FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
As FBA celebrated its 25th year of educating students, Administration and the Board of Trustees recognized the importance of carefully assessing our current realities and taking proactive steps to plan for our desired future. We are looking forward to anticipated enrollment growth and the introduction of new programming that will effectively prepare our students for success. At the same time, we are committed to maintaining our identity as the educational landscape continues to evolve.
Therefore, the Board approved the engagement of Dr. Alan Pue of the Barnabas Group to lead a task force through a rigorous strategic planning process. This task force comprised board members, leadership members, faculty, staff, and parents. A weekend retreat kicked off the planning process. From the retreat, work teams were assembled to assess various aspects of the state of the school, articulate our core values, and create strategic initiatives for the future. The work teams met multiple times, and Dr. Pue met monthly with the teams and administration. Additionally, Dr. Pue held broader meetings with middle school students, parents, and faculty to gain insight into FBA’s culture and educational experience. All of this work resulted in identifying four key initiatives ultimately adopted by the Board.
As the leadership team carefully considered what is most essential for guiding our decisions in the coming years, they were inspired by the phrase “We Are” and its significance. It’s a simple phrase that carries immense richness and signifies the depth of layers behind our mission. You will better understand this phrase after reading through the completed work of the editing team within the first initiative.
Embracing these four initiatives will pave the way for an unforgettable journey, one that is sure to unfold as a marathon rather than a sprint. The path ahead will demand our unwavering commitment, our solidarity as a Warrior community, and a deepened resolve to act with faith at all times.
Join us as we work to strengthen and make known who We Are at FBA for the benefit of all those in our Warrior community today and tomorrow!
TERESA CHAMBERS, M.S., CPA Head of School Parent of FBA Class of 2021, 2023 & 2024
TO DISTINCTIVELY IDENTIFY WHO WE ARE.
“YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW YOURSELF SO YOU CAN AT LAST BE YOURSELF.”
D. H. LAWRENCE
It is very important in this process to first clearly articulate our mission, vision, core values, Portrait of a Graduate and the Characteristics of Professional Excellence. Until we made this declaration, any future strategic plans would lack a stronghold in our identity and sustainability.
Drawing from our mission statement, the task force invested time articulating a vision and identifying the necessary core values. By identifying our vision and core values, we began to answer the following questions: What day-to-day values must be upheld to carry out our mission? And what does it look like when our mission is achieved? These questions are answered in our five core values and our vision.
Next, we developed a list of chracteristics each administrator, faculty and staff member should possess to ensure our core values are maintained. This list is our Characteristics of Professional Excellence. Ultimately, we designed the Portrait of a Graduate. We believe the five characteristics within our Portrait of a Graduate are vital to students’ success in their educational journeys, professional careers, physical and spiritual lives.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
OUR MISSION
“IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM, MISSION TRUE ORGANIZATIONS KNOW WHY THEY EXIST AND PROTECT THEIR CORE AT ALL COSTS. THEY REMAIN FAITHFUL TO WHAT THEY BELIEVE GOD HAS ENTRUSTED THEM TO DO. THEY DEFINE WHAT IS IMMUTABLE: THEIR VALUES AND PURPOSES, THEIR DNA, THEIR HEART AND SOUL.”
PETER GREER, MISSION DRIFT
TO EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD,
First, we must equip students, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:17, “for every good work.” We want to provide students with the resources, training and teaching to fulfill their God-given purpose.
WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR CHARACTER, INTELLECT, AND POTENTIAL,
While equipping with scripture, we want to shape our students’ minds and hearts to pursue excellence in their work and push past their thought capabilities.
TO EXPLORE, CREATE, CHALLENGE, AND LEAD.
As our students mature, they will explore their God-given gifts within an environment created for them to be academically, physically, creatively and spiritually challenged while being led to the Truth.
OUR VISION
“WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE ARE UNRESTRAINED, BUT BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO HEEDS WISDOM’S INSTRUCTION.”
PROVERBS 29:18
TO DEVELOP SCHOLARS WHO BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN GOD’S STORY.
