OUR STORY & OUR MOMENT
St. Martin’s Episcopal School is proud to launch our 2025 Strategic Plan, a vision for the future that builds upon our legacy of academic excellence and personal growth. Since our founding in 1959 with 26 kindergarten students, St. Martin’s has flourished into a thriving Preschool-8th grade community with over 650 students, known for our commitment to intellectual achievement and inclusive values. Over the past five years, 99% of St. Martin’s 8th graders who applied to an independent high school were accepted. This legacy reflects our dedication to nurturing students in an environment grounded in Episcopal values.
Today, we recognize the need to invest in the next phase of our journey. As we look to the next five years, we want to ensure that our students continue to receive an exceptional education rooted in the values of compassion, integrity, and service. Our school’s recent achievements, from the expansion of our facilities with the opening of the new Early Childhood building to the introduction of specialized programs like the Kairos Learning Center and woodworking program have laid a solid foundation. However, to continue building a stronger community and ensuring future success for our students, we are embarking on new initiatives focused on integrating meaningful service learning into our curriculum, leveraging our Preschool-8th grade educational model, and enhancing our campus to better support students and families.
Recognizing the importance of continued growth, St. Martin’s is investing in the next phase of our journey. In partnership with Purpose Possible (an Atlanta-based consulting firm), and with the support of our parents, alumni, and the broader community, we have created a comprehensive plan.
Our planning process began in March 2024, with Purpose Possible guiding our Steering Committee* in identifying core questions and gathering insights from our community. Over several months, we collected feedback through interviews, focus groups, and surveys. In August, our full Board of Trustees and leadership team met for a retreat to discuss feedback, finalize our goals and participate in
multiple committee meetings in September. The result is a strategic roadmap that reflects the priorities and aspirations of our community for the next five years.
Building on the strong foundation of St. Martin’s values, dedicated staff, faculty, and committed school families, this plan details our goals and initiatives as we prepare to invest in critical improvements to support our mission and ensure that St. Martin’s remains a premier choice for families in Atlanta.
Based on the findings, St. Martin’s will focus on three core priorities:
• Service Learning: Building a stronger community through expanded service and engagement
• Elevate the Preschool-8th grade Educational Model: Leveraging our educational model to build a foundation for future success for every student
• Facility Enhancements: Enhancing our campus to better serve our students and families
This plan reaffirms our commitment to providing an exceptional education and a vibrant, inclusive environment for all students. Thank you to our families, faculty, and supporters for helping us bring this vision to life. Together, we aim to create an even more dynamic learning environment to inspire our students for future generations.
*STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
ST. MARTIN’S:
Maria Croley Madden, Head of School
Lauren Sims, Director of Advancement
Mark McDaniel, Director of Campus Safety and Security/ Director of Athletics/Director of Summer Programs
Carolyn Bradshaw, 4th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Ali Mills, Middle School English Teacher
PURPOSE POSSIBLE
Susannah Darrow, Founding Partner, Vision & Strategy
Natalia Garzón Martínez, Consultant
OUR VALUES
FAITH
We build a strong foundation of values and beliefs, inspired by our Episcopal identity.
KINDNESS
We model the actions of our patron saint, St. Martin, who shared his cloak with a beggar, by unselfishly serving others and treating everyone with dignity and respect.
FRIENDSHIP
We develop deep relationships with others in the St. Martin’s family, which often lasts a lifetime.
POSSIBILITIES
We try new things because they may uncover talents and passions that open doors to new opportunities, achievements, and perhaps to lasting and meaningful connections.
UNIQUENESS
We embrace our differences and diversity, recognizing that each of us are wonderfully made in the image of God.
MILESTONES
We believe that experiencing transitions through childhood makes for more confident, responsible young adults and citizens of the world.
GROWING UP
We cherish and celebrate these childhood years of learning, play and discovery…because they only come once.
OUR MISSION
St. Martin’s Episcopal School is dedicated to providing a quality education of the whole person in a loving, Christian atmosphere, which fosters lifelong learning.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
St. Martin’s Episcopal School values the importance of nurturing every dimension of a student’s development process and provides experiences that foster intellectual, spiritual, physical, and creative growth.
Through dedicated instruction, small class sizes, and a curriculum that is both nurturing and academically rigorous, St. Martin’s encourages each student to reach their highest potential. Our experienced faculty works closely with the school community to facilitate ongoing growth and success. We are committed to building a foundation for the future success of every child.
