Guiding Principles
We believe and are committed to Montessori principles by:
• Maintaining a regular, uninterrupted work cycle that allows students to focus and concentrate.
• Empowering faculty and parents to be partners in education.
• Respecting each person.
• Being principle-driven and building character with a focus on lifelong learning, emotional literacy, fostering accountable leaders, and responsible citizens.
We believe in continuous improvement through problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork, maximizing our strengths, developing an experimental attitude, benchmarking, and professional development.
We believe in preparing students for the global community by developing responsibility to the environment, providing peace education, and cultivating citizens who exemplify OFMS’s Portrait of a Graduate.
We believe in a board that provides oversight and accountability for the Head of School through expertise in business operations. The Head of School is responsible for the day to day operations and oversight of educational practices.
Oak Farm Montessori School Strategic Plan 2022-2027
Goal
Grow
the High School
To be one of the only authentic Montessori infants through high school programs in the United States.
Critical Success Factors Strategies
• Area high schools are willing to partner with OFMS.
• Students need to have extracurricular options.
• Families willing to host visiting students
• Increase high school enrollment as projected.
• The middle school and high school is seen as a seamless transition for students.
• Formation of two-way partnerships with other high schools and organizations.
• Advance the development of the athletic fields.
• Build understanding on the benefits of hosting a visiting student.
• Retain middle school students.
• Build understanding of secondary arts opportunities.
Oak Farm Montessori School Strategic Plan 2022-2027
Goal
Be a global, regional, and local community asset.
Develop partnerships that further strengthen relationships, builds educational expertise, both locally and in the broader Montessori community, and positions OFMS to be an asset to our surrounding community.
Critical Success Factors
• Partnership with higher education and community organizations.
• Develop standard operating procedures for use of community accessible spaces.
• Maintain school dual accreditation.
• Distributing educational resources becomes a higher priority.
• Maintain alignment with the school’s Vision and Values as the school grows with programming and new faculty.
• Maintain student safety and faculty security public access.
Strategies
• Annually maintain the partnership with Trine University’s teacher training institute.
• Increase local community partnerships.
• Develop an action plan that meets diversity , equity, and inclusion standards for accrediting organizations.
• Expand the Wellness Center and athletic fields to be community utilized spaces.
• Assemble all of the educational resources from the Dekko Foundation and OFMS for easy access and dissemination.
Oak Farm Montessori School Strategic Plan 2022-2027
Goal
Engage Oak Farm Montessori School stakeholders.
Empower our students to be contributing members of society, encourage our parents to partner fully in their child’s education, and support our faculty’s commitment to continous improvement.
Critical Success Factors
Social and emotional needs of children are met. Social and Emotional Learning Coach’s role is well defined and understood by the school community. Purposeful feedback informs decision making. Build on existing data collection for parent engagement.
Strategies
• Maintain student engagement as part of OFMS’s curriculum.
• Use existing data to validate parent participation.
• Hire Social and Emotional Learning Coach.
• Hire a consultant to facilitate feedback focus group sessions.
Oak Farm Montessori School Strategic Plan 2022-2027
Goal
Stategically steward OFMS resources.
Remain committed to increasing the school’s financial independence, while preserving financial accessibilty for committed families.
Critical Success Factors
• The master plan is completed and utilized in making decisions with the Board of Directors.
• OFMS is financially accessible to families that are committed to the school’s mission.
• School community (faculty, current and former families, Board of Directors, alumni) continues to increase giving to support the school.
Strategies
• Create a master long term physical plan for OFMS (including the Green Farmhouse and vacant property on State Road 8).
• Build understanding of value of education at OFMS and how it is affordable.
• Diversify ways for the school community to give.
• Continue to increase tuition in a reasonable and purposeful way.
Oak Farm Montessori School Strategic Plan 2022-2027