Learning and life undertaken separately from the Lord ultimately lack purpose and meaning. Therefore, completing our mission should reflect students who have mastered their academic subjects and have a deep understanding of their role in God’s story that will continue to grow in their educational journey.
OUR CORE VALUES
“THOSE WHO STAND FOR NOTHING, FALL FOR ANYTHING.”
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
Our core values define us as a community and direct our steps. By living out the core values in our daily activities, students begin to see life through a biblical lens.
CORE VALUE ONE: BOUND BY TRUTH
The Truth directs our steps and affects our discipline.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6
CORE VALUE TWO: DEVOTED TO SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE
We are all called to excellence in our work.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men...” – Colossians 3:23
CORE VALUE THREE: IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE TO FOSTER WISDOM
We are shaping young scholars’ hearts and minds to apply knowledge to real problems that bless others.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” – James 3:17
“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.” – 1 Corinthians 3:19-20
CORE VALUE FOUR: TO FULLY KNOW AND DEEPLY LOVE
God FULLY knows and DEEPLY loves each one of us.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
God commands us to FULLY know and DEEPLY love Him.
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’” – Matthew 22:36-38
God commands us to FULLY know and DEEPLY love others. We want others to know us by our love.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Galatians 5:13-14
CORE VALUE FIVE: CHALLENGING WARRIORS TO SERVE
Serving others plays a valuable role in enabling young people to give their time to their community and begin to see this world with an eternal lens.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 4:10
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE
The living representation of our vision is a graduate of First Baptist Academy.
STEADFAST IN TRUTH
Our graduates are equipped with Biblical Truths and learn ways to remain devoted to their faith as they enter high school.
UNIQUELY GIFTED
Our graduates are affirmed in their individual gifts and encouraged to use them to honor God.
OVERCOMERS
Our graduates understand this world will have adversity and yet they are victorious in Christ.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Our graduates live lives of impact fully knowing God has created them for good works.
WARRIORS
Our graduates are academically, physically and spiritually equipped to take an active role in God’s plan for them in high school and beyond.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
With faculty and staff modeling these professional qualities, the ability to live out our core values, carry out our mission and achieve our vision is attainable. These clearly defined characteristics are at the forefront of hiring practices and continued professional development.
FAITHFUL INTEGRITY | Model Biblical values, principles, and desired behaviors for student guidance.
MORAL & ETHICAL STANDARDS | Uphold high moral and ethical standards within the classroom and greater school community.
SERVANT HEART | Demonstrate humility, servant leadership, and a willingness to serve others in a Christ-like manner.
COLLECTIVE COLLABORATION | Engage in collective efforts with team members to attain shared goals for the benefit of the students.
COMPREHENSIVE PERSONALIZATION | Provide diverse learning opportunities tailored to the unique strengths, interests, and challenges of the students.
SUPPORTIVE GUIDANCE | Assist students in recognizing their talents and guiding them in utilizing these gifts to serve others and discover God’s desired path for their lives.
CREATIVE EMPOWERMENT | Create classroom learning environments that foster a secure and supportive atmosphere, encouraging students to embrace challenges, redefine failure, and advocate for themselves.
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL GROWTH | Pursue professional development opportunities to incorporate optimal teaching methodologies in our classrooms.
CULTIVATE A RIGOROUS AND FULFILLING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
First Baptist Academy is dedicated to the holistic development of the child by enhancing our academic, athletic, and fine arts programs. As we intentionally increase learning opportunities for teachers and students, we will foster an environment where students are challenged and engaged. Furthermore, additional social-emotional learning opportunities will provide students with a well-balanced understanding of themselves and the world around them.
ACADEMICS:
• Review, assess, and revise our academic model, methods, and programs to meet the needs of today’s “generation alpha” students.
• Hire a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist who offers continual oversight of student academic progress, curriculum alignment, and fulfilling our Portrait of a Graduate.
• Increase learning opportunities, including expanded middle school elective offerings, that emphasize real-world connections, active learning, problemsolving, collaboration and critical thinking.
• Build a wellness program committed to nurturing students’ overall well-being through a Christ-centered approach.
