LCA Strategic Plan

Building Warriors for Christ

LUCAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY STRATEGIC PLAN

Dear LCA Family,

The book of Proverbs tells us that, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) Similarly, the prophet Isaiah tells us that the “noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.” (Isaiah 32:8)

Clearly, good stewardship of our Lord’s resources requires that we gather information, seek direction, and design a strategy for the future of His school. You, our community, have given wise counsel to add to the data we have collected, and now we want to unveil the blueprint for LCA for the near future.

Specifically, we have constructed the LCA Strategic Plan around five priorities for future development as a school:

1. Community-We will foster opportunities for authentic relationships in our community.

Emphasis on Belonging, Involvement, and Service

2. Partnership-We will partner with parents to educate, train, and nurture their children

Emphasis on Communication, Culture, and Volunteering

3. Truth-We will interpret life through a Biblical framework of truth.

Emphasis on Spiritual Development and Academic Development

4. Faculty Investment-We will recruit, hire, and retain strong Christian teachers in order to provide the best possible education for our students.

Emphasis on Retention, Staff Value, and Staff Success and Joy

5. Facilities and Development-We will provide facilities that enable LCA to grow so that students can flourish and fulfill their God-given potential.

Emphasis on Facilities and Development and Advancement

Lucas Christian Academy has always been a place of prayer and a community of prayer warriors. Consequently, and most significantly, prayer has undergirded every aspect of this strategy from earliest conception to finishing touches. As we share this final product with the LCA family, we humbly ask that all will continue to cover this effort in prayer as we move forward with implementation. Framing all of the scriptural admonition to effective stewardship, the Bible emphatically declares, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

May the Lord’s will be done at Lucas Christian Academy as it is in heaven. May we seek His face daily as we partner together in this great cause of Christian education. And may God empower us to raise up Warriors for Christ who use their lives to lift high the name of Jesus wherever they live, work, and play.

Locking Arms, Joseph A. Walker Head of School

MISSION STATEMENT & CORE VALUES

MISSION STATEMENT:

Partnering with Christ-centered families to educate and develop fully-equipped disciples.

OUR COREVALUES:

Partnership

Partnering with parents to educate, train and nurture their children

Community

Fostering opportunities for authentic relationships

Truth

Interpreting life through a biblical framework of truth

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3

PRIORITY 1: COMMUNITY

We will foster opportunities for authentic relationships in our community. Throughout the New Testament, the Bible teaches on the importance of community by referencing “ one another.” We were created to learn, gather and serve alongside one another.

COMMUNITY PRIORITY 1

BELONGING

Students

Through Student Life, students will be given opportunities to participate, engage, and lead through a variety of different experiences with the objective to meet our students' top three needs: to be known and accepted, to be taught about Jesus, and to be challenged to grow.

Outside of School Activities

For elementary students, LCA will foster and support activities in athletics and other character-building programs by leveraging our parent network. These earlyyear activities will foster building foundational relationships to build upon as students progress into secondary.

1

Grade Specific Care

LCA will utilize grade level care coordinators to further establish a culture of honor and prayer. Each grade will have both a prayer coordinator and a care coordinator so that no family will walk alone through difficult seasons of life and knowing that we are praying for each other.

PRIORITY 1 COMMUNITY

INVOLVEMENT

Community Events

LCA will hold several gatherings for parents throughout the year to foster building deeper relationships. These gatherings will build connections utilizing social and fun activities, develop community spirit through supporting athletics (e.g. tailgating), and fundraise in fun ways that will create memories for our community.

Dads

LCA recognizes that for our school to excel, dads need to play an integral role across our community. We will simplify connecting dads by leveraging a “dad hotline” for volunteering. We will provide resources for our dads to better equip them as the leaders of their homes, and we will create common interest groups to encourage dads to connect on different levels.

1

Parent Teacher Fellowships (PTF)

As a hallmark event for LCA, PTFs will be highly anticipated and beneficial to the entire parent and teacher community. PTFs will be excellent in both content and speakers. These events will focus on equipping, motivating, and encouraging our community.

PRIORITY 1 COMMUNITY SERVICE

Internal

Serving others is foundational to our school model. WIth a focus on appreciating the partnership with our faculty and staff, we will serve and appreciate those individuals because they demonstrate a sacrificial role in our community. We will provide student service opportunities through the Student Council. We will identify a coordinator in every grade that can mobilize dads when service needs arise.

External

1

We will equip LCA for greater influence in the local community by improving civic relationships. We desire stronger relationships with the city of Lucas and to be a good neighbor for the Lucas community. We will establish 1-2 long-term service projects for the city of Lucas that we can reliably execute upon year after year. We believe this will build relationships and provide useful, dependable and meaningful service for Lucas.

