Dear Friends,

 

After reading the tragic story that is coming out of Breaux Bridge about the T.M. Landry School, I wanted to reach out to you to reaffirm our commitment to your children and in the bigger sense to the children of Acadiana. ESA was founded on the principles of academic and personal integrity that are still front and center in our mission statement today. “Our mission is to instill in every student the habits of scholarship and honor.” It is a simple and powerful statement that defines who we are and what we aspire to accomplish.

 

Additionally, we are members in good standing and accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). One of the main reasons we are part of this particular regional association is that it too is grounded in the highest standards of ethics with an “exceptionally rigorous, authentic and meaningful accreditation process.” The ISAS mission statement (in part) reads as follows:

 

The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) promotes the highest professional and ethical standards of educational excellence for independent schools in the region and recognizes by formal ongoing accreditation those schools which demonstrate adherence to its standards.

 

We not only aspire to instill the qualities of scholarship and honor in our students, we commit to living those ideals in our professional lives as educators. Schools are best when they are idealistic communities bound by a common goal. That goal is to inspire a love of learning; that goal is the difficult work of personal growth and personal achievement; that goal is the self-actualization of the individual and their realization that they can make a difference in the world. For some of our students that means they may end up going to Stanford or Harvard or Yale. But that is never the goal in and of itself.

 

Lastly, as I am always proud to say, this school was founded on the principle stated in Article I of our Bylaws:

 

We shall provide a program for and be sensitive to the needs of children from low-income families as requested by the donor of the school property as condition of the donation, in order that the gift serve a broader purpose than the legitimate education and guidance of the privileged, and include more concretely that specific Christian value of serving those less fortunate, as well.

 

To that end, we commit over $1,000,000 in financial assistance to families each year to make an ESA education possible for those who might never have that opportunity. We are committed to your children, and we strive to be the very best school in Acadiana. We are a unique resource for Acadiana, and I cannot thank you enough for entrusting us with your most precious treasure. Areté!

 

Most Sincerely,

 

 

Paul Baker, PhD