The Ruth Jenkins Award and the John D. Verdery Award are the National Association of Episcopal Schools’ highest honors and recognize and celebrate the outstanding service of individuals to Episcopal schools and NAES. The awards are bestowed at the discretion and by vote of the Governing Board and are presented during ceremonies at our Biennial Conference.

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Silvia Larrauri

Ruth Jenkins Award

Silvia Larrauri is a seasoned educator with over three decades of experience in independent schools. Her career began as a preschool teacher assistant, and she quickly progressed to lead a PK classroom. Building on her success in the classroom, she assumed various leadership roles, including assistant principal, principal of the primary school, and admissions director, at Gulliver Schools in Miami, Florida. In 1999, she joined St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School (Coconut Grove, FL) as Assistant Head of School and was appointed Head of School in 2005. She retired in 2024. Mrs. Larrauri holds a BS and a Masters of Education in Human Services from Nova Southeastern University. A dedicated advocate for Episcopal education, she serves as President of the Governing Board of the National Association of Episcopal Schools.

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Sandi Hannibal

John D. Verdery Award

LaSandra “Sandi” Hannibal was a visionary educator whose dedication to children’s learning and development left an indelible mark on the educational landscape. With over five decades of experience, Sandi’s career spanned both public and independent schools, where she served as a beloved classroom teacher, school librarian, and administrator.

A lifelong advocate for cultural diversity and the dignity of every child, Sandi’s educational philosophy was grounded in the belief that education should nurture the whole person. She held leadership positions at renowned institutions such as Milton Academy, Norwood School, and The Epiphany School, where she played a pivotal role in shaping curricula, promoting multiculturalism, and ensuring a supportive learning environment.

Beyond her administrative roles, Sandi was a passionate advocate for children’s literature and a gifted storyteller. When her husband, the Rev. Canon Preston B. Hannibal (a fellow recipient of the John D. Verdery Award) was tasked with establishing The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys in Washington, DC, Sandi took a leading role—serving on the founding Governing Board, the Advisory Committee, and the Education Committee. As a regular volunteer, Sandi generously gave her time to tutor boys who needed additional support. Her passion for children’s literature also enriched the BWS experience, volunteering in the library and occasionally performing readings for the students.

Sandi’s legacy is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, her compassion for others, and her unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives. As a posthumous recipient of the John D. Verdery Award, her contributions to the field of education will continue to inspire generations to come.

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About the Awards

The Ruth Jenkins Award

The Ruth Jenkins Award honors a founder of NAES who was head of Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma, Washington, and the Bishop’s School in La Jolla, California. An advocate for women’s leadership in the Episcopal Church, Dr. Jenkins was elected in 1949 as a deputy to the Church’s General Convention but refused her seat. She subsequently participated in the “Joint Commission to Consider the Problems of Giving the Women of the Church a Voice in the Legislation of the General Convention” (1951), and later served as a deputy. Jenkins also spearheaded school desegregation efforts, culminating in a non-discrimination clause being requisite for membership of the Episcopal Schools Association (the precursor to NAES) in 1963—directly barring segregated schools from membership.

The John D. Verdery Award

The John D. Verdery Award is named in honor of the long-term headmaster (1942–1976) of Wooster School in Danbury, Connecticut. A co-founder of NAES, Mr. Verdery, an Episcopal priest, was an articulate advocate for the value of Episcopal education and the religious identity of our schools. As president of the NAES Governing Board, he was instrumental in nurturing NAES as an organization through his hands-on leadership at critical points during the Association’s early years.