PRIORITY 2: PARTNERSHIP

The purpose of a strong school-family partnership is a better educational experience for the student. In this model, the school acts in a leadership and professional guidance role for families, enabling them to be the co-educators on satellite days. In addition to cooperative educating, partnership extends to other aspects of the school as well.

PARTNERSHIP

COMMUNICATION

Comprehensive Plan

We will Standardize LCA’s communication platforms and formats to simplify information flow to parents. We will prioritize and evaluate LCA’s internal communication, both horizontally and vertically, to assess and/or improve healthy communication. We will increase our online presence for better parent communication with current parents as well as potential parents.

Collaboration

2

We will equip co-teachers with clear objectives, expectations, and responsibilities. We will create partnering opportunities for two-way, open dialogue with parents. We will develop a system that facilitates collaborative communication and encourages teamwork in resolving competing academic and extracurricular calendars to reduce scheduling conflicts and minimize overloaded student schedules. We will utilize New Parent gatherings and PTF/PW gatherings to increase parent collaboration.

PRIORITY 2

PARTNERSHIP

Family Transitions

We will facilitate grade-specific gatherings between outgoing families and incoming parents to share tips and expectations, build community, and aid the onboarding process. We will evaluate/improve current communication strategies and materials for smooth onboarding of new families.

CULTURE

Unity

We will cultivate unity within our LCA Community. We will implement community-building / unity strategies interdepartmentally. We will equip LCA staff and parents with healthy, biblically-based, conflict resolution skills and communicate the importance of maintaining unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Cooperation

2

We will host parent focus groups when appropriate for collaboration, feedback, and promoting partnership.

We will promote a culture of partnership and unity by creating avenues for feedback from parents, such as teacher surveys and individual parent meetings.

PRIORITY 2 PARTNERSHIP

Spiritual Equipping

We will prioritize both spiritual focus and positive culture at our PTFs with outside speakers and a focus on prayer. We will launch a junior high spiritual development initiative. We will evaluate, implement, and maintain a high standard of Christian character and spiritual maturity of all faculty, staff, and extracurricular adult leaders.

Community Building

We will create an environment that emphasizes positivity and an uplifting LCA culture built on LCA Guiding Principles, such as “A Culture of Honor and Prayer,” and “Believe the Best of Each Other.” We will create opportunities to unite parent groups who have little to no interaction during the school year.

2

PARTNERSHIP

VOLUNTEERING

Generate Enthusiasm for Volunteering

We will better equip our PLUS Program to function as the volunteer system for the entire community. We will communicate the overall importance of volunteering as it relates to the health of the school, tuition costs, and student opportunities. We will initiate regular grade level meetings to promote involvement.

Dads Involvement

2

We will communicate dad volunteer needs well in advance for ease in work schedule planning. We will establish a single location signup with regular communication updates specifically for dads. We will equip and gear some social gatherings specifically toward dads and their interests.

PRIORITY 3: TRUTH

Lucas Christian Academy has a desire for students to understand and steward the gifts and abilities God has given them to glorify Christ. The ability to discern truth stems from being connected to the Source of Truth. Those who are connected have renewed hearts, souls, and minds. For lives to be truly transformed, the heart, soul, and mind must be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit. This goal’s focus should be implemented in alignment with our statement of faith and by looking to God as the ultimate authority and to His written word, the Bible.

PRIORITY 3 TRUTH

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

Biblical Literacy

Students will have developed a knowledge of the structure and contents of the Bible, understand why it is true and reliable (Apologetics) and can apply scripture in context to daily life. Students, teachers, and parents will speak about Biblical truth through common language markers such as the Roots or the Warrior Card.

Gospel Message

3

Students will have a clear understanding of the Gospel message. Students will develop a love for the Gospel, be able to articulate the Gospel message, and understand how it applies to all aspects of life.

Authentic Faith

Students will walk in a way that demonstrates an authentic faith. Students will be transformed into loving, humble, and honoring witnesses of Christ and learn obedience to the tenets of the Christian faith. Students will grow in communion with God and others.

TRUTH

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

Biblical Worldview Curriculum

Administrators and teachers will build Biblical integration into the curriculum of every class and at all ages, specifically tied to scripture. Teachers will steward the abilities God gave each student through the pursuit of academic excellence from a Biblical worldview. Students will be able to connect attributes of God and see God in all academic disciplines.

Discerning Truth Everywhere in God’s World

3

Students will have exposure to secular views and ideas with a clear explanation of what the Bible teaches in these areas. Students will engage in discussion identifying contradictions to Biblical truth in the world. Students will interpret information and content through a Biblical framework of truth, discerning the light from the darkness in all areas of academic discipline.