• Invest in continuous professional development for teachers, focusing on classroom pedagogy, differentiated instruction, technology integration, and student assessments.
ATHLETICS:
• Recruit and retain experienced coaching staff aligned with our Characteristics of Professional Excellence.
• Assess the effectiveness and impact of the middle school athletics program in promoting students’ physical, spiritual and emotional development.
• Examine the success of current athletic programs in terms of student engagement, competitive success, and continuity with the school’s values.
• Analyze Warrior Youth Sports and Lower School’s physical education program to ensure student development, alignment with Middle School athletics, and strengthen community engagement.
ARTS:
• Hire a Fine Arts Coordinator with a passion for enriching students’ lives through various art forms in both Lower and Middle Schools.
• Review, assess, and revise current fine arts courses, clubs and extracurriculars to further student participation.
• Build relationships with local arts organizations and organize showcases to highlight student achievements.
• Define distinct learning spaces dedicated to fostering the arts.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE THREE
ENGAGE A COHESIVE, SUPPORTIVE PARENT COMMUNITY.
The community at First Baptist Academy is a valued and distinctive quality. We seek to engage our supportive parent community, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and thriving school environment.
• Offer parent education programs that will empower parents with tools to support their children’s education.
• Host parent volunteer and community building opportunities where parents and families can engage with faculty and connect with each other.
• Celebrate the different cultures within our community and learn the related history and traditions.
• Strengthen participation in Warrior Parent Association and reengage Athletic Booster Club.
• Enhance digital platforms where parents can easily access school news, student progress, events and participate in annual feedback.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FOUR BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR FACILITIES THAT ACCOMMODATES FUTURE GROWTH.
With the understanding that spaces shape communities, First Baptist Academy is committed to meeting the needs of our growing programs and student population. Through a comprehensive evaluation of current facilities, we aim to determine the specialized designs needed to realize the vision for unique educational experiences.
• Redesign spaces on the shared campus that foster social interaction, collaborative learning, and creates a distinct culture for middle school students.
• Evaluate how the current infrastructure and learning environment can meet the needs of an expanding student population.
• Evaluate the feasibility and benefits of expanding our current facilities to accommodate an increasing student population and offer a more specialized learning environment.
WE ARE
FACILITATOR
HEAD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Dr. Alan Pue | President, The Barnabas Group
Teresa Chambers | Leadership, Parent, Parent of Alumni
Craig Bloodworth | Board, Parent, Parent of Alumni
Carrie Bowden | Leadership, Parent
Christine Chaluparambil | Parent
Ivonne Chiok | Past Parents Association President, Parent
Marcy Clark | Leadership
Rachel Dill | Staff, Parent, Alumni c/o 2005
Ricardo Escobar | Parent
Joey Klapesky | Leadership
Krysty Kling | Parent, Parent of Alumni
Katrina Lee | Leadership, Parent, Parent of Alumni
Cheryl Lehane | Board, Parent of Alumni
Natalie McMahon | Faculty, Parent
Marvin McNeese | Board
Erin Montoya | Staff
Pam Netter | Faculty
Madison Powell | Faculty
Jenni Razeghi | Leadership
Vicki Robinson | Leadership
Brooke Sabo | Parent
Allie Schielack | Faculty, Parent
Edward Soontiraratn | Faculty, Parent
DeLisa Strege | Faculty
Paolo Thompson | Board, Parent, Parent of Alumni
Mary Torregrossa | Leadership, Grandparent, Parent of Alumni
Jessica Trozzo | Parent, Parent of Alumni
Tiffany Whitaker | Leadership, Parent, Alumni c/o 1999
Kelly Wilkin | Former Faculty, Parent, Parent of Alumni
D’Angela Williams | Parent, Parent of Alumni
Sandra Wilson | Staff
Role is listed as of the commencement of the Strategic Planning Initiative.
We express gratitude to the committee members who actively contributed to this strategic planning initiative. This comprehensive strategy has been developed over many months of collective strategic planning, prayer, and careful consideration by the stakeholders of First Baptist Academy.
