Junipero Serra High School Strategic Plan 2022-2027

INSPIRING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE • ENSURING OUR FUTURE • LIVING OUR MISSION

junipEro sErra high school A C AT H O L I C C O L L E G E P R E PA R AT O R Y

STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2027

Transforming Lives

S T R AT E G I C P L A N

A letter from our Strategic Plan Steering Committee Co-Chairs and the Chair of Serra's Advisory Board of Regents

STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE Steering Committee Co-Chairs

Co-Chairs: Rekha Hemrajani and Jen Ullyot Staff Liaisons: Barry Thornton, Ed.D. and Benay Todzo

Academics Domain

Co-Chairs: Ralph Ho ’89 and Melissa Olson Staff Liaison: Keith Strange Rekha Hemrajani, Co-Chair Strategic Plan Steering Committee

Jen Ullyot, Co-Chair Strategic Plan Steering Committee

E

Eric Eger, Chair Advisory Board of Regents

ducation has always played a critical role in the lives of young people— preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Serra’s mission in educating young men is unwavering; however, the world our graduates face presents new realities that few of us could ever have imagined.

How do we prepare today’s students to work, serve, thrive and lead in an unpredictable world? How do we equip them for unforeseeable changes and prepare them for the unexpected?

Serra’s five-year strategic plan, Transforming Lives, demonstrates how Serra plans to rise to these challenges. Confident in our mission, inspired by the dedication of our teachers and administrators and proud of our 77-year heritage of educational excellence, innovation and success, we are pleased to share our five-year plan with you.

Transforming Lives represents the work of alumni, students, parents, faculty and community members who came together to write a plan that embraces Serra’s time-honored mission, stays true to the authenticity of Serra’s values and boldly articulates a vision that will secure an ambitious, productive, creative future.

Engaging constituents from all facets of Serra’s community was key to developing a comprehensive and insightful plan. We look forward to the same level of commitment and involvement from everyone to ensure its success.

As you will see in the following pages, Transforming Lives has three important pillars: Inspiring Intellectual Excellence, Living our Mission and Ensuring our Future. These strategic pillars are interconnected—created to realize our commitment to support young men on their journeys to becoming men of faith, wisdom, service, community and leadership. We invite you to be part of Transforming Lives at Serra High School!

S TU D ENT S, AL U M NI, PAR E NT S I NT ERV IE W E D

MONTHS

100 20 1,000 RESEARCH

PLANNING

60

COLLABORATION

CONSENSUS BUILDING

SURVEY RESPONSES

15

TO

S AN F R ANCI S CO A R CHD I O CE S E AND BOA RD P E R S O N R E T R E A T O F R E GE NTS S U P P ORT FACULTY/STAFF

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DRAFT GOALS

PA R T I C I PA N T S

Advancement Domain

Co-Chairs: Andrea O’Riordan and Jen Ullyot Staff Liaison: Mike Fadelli ‘88

Catholic Identity Domain

Co-Chairs: Fr. Michael Healy and Ann Olson Staff Liaison: Billy Byrnes

Enrollment Domain

Co-Chairs: Roxanne Ivory and Patty Macy Staff Liaison: Julie Behn

Facilities Domain

Co-Chairs: Joanie Bevilacqua, Jon Bevilacqua and Scott Pritchett Staff Liaison: Steve Kalpakoff

Finance Domain

Co-Chairs: Rich Van Doren ‘95 and Shannon Nash Staff Liaison: Mike Catanzarita

Goverance Domain

Co-Chairs: Aric Agresti '98 and Eric Eger Staff Liaison: Barry Thornton, Ed.D.

Student Life Domain

Co-Chairs: Max Moriarty ‘13 and Aida Soto Staff Liaison: Marybeth Ortiz

Technology Domain

Co-Chairs: Andrea Anderson and Avi Borthakur Staff Liaisons: Rita Lee and Michael Rockwell ‘06

S T R AT E G I C P L A N

INSPIRING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE Sparking Intellectual Curiosity: Serra High School will continue to offer an exciting, modern, relevant curriculum that encourages creativity, helps students realize their full potential and supports the school’s mission of building men of faith, wisdom, service, community and leadership.

Our Plan: • Offer innovative, collaborative courses with creative projects that develop students’ passions, talents and abilities • Expand learning opportunities beyond the school day to include independent learning, research, internships, summer immersion, mini-courses and online learning to help students discern college and life choices • Encourage a holistic education that includes cross-curricular work that integrates real-life themes, faith and service • Expand opportunities, explore partnerships and deepen understanding in coding, AR/VR, AI, STEM, robotics, social media, graphics, video production and other emerging technologies

Exceptional Teaching: Serra High School will invest to attract and retain outstanding faculty who inspire, motivate and mentor students.

