Soaring Above Eagle Hill Strategic Plan
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OUR VALUE STATEMENT
Imagine a school that provides your child with the strategies needed to succeed academically in a culture that is supportive, fosters self-confidence, and teaches to the individual challenges of each child. Eagle Hill is that school. Our Students grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a community that supports the whole child. Our Program is skills-based, uses personalized learning strategies, and is grounded in the latest research in educating students who learn differently. Our Faculty is highly credentialed, caring, and dedicated to teaching to the learning styles of each child. Our Success is reflected in our graduates, who leave Eagle Hill with the skills and confidence they need for future academic achievement.
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t Eagle Hill, we have successfully completed the goals of a five-year long-range Strategic Plan developed in 2012. This year, we went about the process of developing a new threeyear Strategic Plan that will guide us over the next years of growth and change.
Last year, we had a comprehensive school study done by the Gowan Group over a six month period to help us look deeply at our school, its evolution, and its mission. Parents, faculty, staff, alumni, alumni parents, competing schools, and educational consultants who refer students to Eagle Hill participated in interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Based on the results, we worked to clarify our school’s mission, vision, and value statements and to better define the Eagle Hill student with whom we do our best work. The refined mission, value statement, and ideal student profile appear in this publication of our new Strategic Plan. The Gowan Group’s study made it clear that we needed to better define the student who thrives at Eagle Hill. Of those surveyed, many expressed their belief that students with behavioral issues that can disrupt the academic program are not appropriate candidates for Eagle Hill. We agree. With this in mind, we are working on strengthening our enrollment process, better communicating the way Eagle Hill related services are delivered (speech/language, psychological, and motor training), and increasing the diversity of our student body. Programmatically, the study urged us to evaluate and restructure the present advisor model to increase its effectiveness and efficiency and to consider improvements to our current administrative structure. Parents expressed their desire for better and more direct communication with teachers about student progress. The new administrative structure will be explained before the 2018-2019 school year. Financially, the study had a number of recommended objectives, which are now included in the Strategic Plan. These included exploring options for Eagle Hill outreach programs, both nationally and internationally; considering how we might further develop our residential, summer, and after school program offerings; and how we might increase philanthropic support of our school. We also will be working on a plan for stabilizing tuition without compromising the program, and focusing on recruiting and retaining the most outstanding faculty and staff through a competitive salary and benefits program.
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The final area of the Strategic Plan is Leadership. We will work on strengthening our reputation as a thought
We will work on strengthening our reputation as a thought leader in the field of education
leader in the field of education and establishing strategic partnerships with philanthropic foundations and programs that support our mission. A succession plan for the leadership of the school will be created, as it was noted by many that our current leadership will be retiring over the next few years. As we implement these changes, you will hear more about our work and plans in each of these areas. We will be sharing our progress and we always welcome your thoughts and feedback as well. We are moving forward ‌ continuing the excellence that has always been the trademark of Eagle Hill School!
Dr. Marjorie E. Castro Head of School
Jeremy Henderson Chair of the Board of Trustees
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The Eagle Hill Student Defined Objectives: 1 Clarify and articulate Enrollment Design: characteristics of the ideal Eagle Hill student, school size, diversity goals 2 Determine ideal academic and related services delivery and enrollment 3 Create Diversity Committee to promote and support diversity objectives
Our Heart The Students Our Enrollment Outlook Objectives: 1 Work to be fully enrolled by June 30 each year 2 Increase the Yield of Applications to Accepts to Enrolls 3 Create a data base that analyzes enrollment patterns on an annual basis
Our Marketing Strategy Objectives: 1 Expand the geographic mix of EHS students to grow the five day and potential seven day residential programs 2 Remarket Eagle Hill Greenwich to the Fairchester and greater Tri-State region 3 Clearly communicate our value to external community
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Our Energy The Program Advancing Our Program Objectives: 1 Evaluate and restructure the present advisor program 2 Consider new administrative program models to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness 3 Improve school to parent communication about student progress
Reassess Related Services Objectives: 1 Define ideal mix of services and manner delivered 2 Determine ideal number of students enrolled in each related service 3 Increase and improve communication with parents concerning delivery of related services
Explore the Potential of the Residential Program Objectives: 1 Assess current residential life program and its level of enrollment 2 Conduct a feasibility study for a seven day residential program including the possibility of a wider geographic mix from the U.S. as well as international students 3 Develop a comprehensive plan to improve the residential life program
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Our Foundation The Financial Future
Create and Implement a Comprehensive Plan to Develop New Revenue Streams and Increase Philanthropic Support Objectives: 1 Explore options to create Eagle Hill School programs nationally and internationally 2 Develop a plan to effect greater use of our campus and its facilities 3 Consider how to expand our summer program offerings to include programs for adults, both professionals and parents 4 Enhance the culture of philanthropy at Eagle Hill
Create and Implement a Ground Breaking New Plan for Tuition Management and Financial Aid Objectives: 1 Conduct market research on independent school tuition costs 2 Develop a plan for minimizing tuition increases without compromising program 3 Redefine financial aid guidelines
Recruit and Retain the Best EHS Employees Possible Through an Innovative Salary and Benefits Program Objectives: 1 Conduct a competitive analysis of salary and benefits by industry categories including but not limited to years of experience, degrees, and certifications 2 Develop a plan to best communicate results to faculty and staff 3 Ensure we compensate our faculty and staff fairly and competitively
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Our Role Leadership Be a Thought Leader in the Industry Objectives: 1 Develop and implement an action and communication plan that places EHS at the forefront of the industry nationally and internationally 2 Create actionable outreach programs and implement them within three years 3 Establish strategic partnerships with philanthropic foundations and other educational programs 4 Broaden the number of conferences at which Eagle Hill faculty members present, attend, and serve as sponsors 5 Develop a plan that would place Eagle Hill School as a leader in the industry relative to assistive learning technologies
Redesign the Administrative Structure of the School to Best Serve its Students and their Families Objectives: 1 Conduct a review of peer schools 2 Analyze roles and responsibilities for all administrative personnel at EHS 3 Cultivate a creative mind-set for new structures and define necessary skills for each role 4 Make role changes as faculty and staff transition
Create a Succession Plan for the Leadership of the School Objectives: 1 Initiate a strategy for succession of board leadership and adjust by-laws where needed 2 Create a plan for administrative leadership changes over the next five years 3 Examine employee attrition over the next five years and plan for those changes.
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THE SUCCESSFUL STUDENT Our program effectively teaches students who have… • Average to above average cognitive ability • A language-based learning difference (including, but not limited to Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Auditory Processing Disorder, and ADHD). • Fallen behind or have academic weakness in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, attention, and/or executive function • Expressive/receptive language deficits Our program cannot effectively teach students with behavioral or emotional challenges that would negatively impact regular classroom activity.
OUR MISSION Eagle Hill School, a life changing experience, offers children who learn differently the opportunity to grow into capable, resilient students with the self-confidence and character necessary to meet the challenges they will face beyond Eagle Hill.
Eagle Hill School 45 Glenville Rd Greenwich, CT 06831 (203) 622-9240 www.eaglehillschool.org
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