MISSION
Grace-St.Luke’sEpiscopalSchoolpreparesboysandgirlstobecome Grace-St.Luke’sEpiscopalSchoolpreparesboysandgirlstobecome creativeproblemsolvers,confidentlifelonglearners,andresponsible creativeproblemsolvers,confidentlifelonglearners,andresponsible citizensintheircommunitiesandtheworld. citizensintheircommunitiesandtheworld.
INTRODUCTION & VISION
Withthis2024StrategicPlan,weremaincommittedtoourmissioninallwedo.Ourvisionisto investinthesuccessfulimplementationofthisStrategicPlan.Weknowthataninvestmentin theGSLLearningExperience,theGSLCommunity,theGSLLearningEnvironment,andGSL’s FinancialSustainabilitywillensureGSL’ssuccesstodayandforyearstocome.
TheoutcomesofthisStrategicPlanwillpositionGSLasanacademicallyinnovativeschoolthat isuniquelyqualifiedinpreparingchildrenforhighschoolandbeyond.GSLwillcontinueto fosteracommunitywhereallfeelasenseofbelonging.Thesuccessfulimplementationofthis planwillalsohelpGSLsecureitsfinancialsustainabilitythroughoptimizedenrollment, strategicfinancialpractices,andastrongcultureofphilanthropy.Guidedbythisplan,GSLwill continuetodeliveritspromiseofremainingforallAnAnchorforLife.
THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
Inthefallof2023,theGrace-St.Luke’sBoardofTrusteesStrategicPlanningCommittee retainedGilmourConsultingtoguideourstrategicplanningprocess.InJanuary2024, GilmourConsultingmetwiththeStrategicPlanningWorkingGroup,whichincludedselect TrusteesandLeadershipteammembers.Thisgroupestablishedprojectgoals,atimeline, actionsteps,andameetingschedule.
BetweenJanuaryandMarchof2024,thisgroupengagedinthediscoveryprocess,which includedacompetitionanalysisandsurveyanalysesfromallstakeholders:families,alumni, students,faculty/staff,church/vestryandTrustees.Thediscoveryprocessproduced informationonninecoreoperationalcomponentsoftheschool:Admissions, School/Academics(Athletics,AfterCare,andEnrichment),Communications,DEI/Episcopal Identity,Development,Facilities,Finance,Governance,andTechnology.
TheBoardofTrusteesreviewedthematerialsfromdiscoveryduringthefirststrategic planningsessioninlateMarch2024.Ultimately,thestrategicinformationgleanedfromthe discoveryprocessformedthebasisofthestrategicplanninggoals.Inbreakoutsessions, TrusteesandmembersoftheLeadershipteamdiscussedandrankedthestrategicpriorities forthenextfiveyears.Afterreconveningasafullgroup,theBoarddevelopedadraftsetof goalsforthe2024StrategicPlan.
InlateApril2024,theBoardofTrusteesapprovedthefourstrategicgoals.Trusteesand Leadershipagainbrokeoutintosmallgroupstocreateobjectivesandactionstepsforeach goal.Facultyandstaffalsocreatedactionstepsforteacher-relatedobjectivesinMay2024. Throughoutthesummerof2024,theStrategicPlanningCommitteemeticulouslyrevised andsequencedtheactionstepsandassignedkeystakeholdersmeasurableresponsibilities usingasharedwireframedocument.
Attheconclusionofthiscomprehensiveandinclusiveprocessthatinvolvedallkey stakeholders,inAugust2024,theBoardofTrusteesvotedtoadoptthefinalized2024 StrategicPlan.
HISTORY
Grace-St.Luke’sEpiscopalSchoolisacoed,independentschoollocatedintheheartof Midtown’sbeautifulandhistoricCentralGardensneighborhood.ThebeginningsofGSLaswe havecometoknowittodaystartedin1947,whenformerSt.Mary'skindergartenteacher LorenaWebberWalkeraskedtheReverendDr.CharlesStuartHale,rectorofthenewly-merged Grace-St.Luke'sEpiscopalChurch,ifshecouldrentspacetobeginoperatingakindergarten.A scholarlymanhimselfandfirmbelieverintheimportanceofaChristianeducation,heagreed.
