Spotlight On: Scott Brown, Headmaster & President, TMI Episcopal
September 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Father Scott Brown, president and head of school of TMI Episcopal, highlighted major campus renovations and shared insights on faculty retention, innovative programs, and adapting to trends like AI in education. “We must ensure that when students leave TMI, they are not only prepared to apply to top colleges but also equipped to thrive in the world,” Brown said.
What have been the most significant changes or challenges for TMI Episcopal over the past year, and how has the school responded?
The most significant development for us is that we are completing 14 months of major construction. We have just completed a massive capital campaign to update our facilities. We have had wonderful students, faculty, and families for a long time, and we are finally able to deliver exceptional facilities to match the exceptional community. Over the past couple of decades, we have grown considerably, and to provide our student body and community with the spaces they need, we have had to update primarily our academic spaces. Except for the chapel, literally every building on this campus is either new or newly renovated.
How would you describe TMI’s role in the broader San Antonio community?
TMI is known as a place that embraces a “both-and” philosophy, rather than an “either-or” approach. For 132 years, we have been a school that excels in multiple areas, whether it is academics or athletics, college preparation or character development. Our community values this balance. Families choose TMI because we do not limit ourselves to one niche. While we are certainly an academic school and focus on sending students to top-tier colleges and achieving SAT scores as high as any school in the city, we are also much more. Recently, we were ranked No. 1 in San Antonio for private high schools on Niche.com. While rankings are not the ultimate measure, they do reflect community feedback, particularly from families who rely on such data when selecting schools. The reason families are drawn to TMI is our ability to excel in multiple areas while maintaining a student-centered approach.
How does your campus differentiate itself from other independent schools in Texas?
We have what we call our “secret sauce” or “proven process,” which is not a secret because we openly share it. This process is centered on three principles: cherish, know, and challenge every person on this campus. Many schools emphasize rigorous academics, but we believe the order of these principles is essential. First, we cherish each individual simply because God created them; they are valued and loved unconditionally. Second, we strive to know them deeply, understanding their passions, struggles, and what makes them thrive. We ensure every student has at least three to five adults on campus who truly know them. Only then do we challenge them to become the best version of themselves. This approach sets us apart. Whether it is parents, mentors, or supervisors, the most effective growth occurs when love and understanding precede challenge. This “cherish, know, challenge” philosophy is our differentiator and our core value proposition.
How is TMI approaching faculty recruitment and retention, especially given the broader labor challenges in education?
Faculty recruitment and retention are critical to maintaining our foundation. When we have openings, we find that TMI is increasingly seen as a desirable workplace. We are receiving more high-quality résumés than ever before, indicating that educators recognize this as a community where they want to be. Teachers here have the autonomy to develop their own passions in the classroom while also receiving professional development and collaborative support from colleagues.
As an Episcopal school, we integrate heart and mind, which further distinguishes us. We are authentically Christian yet genuinely inclusive, welcoming individuals of all faith backgrounds.
What academic programs or areas of study are seeing the highest demand from students and families?
One of the most popular lately has been our Innovation Center, the Walker Innovation Center. It is a home of problem-solving and curiosity. We have a pathway program available for upperclass students where, in their last years of high school, they can focus on key electives. The two pathways currently support students who are passionate about Engineering and Innovation, and Entrepreneurship and Business. A student leading into their junior or senior year of high school can choose to focus their electives on business, entrepreneurship, innovation, or engineering and essentially finish TMI with a capstone project and a concentration or, using college terms, a minor in those fields.
We do not want 16, 17, or 18-year-olds to believe they must know what they are doing for the rest of their lives at that age. However, if they do have a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, engineering, or business, they can focus their electives in those areas. On the other hand, if a student believes they want to pursue business because their parents encouraged it, but then discovers in high school that it is not for them, that is also a valuable lesson. Being exposed to college-level classes before they are forced to pick a major in college allows them to realize early that it is not the right major, saving time and energy that might otherwise be spent drifting in college before deciding on a path.
How are trends like AI reshaping education?
Anyone discussing AI or technology as an emerging trend is already behind the curve. That is a trend that TMI spends a lot of time focusing on. The challenge is balancing how we integrate AI without compromising foundational skills. On one hand, we cannot treat AI as off-limits because students will use it in their professions. If they are not using it in a healthy way, they will be less efficient and effective than their colleagues. On the other hand, where do we draw the moral line? We still want to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic — the fundamental human skills. What are the things technology will never replace? Relational, empathetic, person-to-person, eye-to-eye communication and connection.
This is an emerging trend where TMI seeks to find balance. How do we expose students to the realities they will encounter in their lifetime without moving so fast that we lose the basics of a quality education?
Part of doing this work is, I firmly believe, the possibility and openness for institutions to remain flexible. Anyone who thinks they have everything figured out does not. At TMI, we are transparent and willing to admit when we do not have all the answers. In independent schools, especially when families are searching for the best fit, if they are looking for a school that claims to have everything figured out, we are probably not the right choice.
We will be honest and say, “Here is what we know. Here is where things are changing, whether in technology, college majors, or the admissions process. Here is what we do not know, but we will stay ahead of it as best we can. We will adapt and change when something is not working.” Transparency and authenticity are important to families and best set up our students for success.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities for growth or innovation at TMI in the next few years?
Over the next few years, we will focus on implementing our newly adopted strategic plan, which spans two to five years. Under the framework of “Cherish, Know, Challenge,” we crafted this plan to cherish our resources, know our student experience, and challenge ourselves to stay cutting-edge and ahead of trends in independent schools.
One key challenge is recognizing the ever-changing professional landscape. Data suggests that over 50% of students who graduated recently will work in fields that do not even exist today. That is how rapidly the job market is evolving. As we consider what it means to be a college preparatory institution, is it shortsighted to prepare students solely for college? College itself will look different in the future, and some students may not attend at all.
Twenty years ago, families of our demographics would have been shocked to hear their child might not go to college. Today, that is a real possibility. The trades are growing, social media influencing is a viable career, and many paths do not require a degree. So, what is our obligation? We must ensure that when students leave TMI, they are not only prepared to apply to top colleges but also equipped to thrive in the world, whether they pursue higher education or not.
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