The Dalton Strategic Plan - 2018

Welcome to Dalton today and tomorrow Planning is in Dalton 's DNA. We we re founded on a progressive plan. We are always looking for ways to thoughtfully pursue new ideas , new possib ilities and new ways to be the best version of ourselves.

The plan you see before you was developed at an important moment in our societal and institutional history.

Our society is experienc ing rap id change. There are daily revo lutions in techno logy and commun icat ion; major advances in the way we unders tand how peop le learn, grow and adapt; seism ic shif ts in the social, po litical, economic and env ironmen tal landscape, loca lly and g loba lly.

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Our school is changing as well.

We're expanding and re-stacking Big Dalton the largest single investment in the School's history -

presenting opportunities for growth

and innovation. We are pursuing progressive and inclusive practices, adopting new methodo logies and offering wider perspectives to broaden and deepen our curricu lum. We are advancing a successful capital campa ign.

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Dalton is in a position of tremendous strength.

We have reached record numbers in Admissions applications, our endowment is historically high, our student body is historically diverse and our teachers are continually inspired and inspiring. We are guided by an enduring ethos of engaging in responsible innovation, of exploring possibilities and of saying yes to smart, strategic opportunities.

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STRATEGIC PLAN /7

Our response to this moment is not revolution - it is evolution.

We are not overhauling Dalton's mission; we are making it sustainable. We go forth with open minds and open hearts. We go forth with a commitment to new ideas, and fresh perspectives and the willingness to execute them. We go forth empowered by Helen Parkhurst's directive: to change with the changing world.

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Our Bri ght Tomorrow Choices, Assumptions and Ambitions: an Intrduction to the Strategic Plan

At Dalton, a strategic plan is never a rote

exercise. We put our hearts and souls into

it, because it is, after all, the horizon we set

for ourselves.

Every plan is in some sense a set of strategic

choices. The choices we are making in the plan are worth setting out here: •

Instead of narrowing the school's focus,

The process of developing this plan has

we are choosing to commit ourselves to

by conducting quantitative surveys

- Dalton experience. And instead of

constituency in the Dalton community.

choosing to explore inclusivity in its

and structure at every stage of revision

the wide range of human experience.

been intensive and inclusive. We began

the comprehensive - and sustainable

and qualitative focus groups with every

making Dalton feel exclusive, we are

Our Board provided feedback, guidance

and re-imagining. The following pages are

the result of more than a year of listening

broadest, deepest sense, considering

•

We are choosing to embrace the power

to the people of Dalton - their hopes and

of place -to engage in tangible,

their ambitions and aspirations.

our campus, our city and the global

dreams, their concerns and critiques,

possibly transformative ways with

educational community.

•

We are choosing to behave in specific

Second, we are re-committing to the

decisions informed by research and

we are modeling the affirmative, inclusive

their stories, to formalize and extend our

inspires our students to "go forth unafraid"

ways as an institution - to make

data, to listen intently to our people and shared willingness to experiment, test,

adjust and advance.

concept of citizenship. As a community,

and responsible leadership that we believe

while they are at Dalton and as they take

next steps in life.

Every plan also contains certain institutional

Third, we are embracing the willingness

advocate of transparency, so I will name

We are encouraging innovative ideas and

work in the plan.

in bold, informed, sustainable ways.

assumptions, implicit or explicit. I am an

three assumptions that I feel sure are at

of spirit that characterizes our community. pledging to carry out ambitious endeavors

First, we are advancing our dynamic

This process has been enlightening and

our programs, resources and practices

We see our horizon. Now, together, we go

mission. We are purposefully aligning

with our core values and more effectively

utilizing The Dalton Plan (House, Lab,

energizing. And it is only the beginning.

forth unafraid.

Assignment) to meet the evolving needs

of our students.