PRIORITY 3 TRUTH

Students Prepared for Life After LCA

Students will have cultivated an “Overcomer” love-forlearning mindset in their time at LCA. Students will have completed necessary coursework and above-average proficiency on standardized tests to qualify for opportunities after LCA. Students of differing abilities will be given the opportunity to be successful with opportunities such as the WAR program or advanced courses.

PRIORITY 4: FACULTY INVESTMENT

Good teachers are the backbone of any educational institution. LCA is committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining strong Christian teachers in order to provide the best possible education for its students. To that end, LCA will focus on compensation packages, retention strategies, and professional development opportunities that attract and retain proficient teachers.

FACULTY INVESTMENT

RETENTION

Salary and Benefits Package

We will benchmark benefits salary packages of surrounding schools and conduct salary analysis vs years of service to design a competitive compensation scale. We will survey faculty for benefit package goals. We will continually review current insurance trends and compensation and evaluate retirement contribution offerings.

4

Professional Development

We will conduct surveys of staff needs and look for provisional solutions. We will create a differentiated Professional Learning Plan for all teachers. We will increase the budget for professional development incrementally to provide opportunities for all faculty and staff. We will create additional compensation incentives for teachers who complete professional development programs and standards.

FACULTY INVESTMENT

Data Analysis

We will evaluate average length of service and turnover, differentiating for coaching, subject, and other factors. The Leadership Team will conduct an evaluation of the “why” behind the analysis of data with a separation of reasons dissection. We will evaluate (and redesign, if necessary) the teacher/staff exit survey. We will establish an accountability parameter around teacher retention rates.

STAFF VALUE

On Board Training

We will benchmark surrounding schools onboarding processes. We will evaluate and redesign New Employee Orientation and Staff On-boarding processes around best practices. We will create an automated process for required and campus-specific training.

FACULTY INVESTMENT

Mentoring

We will better utilize and equip our Instructional Coaches to mentor less-experienced teachers. We will evaluate possible mentorship-based curriculum. We will develop mentorship expectations and outcomes for our Instructional Coaches in the on-boarding process.

Work/Life Balance

We will establish consistent messaging from leadership around work/ life balance, especially with regard to Sabbath and Biblical ideas of family responsibility. We will conduct a curriculum evaluation regarding rigor of assignments and grading policy and how they affect student work/life balance.

INVESTMENT

STAFFSUCCESSANDJOY

Joy Factor

We will have organized prayer and devotional times for campus staff. We will utilize a “whole-family commitment” with regard to campus staff, including social engagements, celebrations, and spiritual encouragement.

4

Robust Communication

We will prioritize leadership expectations around consistent communication to staff and opportunities for feedback from staff. We will conduct consistent faculty meetings with opportunities for communication and feedback. We will evaluate departmental communications and expectations around areas that affect staff performance such as facilities and operational needs.

PRIORITY 5: FACILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT

Physical facilities enable and enhance the educational experience. LCA is committed to providing facilities that enable the school to grow in such a way that provides opportunities for all students to flourish and fulfill their Godgiven capabilities. Providing additional facilities and opportunities for students requires a robust development program. LCA Is committed to enhancing its fundraising processes and capabilities in ways that provide for the present and future thriving of its students.

FACILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT

FACILITIES

Optimize Facility Use

We will optimize scheduling to better accommodate academics, athletics, fine arts, and other community events. We will evaluate programming adjustments and new offerings that can occur inside the current facility (including enrollment growth). We will evaluate remodeling current space at a lower price point than expansion.

5

Expansion to Match Growth

We will enhance and expand Fine Arts and Athletics spaces to better serve those programs with fewer conflicts. We will enhance and expand Academics spaces to enable overall growth. We will enhance and expand Administrative and common areas to improve school functionality. We will consider land acquisition for future growth.

FACILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT

Security and Maintenance

We will improve access and security policies, continually evaluating for new threats. We will implement leading security procedures and equipment needed to protect students and the LCA community. We will create a multi-year roadmap for facility maintenance, upkeep, and costs. We will invest appropriately in cleaning and hygiene across campus.

5

DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT

Healthy Warrior Fund Giving

We will commit to giving at or above annual Warrior fund goals (including financial assistance program). We will clearly articulate needs connected to LCA’s strategic or annual plan. We will expand our donor base beyond current LCA families.

FACILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT

Support for Long-Term Investment

We will develop deep relationships with families capable of material gifts to LCA. We will execute a capital campaign tied to a major investment roadmap. We will develop and execute a plan for retiring debt.

Clarity and Messaging

We will do a comprehensive external marketing analysis to create formulized verbiage and educate the community on LCA’s mission, vision and expected outcomes. We will provide a well-documented strategic plan, revised as needed, to maintain a 5-year+ roadmap for the school. We will create a connected and compelling story to support marketing and admissions activities.

5