Fromhumblebeginningsinthechurch’sParishHall,athrivingdayschoolwasformed.Grades wereaddedeachyear,andtheschoolwasissueditsfirstcharterin1959.Bythemid-1970s,GSL wasgraduatingseveralhighschoolclasses.Spaceconstraintsledtheschooltoakindergarten throughninth-gradeconfigurationin1979,allowingGSLtofocusondevelopingstudentsin preschoolthroughmiddleschool.Theninthgradewasdiscontinuedin1995,makingeighth gradethegraduatinglevel.
MajorimprovementsovertheyearsincludedtheacquisitionofSnowdenField(1986),which helpedraisetheleveloftheschool'sMiddleSchoolathleticofferings,andMissLee’sSchoolof Childhood,whosere-openingasapartofGSLinthefallof1986allowedtheschooltoexpand itspreschoolofferings.In2010,theAnchorCenteropenedonLemasterbetweenLindenand Peabody,boastinganewgym,cafeteria,library,musicandartrooms,sciencelabs,dedicated spaceforAfterSchoolCare,andagreenhouse.In2013,theLittleLukersprogramwasadded, expandingthepreschoolprogramtoincludetwo-year-oldchildren.GSLwasoneofthefirst schoolsinMemphistoaddsuchaprogram.In2024,thePreschoolexpandedagaintoadda classfor18-to23-month-oldchildren.Wearethrivingtoday,excitedaboutthefuture,and proudofourhistoryinCentralGardens!
Investing In...
1 GOAL
THE GSL LEARNING EXPERIENCE
GSLwillbuildonthedelivery,enhancement,andpromotionofour outstanding academicprogramthatresultsinourstudentsbeing equippedanduniquelyqualifiedtoexcelintop-rankedhighschools, colleges,universities,andbeyond.
Academic Program —Enhanceandamplifytheacademic program/curriculumusingresearchandevaluationtopromotethe successofalllearners.
Professional Development —Seekandprioritizeexcellent professionaldevelopmentprogramsforfaculty,staff,andthe BoardofTrustees.
toensurestrongmatriculationpipelines.
Student Leadership/Signature Programs —Ensurethe sustainabilityofandcontinuetogrowmilestoneleadership experiencesforourstudents.
2GOAL
THE GSL COMMUNITY
GSLwilldefineandsharewhatitmeanstobeaLukerinbothour internalandexternalcommunity,communicatingtoourvaried stakeholdersthedeepsenseofbelongingandenrichmentthatcomes frombeingapartoftheGSLfamily.
Objectives
Our Story —Ensureallstakeholderscanarticulate,support,and continuetobeapartoftheGSLexperience.
The Plan —Developanintentionalmarketing/communicationsplanto maximizebrandawareness.
Diversity —Continuetoembrace,retain,andgrowadiverse communitysoallmembershaveasenseofbelonging.
Episcopal Identity —ReflectourEpiscopalidentitythroughoutthe schoolexperiencebyhonoringthedignityofallindividuals.
3 GOAL
THE GSL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
GSLwillprioritizecampus-widespacestosupporteducationaland programmaticneedsinspiringcuriosity,creativity,learning,and engagementwithourcommunity.
Objectives
Safety and Security —Evaluateandenhancesafetyandsecurity measuresoncampuswhilemaintainingourcultureandcommunity.
Facilities —Identifyshort-termimprovementprojectswhile developingacomprehensivecampusimprovementplantoaddress long-termgoalsandneeds.
4 GOAL
GSL’s FINANCIAL
Enrollment —Achieveorsurpassbudgetedenrollmentgoalswhile maintainingourhighstandardofacademicexcellence.
Financial Position —Builduponcomprehensivestrategiesto furtherstrengthenfinancialsustainability.
Culture of Giving —Broadenanddiversifyourdonorbasewhile increasingoverallfinancialsupporttoultimatelygrowourculture ofgiving.
Capital Projects —Establishgovernanceandfundingmechanisms requiredtoaddresscapitalneeds.
