NPES Strategic Plan 2023-2027

STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2027

2017 W. Montrose Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 www.npeschool.org

ELEVATE OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

We will foster a rigorous and

EMPOWER OUR EDUCATORS

We will recruit, develop, and

CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY

We will foster a welcoming,

supportive learning experience inspired by an inquiry-based approach.

retain a talented and diverse faculty and staff who are supported and valued.

inclusive, equitable, and joyful community for all students, families, and employees.

We will celebrate and

AMPLIFY OUR VISION

communicate the NPES identity clearly and effectively, creating a compelling brand as an exemplary learning community.

ADVANCE OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

We will responsibly manage and expand our resources to strengthen the school’s effectiveness today and position NPES to thrive in the future.

SMALL SCHOOL, BIG IMPACT During the 2022-23 school year, NPES engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning process facilitated by noted consultant Brooke Carroll.

Over many months and guided by the work of a committee representative of all stakeholders, more than 200 parents/caregivers, faculty/staff, alumni/alumni parents, board members, and students contributed through focus groups and surveys to this plan. On May 11, 2023 our Board of Directors approved the plan. While this publication documents our priorities, outcomes, and goals for the next four years, action and implementation plans are also underway to guide school leaders internally as NPES operationalizes the plan, benchmarks, measurable goals, pathways for community engagement, and regular evaluation processes.

Ours is a small school with a big impact. We entered strategic planning from a position of strength with record enrollment and charitable giving, and a completely renovated, beautiful new building. Our welcoming, authentic, and joyful community; our engaging and collaborative inquiry-based pedagogy; our talented faculty's dedication to challenging and supporting every child; our earnest work in multiculturalism and teaching skills for equity and inclusion; and NPES’s commitment to the social-emotional wellbeing of all are more relevant to children today than ever. We look forward to the exciting work ahead to continue to strengthen and enrich our school for the benefit of every student, now and for many years to come.

ELEVATE OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

We will foster a rigorous and and supportive supportive learning learning experience experience inspired by inspired an inquiry-based by an inquiry-based approach. approach.

The NPES curriculum and pedagogy

All learners are engaged, challenged,

are fully aligned with the school’s

and supported

mission and values

Ensure that curriculum and

Articulate NPES’ pedagogy and its

instruction are aligned with our

alignment with our vision,

vision, mission, and values

mission, and values, and how it

through an ongoing review

holistically meets the needs of our

process

learners

Ensure that our curriculum and

Expand the use of inquiry

pedagogy meet the academic

teaching and learning across the

and social-emotional needs of

curriculum

individual students

Consistently communicate the

Strengthen and coordinate our

expectations, pedagogy, and

support for students with

curriculum to faculty, staff, and

learning challenges

parents

Regularly evaluate how NPES

Signature programming is well-

responds to individual student

defined and a key differentiator

academic, social-emotional, and

Build and implement signature

well-being needs

programming that aligns with our

The student extracurricular

Portrait of a Graduate and

experience is robust and mission-

strengthens student preparation

aligned

for success in high school and

Strengthen extracurricular

beyond

programming aligned to our

Broaden co-curricular offerings to

mission and to achieve high levels

ensure mission-alignment and

of student participation

relevance Create awareness of and enthusiasm for NPES’ signature programming across all gradelevels

ELEVATE OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

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We will foster a rigorous and supportive learning experience and supportive learning inspired by inspired an inquiry-based experience by an approach. inquiry-based approach.

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

EMPOWER OUR EDUCATORS

We will recruit, develop, and retain a talented and diverse faculty and staff who are supported and valued.