Our Plan: • Create and prioritize funding sources to attract, retain and competitively compensate teachers, address housing and promote professional development • Develop and implement a plan to ensure our faculty reflects the diversity of our community • Support faculty with learning opportunities to expand their craft, develop pedagogical techniques and employ new technologies • Provide flexible open learning spaces where students and teachers are encouraged to collaborate, share and create

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S T R AT E G I C P L A N

Expand Learning Through Technology: Serra High School will use technology to inspire

students, faculty and the larger Serra community to pursue the school’s mission and distinguish itself globally as a school of innovation, creativity and service.

Our Plan: • Establish relationships with other schools and educators internationally to bring new academic, leadership and service opportunities to students • Use technology to share the breadth of student and teacher learning to increase engagement and showcase the school’s strengths and values with the community • Acquire technology resources, invest in facility upgrades and prioritize individualized professional development opportunities • Develop scope and sequence for information/media literacy and digital citizenship to ensure effective integration throughout the curriculum

LIVING OUR MISSION Faith Formation Embraced by Entire School Community: Serra High School will

enhance its Catholic identity among teachers, staff, parents and students with the intent of forming lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.

Our Plan: • Maintain focus on educating all students in the Catholic faith while honoring and respecting the diversity of religious backgrounds of all Serra students • Develop a culture of "encounter" to promote mercy, justice, advocacy and service • Show how the Catholic faith can provide spiritual support for mental health through prayer, pastoral counseling, service and other faith practices • Integrate service-learning throughout all academic departments, strengthen the service immersion program and align the curriculum and Catholic social justice tradition • Evaluate the Mission and Brotherhood small group structure to increase the level of trust and student satisfaction

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S T R AT E G I C P L A N

Preparing Students to be Men of Virtue and Character: Serra High School will create a culture that supports the whole person by providing a diversity of experiences that develop life-long skills, support student interests and emphasize a brotherhood of respect, integrity, inclusion and compassion.

Our Plan: • Assess programmatic needs to integrate respect, integrity, inclusion and compassion in all areas of the Padre brotherhood experience • Enhance the counseling program with additional resources to address student mental health needs, particularly in the post-pandemic period • Provide leadership training and support to club officers to strengthen the activities program and engage the community • Create mechanisms and opportunities for students to share feedback regarding student life to be inclusive and receptive to student needs and wants

Leading with Purpose: Serra High school will align the goals of the school’s administration and the advisory board of regents with Serra’s mission, vision and strategic plan objectives.

Our Plan: • Assess current board membership and committee structure to ensure its alignment with the objectives of the school and the strategic plan • Ensure accountability through annual goal setting, KPIs aligned to objectives and progress reporting to the community • Integrate board expertise in support of mentoring, internships and outreach programming • Engage board members, staff, faculty and students in a discussion about respect and inclusion that supports the community, develops opportunities for meaningful change and promotes conversation and reflection

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S T R AT E G I C P L A N

ENSURING OUR FUTURE Exceptional Facilities: Serra High School will invest in facilities, infrastructure and technology to develop a state-of-the-art campus that inspires excellence throughout the community.

Our Plan: • Develop a master plan that prioritizes capital improvements, technology, security and classroom needs to support educational excellence and to attract diverse students, faculty and staff • Evaluate and implement construction phasing that minimizes school disruption and creates multiple opportunities for fundraising and donor engagement • Enhance the lived student experience throughout the campus through architectural design, creation of common areas and selection of furnishings

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S T R AT E G I C P L A N

An Engaged Community of Support and a Financial Plan to Sustain: Serra High

School will develop a culture of philanthropy—time, talent and treasure—and lifelong relationships among a broad community of donors to create a sustainable source of funds that will ensure the vitality of the school now and for generations to come.

Our Plan: • Plan and execute a five-year capital campaign to fund the complete remodel of the A-wing, establish a new center for learning and innovation and complete priorities of the master plan • Increase and establish endowments that provide financial aid for all students who desire a Serra education, enhance teacher recruitment and retention, fund key student learning programs and support the long-term viability of the school • Create a robust alumni program that offers multiple opportunities for engagement (events, mentoring, speakers, donations) including efforts to specifically develop relationships with Serra’s young alumni • Develop a differentiated communication strategy that engages parents, students, young alumni, older alumni and donors to better educate each group with opportunities to support Serra with their time, talent and treasure • Continually identify and optimize our extensive resources, with the goal of maximizing opportunities for our key constituents, through strategic short and long-term operational and financial planning

Achieve and Maintain Optimal Enrollment: Serra High School will recruit and retain well-

rounded, diverse young men who are intellectually curious, socially conscious and reflective of the Bay Area.

Our Plan: • Create a strategic enrollment plan to attract and retain high-quality, diverse students in a competitive market with changing demographics and a growing need for financial assistance • Define and articulate Serra’s value proposition and differentiation for prospective students and their families • Create a messaging framework to communicate the school’s strengths and value proposition for prospective students and their families • Develop a marketing plan that drives top-offunnel leads and expands our reach to engage prospective students early in middle school • Identify and deploy tech tools to manage, automate, analyze and optimize enrollment programs 7

JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL 451 West 20th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403 t 650.345.8207 www.serrahs.com