OUR MISSION
Echo Horizon School’s mission is to cultivate a joyful community where children blossom into capable scholars and bold explorers of new possibilities. Through our pioneering co-enrollment model, we unite deaf and hard-of-hearing students with hearing peers, instilling lifelong communication skills and an authentic respect for diversity. Our graduates lead with kindness and integrity, and venture forth into the world with confidence and purpose.
Dear Echo Horizon School Community,
We are thrilled to share our new Strategic Plan, a roadmap created in true Echo Horizon fashion together. Over the past eighteen months, trustees, parents, faculty, and staff engaged in workshops, surveys, and spirited conversations to imagine the Echo Horizon our children will inherit. The plan that emerged honors our warm, student‑centered culture and whole‑child philosophy while charting an ambitious course for the years ahead.
As our historic McManus Avenue campus marks its centennial this year, its halls continue to echo with the curiosity and joy that have shaped a century of learning. Building on this milestone, the plan unites our collective aspirations under six clear goals:
• Inspiring a Community That Leads with Heart
• Championing Academic Excellence
• Advancing Exceptional Teaching
• Supporting and Strengthening the Echo Center
• Cultivating Belonging for All
• Inspiring a Shared Commitment to School Advancement
We invite you to read the plan, share your insights, and raise your hand when opportunities arise for you to support us in bringing these goals to life. Thank you for the countless ways you support our school—through your time, talent, and steadfast belief in our mission. Together, we will write the next joyful chapter of this community we love.
With gratitude,
PEGGY PROCTER Head of School
ZIAD TOUBASSY Chair, Board of Trustees
TOM CHANG Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
GOAL 1 Inspiring a Community That Leads with Heart
How can we deepen our culture of well-being, social-emotional learning, and belonging, inspiring students to embrace challenges, teachers to ignite curiosity, and everyone to model kindness and integrity?
OBJECTIVES
1 Nurture an authentically loving and empathetic community that thrives on the power of relationships.
2 Anchor our commitment to community well-being by teaching and exemplifying good character.
3 Develop confident, compassionate leaders who advocate for positive change.
4 Instill in students adaptability and curiosity to empower them to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a changing world.
5 Prioritize student well-being by promoting resilience, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness, enabling every child to flourish.
WHY
This Matters
Echo Horizon School recognizes that students thrive when they feel seen, valued, and connected. By prioritizing authentic relationships, empathy, and resilience, we create a school community that sparks personal growth. This environment not only prepares students to navigate challenges, but also encourages them to become compassionate leaders who uplift others. Supporting a climate of care helps unlock the full potential of all our students, equipping them to create a positive impact now and into the future.
GOAL 2 Championing Academic Excellence
How can we further our pursuit of academic excellence, empowering students to become skilled, adaptable, and independent lifelong learners?
OBJECTIVES
1 Embrace a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum that inspires students to explore real-world connections across subjects and to take ownership of their learning with critical thinking and intrinsically motivated discovery.
2 Regularly benchmark learnings from classroom observation and data against best practices to ensure improvement in student outcomes.
3 Equip students with executive functioning skills that promote independence, personal responsibility, and effective learning habits, preparing them to skillfully navigate academic and real-world challenges.
4 Build upon our natural emphasis on clear communication by formalizing our public speaking initiatives into a cohesive program that cultivates poise and confident expression.
5 Teach and model technology use that supports students in unlocking, with integrity and creativity, the transformative potential of digital tools.
WHY
This Matters
At Echo Horizon, our curriculum integrates the structure of traditional education, emphasizing foundational knowledge and skill mastery, with researchbacked, innovative practices. As emerging brain science and child development research deepen our insights, we thoughtfully evolve our pedagogy. Rather than receiving information passively, our students engage in interdisciplinary study and inquiry-based exploration, scaffolded upon strong academic foundations. This balanced approach cultivates creative, adaptable thinkers who confidently navigate challenges, learn deeply, and develop essential skills, such as empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
GOAL 3 Advancing Exceptional Teaching
How can we further support and invest in our teachers to foster transformative learning in the classroom and deepen personal connections with students?
OBJECTIVES
1 Attract, develop, and retain talented and inspiring educators who drive meaningful, measurable student success.
2 Practice research-supported instructional strategies that prioritize building strong teacher-student connections, creating an environment where all students reach their full academic potential.
3 Provide thoughtfully chosen professional development opportunities that equip our teachers with tools that elevate their teaching practice.
4 Nurture a culture where teachers and administrators partner to drive innovation.
WHY
This Matters
Teachers have a greater impact on student success than any other factor, so when we invest in teachers, we invest in every child. Research shows that when students feel truly known by their teachers, deeper learning occurs. When we support our teachers well, they are able to sharpen their skills, innovate in the classroom, and develop stronger bonds with their students. Our commitment to our teachers supports lasting academic growth in our students and helps ignite a lifelong passion for learning.