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STRATEGIC PLAN / 11

Dalton: Going Forth FIVE

PRIORITIES

T HE DA LTO N ST UD ENT

THE DALTON TEACHER

T HE DA LTO N CITIZE N

THE DALTON TRAJECTORY

Supportingand challengmg students to be ready to engage with the world

Inspiring prog ressive faculty ,

Cultivatingethical purposeful citizensaf a diverse community

Stewarding our

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experienced mentors and contemporary scho lars

resources in visionary, pragmatic ways

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THE DALTONSTUDENT

GOALS

Supporting

Improve and enhance our range of exceptional offerings to meet the interests

Ensure a consistent, equitable student

and needs of students while maintaining

and creat ivity in our curriculum .

andchallenging

our high degree of academic rigor and

students to be

readyto engage withtheworld

bringing multiple voices and stories into the conversation.

experience while maintaining flexibility

Find additional ways to balance the emotional, physica l and intellectual well-being of students.

Create more opportunities for students to understand risk and failure as part of the learning process while pursuing and deepening their passions.

ACTION ITEMS Adjust practice and pedagogy, in line

Refine and amend Dalton's K-12 Health

with The Dalton Plan, to create more

& Wellness mission and program to help

opportun ities for students to experime nt,

students navigate today's comp lex world,

explore, create, test and take intellectual

and develop a compan ion curriculum for

risks. Promote a broad array of assessment

Dalton's faculty, staff and parents t o deepen

tools that allow students multiple ways

their understanding of the challenges Dalton

to demonstrate knowledge, skills and

students face.

progress.

Offer students enhanced acade mic, cultural , Survey students and alumni to assess

service and internship opt ions throughout

the variety, quality and content of current

the calendar year for enrichment,

course offerings, consider strengths

experimentat ion and intellect ual risk-taking.

and challenges of our curriculum, reflect on equity and inclusion efforts, and

Examine structures, encourage practices

gather suggest ions on how to make our curricu lar and co-curricular programs most

and set cond itions that allow students to

meaningful and relevant in today 's dynamic environment.

and take full advantage of The Dalton Plan.

pursue passions, reflect on their learning

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GOALS

THE DALTON TEACHER

Provide time and resources for faculty

Encourage and enable teachers to test and

to pursue professional development

apply new pedagogies and curricula -

opportunities and col laborative ventures

including transdisciplinary approaches to

with peers with in and beyond Dalton .

contemporary problems-

in measured,

inclusive, mission-consistent ways.

Support faculty by mak ing informed decisions, offering clear career paths ,

Use state-of-the -art technologies to pursue

cultivating leadership opportunities ,

curricular innovations and max imize teach-

promo ting equity efforts and providing

ing efficacy.

additiona l occasions for professiona l growth.

ACTION ITEMS Create addit ional faculty leadership opportu -

Establish and build the Ellen C. Stein Faculty

nities by reviewing and revising current roles,

Fund, in addition to other faculty and staff

responsibilities , structu res and terms.

support Initiatives, to attract and retain teachers as well as to cultivate and advance

Establish a department review cycle focused

innovative ideas that prepare students to

on the development of departmental mission

thrive in a diverse, dynamic world .

statements and student learning goals to inform K-12 curriculum , assessment ,

Align The Professional Review and faculty

programs and pract ices.

professional development to encourage best practices , advance teachers ' passions ,

Conduct annual surveys and develop

support inclusivity and promote innovation

addit ional assessment tools that gauge

in concert with the School's mission and

teache r satisfact ion, cult ivate creativity and

strateg ic priorities.

strengt hen mission alignment. Encourage faculty participation in the development

Develop a process and procedu re to

and implementation of innovative ideas that

ensure that faculty compensat ion remains

improve teacher experiences and promote

competitive wit h comparable peer institu -

professional growth .

tions in New York City.

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Inspiring progressivefaculty, experienced mentors and contemporary scholars

GOALS

Cultivating ethical,purposeful citizensof a diverse •

community

Set and reinforce expectations of what

Expand the number of opportunities

it means to be a Dalton citizen -

and spaces in which all community

as

a student or alum, a faculty member or

members can engage with a broad range

staff member, an adm inistrator or parent

of respectful views as we increase our

-

understanding of responsible citizenship

bui lding on a foundation of character,

kindness, inclusivity and empa thy.

at Dalton and beyond.

Curate new oppor tunities to engage with our city, our country and our world, including an enhanced and innovative service learning program.

