FPD's Strategic Plan: Continuing the Legacy

Continuing the Legacy

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL

Strategic Plan

Viking Nation:

It is with great excitement and joy that I share First Presbyterian Day School’s five-year Strategic Plan: Continuing the Legacy.

Since its founding, more than a half century ago, God has directed and sustained FPD to become one of the most significant and stable non-profit organizations in the middle Georgia community. It is our vision that the roots of FPD would grow even deeper, and its impact would become even broader. We believe this strategic plan is the catalyst to begin the next phase of our influence in Middle Georgia. This plan is the product of many months of prayer, work and input from parents, students, alumni, teachers, trustees, community members, and administrators. By the end of the process, God had revealed six specific areas of focus.

Our six strategic priorities identified include:

• Nurturing Awe and Wonder in Learning

• Spiritual Development

• Commitment to Faculty and Staff

• Safety and Wellness

• Formative Student Experience

• Sustainability

Supporting these priorities are more specific initiatives that prescribe action for us to reach these goals. They are essentially marching orders for our Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty as we work to build on our legacy of excellence. It is our aim that this plan would help propel FPD toward being “the clear choice for families seeking a Christ-centered, academically excellent education in the middle Georgia area.”

I am deeply grateful to all who volunteered their time to be a part of this process. Hundreds of people had a part in shaping our strategic plan, by either serving on a committee, participating in a focus group, or completing our value narrative survey. We would not have made it to this point without the input of Viking Nation.

As we prepare to launch our strategic plan, please pray for the mission of FPD. We aim to be faithful servants to God in what we do and how we do it. We also welcome your ideas and suggestions! If you would like to invest your time, talents, or treasures to help us achieve these goals, do not hesitate to contact me. Together, we can ensure FPD’s future success as we continue to “educate and equip students to change the world for God’s glory.”

As always, GO Vikings,

Dr. John Patterson Head of School

FPD exists to educate & equip students to change the world for God’s glory.

Mission and Vision:

Mission

First Presbyterian Day School exists to educate & equip students to change the world for God’s glory.

Vision Statement:

First Presbyterian Day School aims to be the first choice of families seeking a Christ-centered, academically excellent education in the greater middle Georgia area.

Core

Values: Glorify God

We believe the chief end of man is to glorify God and, therefore, we seek to bring glory to Him in everything we do, whether in thought, deed, or action.

Biblical World & Life View

We believe God has given the Holy Scriptures as His authoritative and infallible rule for faith and life. God’s truth revealed in the Bible provides the frame of reference or lens through which we view all of life. It is the foundation and integrating point for all truth. Thus, our curriculum and instruction, our programs and administration, our communication, every aspect of our school will be founded in a biblical understanding of the world and life.

Advancing God’s Kingdom

As Christians we are called to be redemptive agents in the world, acting as stewards of creation and having an impact on our culture that glorifies God and advances His kingdom. We will seek to strengthen believers and the church, profess the Gospel of Jesus Christ, relieve those in need, and stand against ideas and initiatives of the ungodly—in all, bringing glory to God and acknowledging with gratitude that He accomplishes the work.

Integrity

We desire to exhibit complete honesty and integrity in our interactions with parents, students, faculty, staff, vendors, and all others whom God may put in our path. We also seek soundness in our financial condition, business practices, and policies. We understand that honesty and transparency does not mean disclosing some things that must necessarily be treated with confidentiality. Our desire is to be beyond reproach in everything we do and say.

Excellence

We strive for excellence in all aspects of our program. We pursue excellence in our curriculum, our faculty and staff, our Board of Trustees, our athletic programs, our fine arts programs, and our plant, property, and equipment. We aim to provide an education that enables our graduates to attend and succeed in any college and university they choose to attend.

Serve Families

We acknowledge that God has given the responsibility of raising and training a child to the parents. We view our role as one of supporting parents and assisting them as they seek to fulfill God’s command to “train up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Our policies and actions are intended to support parents first. We believe that serving families means being financially responsible and making an FPD education within the financial reach of as many families as possible.

StrategicPriorities:

GOAL 1

Nurturing Awe and Wonder in Learning

Through Christ-centered relationships and engaging opportunities, First Presbyterian Day School will cultivate environments for learning that nurture joyful exploration, intellectual integrity, and academic grit, while captivating and energizing students to be curious, lifelong learners.

INITIATIVES

1.1 Partner with students and families in meaningful, redemptive relationships in order to authentically engage learners in rigorous academic pursuits and exploration of God-given talents.

1.2 Enrich FPD’s integrated curriculum and help students discover connections between their studies, faith, and real-world issues.

1.3 Implement new learning opportunities and develop environments that enhance the student academic experience.

GOAL 2

Spiritual Development

First Presbyterian Day School will focus on the spiritual formation of students from a Christ-centered perspective, ensuring that students, from the earliest ages, are equipped to flourish as Godly men and women in their thoughts, words, and actions for God’s glory.

INITIATIVES

2.1 Teach the Bible faithfully to students so they learn the key components of a biblical worldview and are prepared to defend Christianity as true, good, and beautiful, in the public marketplace of ideas.

