As the new head of Epiphany Day School, Patricia Clark likes to make sure her door is always open, possibly explaining the large doorstop that keeps her office accessible to the main hallway, where the flow of school activity passes every day.

The doorstop also does an admirable job of being a visible emblem of her involvement as an educator and member of the learning community.

Earlier this year when first interviewing for the position, Clark said her plans were to become involved and she’s since made good on the promise.

Assembly Christian School Head of School Patricia Clark switched offices to have a room with sunlight and a view. - Inness Asher / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

Trading offices with her secretary, for example, not only gives her an office filled with streaming with light, but also allows her to look out the windows and see the children at play on the jungle gym and the activities in the courtyard.

Clark assumed the role of head of school, a title she prefers to headmistress, upon the retirement of former administrator Dr. Cheryl Boutte. Boutte led the school for 20 years, and announced her intent to retire last year during the fall season.

Since midsummer Clark has been acclimating and finding her niche as the school’s new authority and a resident of New Iberia.

“I’ve absolutely fallen in love with New Iberia,” Clark said. “Downtown, the people. The whole area is wonderful. It’s a change from New Orleans, but it hasn’t taken long at all to adjust.”

Although she is originally from New York, before coming to New Iberia Clark spent the greater part of her life in and around New Orleans. Clark received her education in New Orleans and it’s still close to her heart.

“I received my undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of New Orleans,” Clark said. “with a concentration in special education. I received early childhood certification from Tulane.”

Clark said the sense of community within the small school “village” and the Episcopal educational philosophy is what drew her into the Episcopal school system.

“Philosophically, I like the Episcopal approach to education,” Clark said. “It’s very Socratic, with teachers learning also. It’s a learning community.”

Since assuming her new role, Clark has implemented self-study and a curriculum review program at the school, continuing the assurance that the school and students not only meet, but exceed state academic guidelines.

The service orientation also was appealing in the school system, she said. The youngest to the oldest students are directed toward helping others, to provide assistance and concern for a larger community than themselves and their immediate surroundings, a practice Clark said she sees again and again in New Iberia.

“I’ve never seen such a philanthropic community,” she said.

“Every weekend something’s going on, with all the events raising funds. I love that. I’d like to join in with everything.”

And that is the proactive feeling she would like to pass on to each of the students as well. Clark said her duties as head of school consist of several components.

“My primary responsibilities, as I see them, is first the education of our children, and then their safety,” she said.

“We want to give the children not only a depth, but breadth in education.”