GOAL 4 Supporting and Strengthening the Echo Center
How can we ensure the Echo Center remains robust and sustainable so that it faithfully serves our deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students and maintains its community-wide benefit?
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVES
1 Advance the Echo Center’s national leadership in listening and spoken language (LSL) education.
2 Attract, develop, and retain exceptional DHH teachers who are passionate about our model.
3 Enhance our whole-child approach to equip DHH students with the confidence, social-emotional tools, and communication skills needed to thrive in secondary school and beyond.
4 Continuously refine the Echo Center’s curriculum to best serve our DHH students, extending relevant elements of this curriculum to hearing students.
5 Pursue fundraising opportunities that sustain an optimal learning environment for our DHH students and that support families and faculty that will thrive in our community.
WHY
This Matters
The Echo Center is foundational to Echo Horizon School’s mission and contributes significantly to our vibrant, inclusive learning environment. By investing in the Echo Center, we ensure that our DHH students receive the specialized support, researchbased teaching practices, and advanced technologies they need to excel, preparing them for academic success at Echo Horizon and beyond. Through our coenrollment model, where DHH and hearing students learn alongside one another, students enrich each other’s educational journeys and together become compassionate leaders who are inspired to make a positive impact on the world.
GOAL 5 Cultivating Belonging for All
How do we honor and expand the inclusive spirit that lies at the heart of our founding vision, ensuring every community member feels seen, valued, and equipped to thrive?
OBJECTIVES
1 Attract and retain a community of students, families, faculty, and staff whose varied identities and experiences reflect the richness of our city.
2 Empower community members to engage with challenging topics, with empathy, self-awareness, and open minds.
3 Engage students, adults, and the wider Los Angeles community with programming and curriculum that joyfully celebrates the individuals that we are.
4 Uphold our core values of equity and well-being for students, families, faculty, and staff when implementing and revising the school’s policies and procedures.
WHY
This Matters
Studies show that students are more academically successful and community members are more engaged when they feel fully included. At Echo Horizon School, our deep commitment to inclusion has two cornerstones. First, our co-enrollment model ensures that our DHH students are fully included in every aspect of school life. Second, all individuals in our community are welcomed, respected, and encouraged to be their authentic selves. Representation itself is important but not sufficient — we strive to create a culture where everyone belongs, and we joyfully celebrate the diverse perspectives within our community.
How can we cultivate a culture of shared responsibility that amplifies the impact of our development, admissions, and marketing efforts by fostering active participation and investment in our mission?
GOAL 6 Inspiring a Shared Commitment to School Advancement OBJECTIVES
1 Foster a culture of authentic, delighted engagement throughout the community.
2 Inspire community members to proudly dedicate their time, talent, and philanthropic resources to strengthen Echo Horizon’s impact and legacy.
3 Pursue grants, partnerships, and major gifts that empower us to confidently undertake ambitious projects, and drive transformative change.
4 Elevate Echo Horizon’s visibility and reputation beyond our immediate community, harnessing the genuine enthusiasm of its members through strategic outreach and authentic storytelling.
5 Provide an engaging and authentic admissions experience that resonates with families whose values and priorities align with our mission.
WHY
This Matters
Advancement at Echo Horizon School brings together our efforts in development (fundraising), admissions, and marketing to strengthen the resources that sustain our school’s future and deepen the relationships that ensure our vibrancy. Advancement is also about sharing our stories – celebrating who we are, highlighting our successes, and reinforcing our collective bonds – to grow meaningful connections within our community and spark interest beyond it. Our goal is to foster a sense of pride and belonging that resonates so strongly that it draws others in to appreciate and join our exceptional school. When everyone actively participates in advancement, we amplify the power of our engaged community.
This plan was conceived by a team that included trustees, parents, faculty and staff. We thank the following community members for their meaningful contributions.
Angela Arnold
Meg Baltazar
Megan Berta
Julia Blount
Haley Brooks
Alicia Camacho
Jay Carson
Tom Chang
Allison Cobar
Amy Cooper
RaShaan Davis
Sommer Denison
Liza DeWitt
Ellis Enlow
Yvette Ferrari
Eduardo Garcia
Andre James
Sharon Lee
Jason Lehmbeck
Elisha Levin
Natalie Levy
Michelle Martinez
Jennifer Mascolo
Ruth Milway
Natalie Moreland
Ken Nakayama
Betsy Nolte
Karina Patel
Maria Pathria
Heather Primus
Peggy Procter
Jeenah Quansah
Carmie Rehor
John Roberts
Peter Scott
Lisa Sorrentino
Jennifer Stone
Sharon Tal Yguado
Ziad Toubassy
Brendan Toussaint
Nate Whitaker
Jennie Willens
Angie Winslow
WRITING COMMITTEE
Tom Chang
Ken Nakayama
Maria Pathria
Peggy Procter
Peter Scott
Ziad Toubassy