2.2 Foster environments where Godly relationships are valued and developed through mentorship and discipleship.

2.3 Cultivate an awareness of needs that exist in our community and beyond, challenging students to participate in meeting those needs.

2.4 Develop a closer partnership with families and local churches in the spiritual development of students.

GOAL 3

Commitment to Faculty and Staff

First Presbyterian Day School will cultivate Christian faculty and staff who are exemplary in their fields, committed to the mission, and passionate about building personal relationships with students, families, alumni, and one another.

INITIATIVES

3.1 Attract and retain highly qualified Christian educators and staff members with a diversity of backgrounds and expertise.

3.2 Foster a mission minded culture committed to building community across all divisions.

3.3 Review and improve the faculty development program so that it inspires growth and renewal while maintaining high accountability standards.

GOAL 4

Safety and Wellness

Understanding that school safety and student wellness are the beginning of learning, First Presbyterian Day School will strategically enhance our safe and secure environment, partner with parents, and nurture student well-being.

INITIATIVES

4.1 Strategically improve and add to the current campus safety and security measures.

4.2 Develop an intentional, age-appropriate, and ongoing parent education program that equips and empowers parents to support their students’ physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health.

4.3 Strengthen the current focus and efforts to develop our students’ physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health.

GOAL 5

Formative Student Experience

First Presbyterian Day School commits to cultivate student experiences that nurture relationships and foster community to ensure a feeling of belonging and confidence in which students are seen, heard, and equipped in mind and character to fulfill the roles God has designed specifically for them.

INITIATIVES

5.1 Cultivate a community where students, staff, families, and alumni create meaningful and lasting relationships.

5.2 Inspire students to discover, develop, and excel in their gifts and interests.

5.3 Nurture the whole child through a variety of challenging and engaging extracurricular activities to complement and enrich academic and spiritual life.

GOAL 6

Sustainability

First Presbyterian Day School will commit to the faithful stewardship and the continued development of resources to advance the mission through current and future generations.

INITIATIVES

6.1 Assess tuition levels and adjust as appropriate to attract and retain mission-fit students without sacrificing academic and program excellence.

6.2 Expand markets and embrace innovation for the purpose of growing enrollment.

6.3 Invest in relationships to advance the Mission and foster a culture of joyful giving to ensure long-term stability.

6.4 Continue our firm commitment to fiscal discipline.

Continuing the Legacy: DESIGN TEAMS

Nurturing Awe and Wonder in Learning

Mr. Matt Kitchell - Chair

Mrs. Shannon Bryant - Co-Chair

Ms. Melissa Brown

Mrs. Beth Burnsed

Mr. Matthew Hopper

Mr. Andy Katzer

Mrs. Kristen Kreutner

Mrs. Traci Martin

Mrs. Nancy Massey

Ms. Kate Mixon

Commitment to Faculty and Staff

Dr. Kristy Alvarez - Chair

Mrs. Terri Harper - Co-Chair

Mr. Christian Baumgarth

Mrs. Shay Correa

Mr. Brian Corrigan

Mrs. Lauren Jones

Mrs. Tracy Jones

Mrs. Molly Pearson

Mrs. Robyn Robertson

Mrs. Mary Bennet Rose

Mrs. Rana Thigpin

Mrs. April Walter

Formative Student Experience

Mrs. Elizabeth Leslein - Chair

Mr. Matthew Hall Co-Chair

Mrs. Tricia Barton

Mrs. Nancy Butler

Mr. Shane Hall

Mrs. Elizabeth Hardy

Mrs. Brandi Justice

Mr. Greg Moore

Mrs. Martha Pearson

Mr. Jack Pyles

Dr. Andrew Strickland

Mrs. Emily Tart

Mrs. Marla Windham

Spiritual Development

Dr. Stephen Jordan - Chair

Mrs. Holly Scott- Co-Chair

Mrs. Hannah Chan

Mr. Brett Collier

Rev. Elliott Everitt

Mr. Shane Hall

Rev. Stephen Howard

Mr. Brayden Hutcheson

Mrs. Katie Kemper

Mr. John Kitchens

Dr. Justin Nalls

Mr. William White

Safety and Wellness

Mr. Brad Thompson - Chair

Dr. Dan Chan - Co-Chair

Mrs. Angela Bearchell

Mrs. Katie Collier

Mr. Ken Garvin

Mrs. Carol Gore

Mrs. Casey Handberry

Mrs. Kristy Hunt

Mr. Mark Kimsey

Mrs. Jennifer Vanderberg

Mrs. Amy Walthall

Sustainability

Mr. Charlie Parrish - Chair

Mr. Phillips Jones - Co-Chair

Mr. Joey Brumbelow

Mrs. Brittiny Johnson

Mr. Dwight Jones

Mr. Rick Mixon

Mr. Sam Pearson

Mrs. Tami Tesch-Jerles

Mrs. Kathy Tolbert

Mrs. Kris Vaughn

Mr. Clint Ward

Mr. Calder Willingham