ACTION ITEMS Define and communicate Dalton 's

Partner wit h studen ts, facu lty, staff , board

commun ity norms and values for all

membe rs, parents and alumni to ensure

constituenc ies.

that issues of communi ty, citizensh ip, equity and inclusion remain top strateg ic prior ities

Provide orientation opportunities for all

for t he School.

commun ity members at important school ent ry points to align stude nts, teachers,

Plan and host confere nces for internal

parents and othe rs with t he School's core

and external audiences tha t establis h

values , The Dalton Plan, and essential school practices and structures.

Dalton as a beaco n of equity practices locally, nationally and internationall y. Use these experiences to explore challenging

Create a K-12 Service Learning program

societal issues, promote civil discourse

that emphas izes service in New York City

and reinforce core values of the Dalton

and beyond as an essential part of the Dalton exper ience and priorit izes t ime

commun ity.

for reflect ion on issues of ethics , equity, inclus ion and soc ial justice.

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THE DALTONENVIRONMENT

GOALS Ensure that our facilities, methodologies

Bring departments and disc iplines

and actions align with and enhance the depth and quality of our offerings and our

physica lly closer, increasing opportunities for peer-to -peer collaboration, serendip -

progressive, inclusive and creative ethos.

itous interaction and community-building experiences.

Create inviting and accessible spaces for all community members that accommodate growth in our current programs and meet the potential demand for new programs.

ACTION ITEMS Complete the 89th Street Building

encourage reflection, embrace a diverse

Expansion project, bringing to life the School 's vision for a space that facilitates

community and provide opportunities for school -wide community building .

new, more collaborative ways of learning and inspires creativity , inclusion and

Continue to gathe r data from students ,

excellence among all commu nity members .

faculty , staff, parents and alumni through surveys, focus groups and ot her measures

Launch a master planning process for

to better appreciate school culture and

all Dalton facilities to ensure that capita l

determ ine mission alignment. Use th is data

investments are well managed , that the

to inform decision making , build community

school's phys ical resources support innova-

and support an inspired and inspiring

tive teac hing and learning, and that spaces

Dalton environment.

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Creating spaces andestablishing practices that reflect our mission

THE DALTON TRAJECTORY

e

Stwarding our resowces 1n • • v1s1onary, pragmatic ways

GOALS Ensure that our resource allocation reflects

our priorities; create flexibility to adapt our budget to our evolving needs.

Optimize current resource use based

on qualitative and quantitative metrics;

track outcomes; use that information to

Research, test and develop initiatives

that ensure that the Dalton experience is

accessible to students from all socioeco­

nomic backgrounds - and that the Dalton

community acknowledges, embraces and protects this broad diversity.

help determine new priorities and new

revenue sources .

ACTION ITEMS Create an actionable, measurable and prudent financial roadmap for each Strategic Plan initiative, understand the implications of initiatives on current and future operating budgets, and develop new sources of revenue and/or identify offsets to achieve strategic objectives.

Continue to support and enhance Dalton's socioeconomic diversity by researching and implementing best practices that create an environment where all students, regardless of financial means, can participate equitably in all school activities.

Develop a comprehensive budgeting process that audits and enhances core programs while allowing for the sustainable creation of new initiatives.

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THE DALTON SCHOOL

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Where We are Going Moving forward together This is a five-year plan- long enough to

Our generosity gives us the resources to live

establish a vision, short enough to put it into practice. It is a plan that assumes a

out our enduring vision : meeting the needs and ambitions of our students .

constant process of re-examination and re-invigoration. It should leave Dalton

Our environment reflects our values:

nimble, refreshed and well-resourced

collaboration, community, innovation .

in 2023 .

Our behaviors align with our convictions : As we move forward, we will use Dalton's

equity and inclusivity, wellness and

founding principles as a touchstone for

balanced living, support for student and faculty creativity and exploration.

our priorities, initiatives and actions . As we bring the plan to life, we want to make sure that:

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Photography by Julie Golclstone

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The Dalton School 108 East 89th Street New York, NY 10128 giving@dalton.org