St. Martin’s:
• Provides opportunities for intellectual achievement and innovation
• Nurtures spiritual growth rooted in Episcopal traditions
• Encourages ethical decision-making, resilience and self-discipline
• Promotes community service and responsible citizenship
• Welcomes students of all backgrounds into a caring and inclusive environment
• Cultivates a culture of growth where students build confidence through exploration, reflection and perseverance
ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES
SERVICE LEARNING
St. Martin’s Episcopal School aims to seamlessly enhance the integration of service learning into every aspect of our curriculum and school culture, aligning it with our Episcopal values.
By strengthening the bonds between St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church, and external community organizations, the school community will have consistent opportunities to apply academic knowledge and critical thinking skills while addressing genuine community needs. Service learning is critical to fulfilling St. Martin’s mission while complementing our curriculum and family engagement. This integration will reinforce the connection between service, academic growth, and spiritual development and empower students to become compassionate, engaged citizens who make a positive impact on the world.
OUR GOAL:
Strengthen the integration of service learning into the curriculum and school culture to enhance student leadership and promote a unified message of service within the St. Martin’s community.
THE STRATEGIES
1. Cultivate a school culture prioritizing service learning by fostering reflection, empathy, and action, recognizing student contributions, and celebrating community impact.
2. Integrate enhanced service learning into the curriculum across all subject areas. Align projects with Episcopal values and academic standards and develop a comprehensive framework to identify resources needed to plan, implement, and assess service learning initiatives.
3. Establish and maintain formal partnerships with St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and local organizations to identify collaborative service initiatives and increase opportunities for students and families to participate in meaningful service projects that complement the school’s values.
4. Equip students to lead service-learning initiatives by offering leadership training and encouraging their involvement through advisory groups, clubs, and honor societies.
ELEVATE THE PRESCHOOL8TH GRADE EDUCATIONAL MODEL
St. Martin’s Episcopal School recognizes the unique advantages of its Preschool-8th grade educational model to establish a strong foundation for lifelong learning. This model provides a seamless and consistent learning experience that fosters academic growth and support, social-emotional development, and a love of learning through deeper studentteacher relationships, and a strong sense of community. By focusing on a child-centered approach, students are given a safe space to grow and learn, leading to increased innovation and self-confidence by the time they graduate from 8th grade. This unique approach not only prepares students for academic success but also cultivates well-rounded individuals equipped to lead in the 21st century. Our 8th graders serve as inspiring examples of the potential our model unlocks. Our strategic communication efforts will position St. Martin’s as a premier Preschool-8th grade institution, attracting families who value a rigorous education and the unique benefits of our model.
OUR GOAL:
Leverage the unique advantages of the Preschool-8th grade model to provide a seamless and personalized learning experience for every student.
THE STRATEGIES
1. Assess the existing curriculum guide to document and share academic content and learning goals, enabling staff to maximize student learning, to facilitate communication with parents, and to monitor progress effectively.
2. Leverage strategic communication, including alumni and parent testimonials, success stories, and high school acceptance data, to highlight the unique advantages of the Preschool-8th grade model, showcasing its impact on student growth and readiness for high school and beyond.
3. Create expanded, structured, accessible opportunities for parents to better understand their child’s learning journey, fostering a strong partnership between home and school, including partnering with parents as they navigate the complexities of parenting at different stages. Create opportunities such as parent workshops, volunteer opportunities, and family engagement events.
4. Enhance faculty and staff resources and continued access to professional development to support St. Martin’s educational philosophy.
FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS
St. Martin’s will prioritize facility enhancements outlined in the school master plan to elevate the student learning experience. By launching a capital campaign focused on facility improvements, we will create a more dynamic and inspiring learning environment. The entire school community has identified enhancing our physical space as a crucial next step to significantly improve the student experience at St. Martin’s. A feasibility study will launch in late spring of 2025, and the capital campaign will launch during the 20252026 school year to support an identified initiative. This capital campaign is anticipated to focus on essential improvements to key infrastructure such as athletic facilities and parking. Additional priorities identified in the strategic planning process will be carefully reviewed alongside the master plan.
OUR GOAL: Improve and expand access to athletic, recreational, and enrichment spaces to support student learning and development.
THE STRATEGIES
1. To ensure capital campaign efforts include the highest priority initiatives (including athletic facilities, playgrounds, and parking projects), St. Martin’s will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the school’s long-term facility needs as outlined in a Master Plan and the formal parent survey.
2. Form a dedicated campaign leadership team of key stakeholders such as board members, school administrators/faculty, parents, and alumni to guide fundraising efforts.
3. Launch a feasibility study and subsequent capital campaign focused on physical improvements, prioritizing urgent facility needs such as athletic fields, parking, and improvements to Warrior Hall.
Created December 2024