience and another 15% percent have served there for five-plus years.
Kim Greene, the lower school gym coach, assists a student with a small cut during recess.
Sullivan says the school works to keep in close contact with faculty about their intentions to return for the following school year starting as early as December or January to get a jump on hiring and finding qualified candidates.
With families who are eager to provide aid in times of need, a historic property with lush courtyards that inspire creativity, small class sizes averaging 15 students and providing leeway to educators in how they teach curriculum standards, it's easy to see the draw.
"We emphasize relationships," he said. "Being a relatively small place, people really extend themselves to help each other and that's a hallmark of who we are."
Sara Van Straalen, a teacher at St. Michael's agreed, highlighting the school's "strong sense of community which focuses not only on caring about each other, but serving the communities around us through donations and service days."
It helps, Sullivan says, that there's a clear understanding of what the school as a whole seeks to achieve.
"We know who we are, we know what we believe in — our values are pretty clear," Sullivan says.
That is guided by a visioning effort that occurred two years ago as Sullivan sought to reset and identify the school's priorities and values coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
JoAnna Baese, a fourth grade teacher at St. Michael’s School, engages with students on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Families, students, teachers, staff and board members came together to reflect on the mission of excelling in innovative teaching and learning.
It took a year to develop, but the work still resonates with staffers who have noted how it helps to guide the direction of the campus daily.
"I value our strategic planning process," one staffer said in a survey response. "This process keeps us focused on common goals, and it clarifies our mission, vision and values."
The school's values have created a strong culture and build pride in staff who got into education to make a difference, staffers say.
"I feel like I’m part of a committed and caring group of people who want to help kids achieve their best," one survey respondent shared.
To learn more about the 65-year-old private school at 602 N. Wilmot Road, visit stmichael.net.