Our workplace environment and

Ensure that faculty and staff are

organizational infrastructure

prepared to support students

empower our faculty and staff to

with varying learning strengths

achieve their full potential

and challenges

Refine the NPES staffing model to

Provide ongoing mentoring and

best support the current and

leadership opportunities for

future needs of the school

faculty and staff

Create programming to

Our faculty and staff are diverse and

intentionally support employee

culturally literate

wellness and sense of belonging

Continuously improve upon a

Evaluate, refine, and

faculty and staff recruitment

communicate our compensation

process that reflects best

and benefits philosophy and

practices and reaches the widest

develop a transparent plan for

possible pool of exceptional

NPES faculty and staff

mission-aligned educators

Refine and implement a clear and

Identify and nurture new referral

supportive employee evaluation

sources across Chicagoland to

process with ongoing supports to

connect NPES with prospective

ensure performance excellence

faculty and staff from groups

The professional development

currently underrepresented

opportunities for faculty and staff are

Foster a climate that is supportive

meaningful and aligned

and inclusive of BIPOC and all

Create a responsive professional

employees

development and career growth

Integrate cultural literacy into

plan that aligns with

professional development for all

Characteristics of Professional

employees

Excellence for faculty and staff Ensure that faculty and staff growth plans and goals are aligned with the NPES vision, mission, and values

EMPOWER OUR EDUCATORS

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We will recruit, develop, and retain a talented and diverse faculty and staff who are supported and valued.

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY

We will foster a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and joyful community for all students, families, and employees.

Families have meaningful and

Our strong, diverse Board of

inclusive opportunities to connect

Directors is dedicated to stewarding

with the school and one another

and governing the school

Include the NPES Association as

Develop consistent and reliable

critical and involved members of

channels for the board to

our learning community

communicate its objectives and

Embrace, include, and celebrate

priorities

the diversity represented in the

Build committee charters and

school and in our communities

membership to reflect the

Engage parents/caregivers more

school’s priorities

fully in volunteer opportunities

Advance diversity and inclusion

across our educational programs

through board training and

We connect with communities

development

beyond our school

Strengthen regular board

Expand community partnerships

engagement with the school

for learning and service

community

Invite members of the wider

The alumni network is strong and

community to regularly join in

engaged

school activities

Create an NPES alumni association Engage with alumni through regular school updates and communications Provide opportunities for alumni to engage with and support the school

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NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY

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We will foster a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and joyful community for all students, families, and employees.

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

We will celebrate and

AMPLIFY OUR VISION

communicate the NPES identity clearly and effectively, creating a compelling brand as an exemplary learning community.

The core components of our school’s

Branding and marketing advance

mission and values reflect the key

the school’s reputation and public

differentiators for NPES

profile

Develop a position statement on

Refine our Portrait of a Graduate

how NPES is differentiated from

statement so that it is connected

other schools that is clear and

to our vision and resonates with

concise

stakeholders

Integrate the differentiators into

Feature NPES’ academic

the internal and external

approach and differentiators by

marketing plans

sharing the Characteristics of

Review and refine the existing

Professional Excellence and other

written articulation of our school’s

defining statements with current

mission and values

and prospective families

Ensure that all communications

Develop and implement

to both current and prospective

marketing strategies and

families are consistently aligned

outreach activities that focus on

with NPES’s unique vision,

energizing our current

mission, and values

community while motivating new

Activate the board,

families to enroll

administration, and faculty to creatively articulate the NPES vision in a variety of contexts and forums

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NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

We will celebrate and

AMPLIFY OUR VISION

communicate the NPES identity clearly and effectively, creating a compelling brand as an exemplary learning community.

PAGE | 11

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ADVANCE OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

We will responsibly manage and expand our resources to strengthen the school’s effectiveness today and position NPES to thrive in the future.

Our financial aid program broadens

Our culture of philanthropy and

accessibility to NPES

fundraising meet and advance

Articulate a clear rationale for

priorities

need-based financial aid and how

Establish a successful major gifts

it furthers our vision, mission, and

program

values

Grow annual giving through

Build the operational

unrestricted gifts to the NPES

components of a financial aid

Fund

program

Research, plan, and execute

Growth and capital investments

NPES’ future capital campaigns to

build our reserves

fund key outcomes of this

Set and achieve targeted reserve

strategic plan

goals

Develop events that bring joy and

Develop investment and spend

connection to the community

policies for our school’s reserves

and generate significant revenue

Our revenue streams include robust

to support the school’s mission

tuition and non-tuition sources Create more summer, after school, and holiday/recess programming Develop flexible methods to maximize the enrollment of qualified students each year

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NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ADVANCE OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

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We will responsibly manage and expand our resources to strengthen the school’s effectiveness today and position NPES to thrive in the future.

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL