St. Edmund's Academy Strategic Plan: 2023-2028

There’s only one child like yours. And that’s why for Preschoolers through 8th Graders, there’s only one St. Edmund’s Academy.

Since our founding in 1947, we’ve known that children thrive in Core Values-aligned communities dedicated to cultivating their empathy, resilience, and sense of service. Our commitment to enduring academic skills and timeless character education sets us apart.

Today, we welcome children and families who are looking to grow together in an environment that values diversity and cultivates belonging to positively influence our community.

SHAPED BY CORE VALUES

At the heart of every day, every decision, every practice, and every philosophy at St. Edmund’s Academy, you’ll see evidence of, and reverence for, SIX CORE VALUES:

1. Respect for the needs and feelings of others.

2. The central role of honesty in relationships.

3. The importance of taking responsibility for one’s own conduct.

4. The value of setting high standards in all endeavors.

5. The worthiness of service to others.

6. Understanding and appreciation of the differences among people.

THE MISSION OF ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY

Guided by our Core Values and commitment to high standards, St. Edmund’s Academy provides a diverse, inclusive, and nurturing learning community where students are known, valued, and challenged to achieve their potential.

ONE VISION FOR ALL LEARNERS

What can we expect from the future graduates of St. Edmund’s Academy?

THEY WILL …

1. Live with a clear sense of purpose and responsibility guided by St. Edmund’s Academy’s Core Values.

2. Thrive in secondary school and beyond through robust academic preparation.

3. Approach real world problems with humility and conviction.

4. Value collaborating with people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

5. Recognize injustice and challenge themselves to honor the needs and worth of others.

No matter where they go in life, our graduates maintain a lifelong connection to the St. Edmund’s Academy community.

This speaks volumes.

6. Demonstrate a love of learning and commitment to personal growth.

WELCOME TO THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY

At St. Edmund’s Academy, we firmly believe that there is only one school quite like ours—a place where our Core Values guide our purpose and responsibility, shaping an extraordinary program, a thriving community, and an unparalleled journey for all children, families, and colleagues.

We are building upon a remarkable record of success by embracing a future of education that is rooted in our Core Values. Our commitment to high-quality teachers, character education, and robust preparation in core academic disciplines has led to an inspirational 98% satisfaction rate among our alumni. As we extend this success, we recognize that sound critical thinking skills are essential in our digital age, requiring mastery of core content areas, coordinated writing skills, and self-awareness. Our emerging Signature Experiences for Global Goals program provides children with inspirational opportunities to address real-world problems, blending their academic skills and Core Values in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, offering a coherent framework to understand global challenges.

98% satisfaction rate among alumni speaks volumes about the quality of a St. Edmund’s Academy education.

Let’s embark on a transformative journey, fostering a supportive and inclusive community where every individual can flourish.

We believe that children develop self-worth, confidence, and practical life skills through independent navigation of age-appropriate challenges, supported by caring adults who know them well. Through innovative programs and experiences, we strive to create opportunities for personal growth, empathy, and resilience. Our focus on children’s mental health and well-being is evident as we take measures to protect and empower them in all aspects of their lives. By prioritizing inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices, we cultivate trust, cultural competence, and a vibrant community where everyone belongs. Our mission-aligned teachers cultivate a culture of belonging through classrooms where children feel known, valued, and supported, inspiring self-respect and a love of learning.

As we embark on our strategic plan, we are committed to supporting each constituent’s unique journey, whether it be the professional growth of our teachers, the personal fulfillment of our families, or the foundational development of our students. As a school ending in 8th grade, we offer unparalleled opportunities for middle school children to grow as confident leaders, complemented by highly professional secondary school placement services that ensure an inspiring match with their chosen secondary schools and beyond.

We invite our current families, faculty, alumni, and the broader Pittsburgh community to join our journey at St. Edmund’s Academy, the only school of its kind. Together, we will shape an even stronger and more vibrant school, unlocking the boundless potential within each of us.

THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS, EXPLAINED

During the 2022-2023 academic year and under the direction of the Board of Trustees, St. Edmund’s Academy launched a comprehensive strategic planning process. The strategic plan, “There’s Only One,” was developed to provide a long-range view of future school priorities and was created through a highly inclusive and participatory process.

AUGUST 2022

Data Collection and Market Analysis

SEPTEMBER 2022

Steering Committee Kick-off

NOVEMBER 2022

Research and Key Findings Report

DECEMBER 2022

Design Team

Creation and Kick-off

To build a base of sound information and to guide the planning process, the school enlisted the assistance of a research and planning firm, Ian Symmonds & Associates (ISA). ISA invested time and effort to learn about SEA through a comprehensive research effort that included stakeholder surveys, competitive and educational landscape analysis, market segmentation, and demographic trends.

A steering committee was formed and focused on research, environmental scans, SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis, committee exercises, and trends in the independent school and the education sectors. The school community—parents, students, faculty and staff, alumni, and trustees— offered their thoughts on priorities for the future through surveys, focus groups, and participation in design teams.

JANUARY 2023

Design Team Collaboration

FEBRUARY 2023

Design Team Collaboration

MARCH 2023

Strategic Areas of Focus

Design Team Presentations

JUNE 2023

Presentation of Plan to Board of Trustees

SEPTEMBER 2023

Publish Plan

STEERING COMMITTEE

Alex Dick, Chair P

Doug Anderson P

Kirsta Balzer F

Chad Barnett F P

Meghan Bollens F P

Bryson Datt P A

Maria Dianifaba F

DESIGN TEAM

Robyn Bracco F P

Ed Haller P A

Bill Hallett P

Don Hibar F

Russell Hunt A

Steffanie Jasper P

Jalila Jefferson-Bullock P

Brent Jernigan P

Megan Kavanaugh P

Barbara Doolittle P A

Charles Fischer P

Ryan Gassaway F P

Dan Gilman P

Kevin Hengelbrok F

Mardi Isler C

Diana McAllister F P

Craig Mauro P A

Alana Pietrogallo Bedoya P

Joanne Park P

Dana Schultz P

Colleen Simonds P

Detlef Koll P

Davis Ladley A

Porter Ladley A

Kirsten Mahoney F P

Natalia Zacipa Mejia P

Marian Lien F

Susan Miller F P

Sally Neidhard F P

David Nicholson P

Christopher Palmer P

Jennifer Parry-Bird P

Elizabeth Patterson F P

Kevin Reid F

David Roscher F P

Joseph Vavpetic F

There’s only one program for Preschool through 8th Graders focused on foundations in the core academic disciplines, timeless habits for personal success, and real-world learning experiences for broader global awareness in the context of local action.

And this program never gets old.

Robust and timeless academic preparation requires alignment on content and competencies relevant for today’s world and a community intentionally designed to pursue those objectives. At St. Edmund’s Academy, this pursuit begins with vision-aligned teachers committed to professional excellence. Through their understanding of each individual child, our teachers cultivate foundational knowledge in the core academic disciplines and provide relevant real-world experiences where academic competencies and personal character blend to pursue real-world opportunities in their lives.

SEA’S COMMITMENTS TO OUR PROGRAM:

1. Secure children’s development into knowledgeable, literate, and self-aware critical thinkers, through adoption and implementation of curricula rooted in cognitive and literacy science, vertically coherent instruction in all content areas, and cross-curricular writing skill development.

2. Develop a clear, coherent, and compelling scope and sequence of the Global Goals Program, a thread within our curriculum enhanced through community partnerships and focused on cultural awareness, world languages, and a fuller appreciation for our world.

3. Through a master campus planning process, refine and repurpose spaces to provide an environment that flexibly meets our students’ needs within and beyond the school day.

4. Deepen our students’ experience of belonging, cultivate new interests, hone existing talents, and encourage leadership skills through a well-developed, clearly marketed series of co-curricular opportunities and requirements for children across all grade levels with an emphasis on engagement, enrichment, participation, belonging, and joy.

5. Identify, expand, and enumerate opportunities and experiences that prioritize leadership as a teachable disposition cultivated in and out of the classroom, adaptable to all environments, and uniquely honed through SEA’s Core Values.

There’s only one community that focuses on creating a culture of belonging through a set of time-honored Core Values designed to help children see and feel their unique importance and essential contribution to our collective thriving.

Since 1947, we’ve been all in.

As a preschool through eighth grade school, St. Edmund’s Academy provides a longer runway for children to develop essential habits for success, cultivated within and beyond the classroom.

To pursue St. Edmund’s Academy’s high academic standards, children must feel safe, known, and valued. Our commitment to a culturally competent, diverse, and welcoming community ensures that children recognize their own dignity and develop the interpersonal skills to build trust within and across our differences. The resulting shared sense of purpose and community provides a nurturing environment today and a humble beginning for skills that will make our world a more civil, just, and caring place.

We recognize the world is changing far too quickly to give children static maps for their future. Yet, children require structure and boundaries to feel safe and excel. In our community, we are focused on responding to the unique technological and cultural challenges facing children and families through our commitment to their comprehensive wellness, keeping kids grounded in a busy world.

SEA’S COMMITMENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY:

1. Guided by our Core Values, design and prioritize a digital wellbeing curriculum and balanced technology use policies to equip students and their families with the knowledge, skills, and habits necessary to navigate social media, mobile technology, and screen time responsibly.

2. Enhance and expand family programming including new student and parent orientations, and year-long programs and affinity groups to cultivate a feeling of belonging for children and families across grade levels and within divisions.

3. Design and implement family-friendly, student-centered counseling programs and inclusivity practices that proactively and responsively support the development of children’s emotional intelligence and cultural competence.

4. Through competitive compensation and benefits, professional respect, and shared purpose, establish St. Edmund’s Academy as the destination of choice for talented teachers reflective of our community’s diversity, committed to our academic mission, and whose expertise, cultural competence, and love of teaching inspires children and their families.

5. Use our signature events, including the Chapel Program and Wolf Pup Pack Meetings, to introduce and deepen community partnerships to enrich the student, family, and faculty experience.

There’s only one journey for each child and St. Edmund’s Academy focuses on creating learning conditions where individuals thrive.

Let’s never stop pushing boundaries.

Why is the Wolfpack our school nickname? Each wolf within the pack offers a unique character that makes the pack smarter and stronger. We deeply believe that individuals make the community great and great communities strengthen individuals in return. To that end, the school seeks to support everyone’s life journey—whether that journey is a professional one for our teachers, a personal one for our families, or a foundational one for our students.

SEA’S COMMITMENTS TO INSPIRING THE BEST JOURNEY:

1. Refine individual counseling programs, our advisory system, extra help protocols, and special programs for students to develop their life skills so they may overcome obstacles and discover their talents.

2. Clarify and illuminate processes leading to our remarkable record of secondary school placement success and alumni satisfaction in secondary school, post-secondary school, and beyond.

3. Expand family-friendly services and programs, making the SEA parent experience meaningful, informative, and engaging.

4. Enhance our efforts to develop and retain talented faculty and employees that see St. Edmund’s as an ideal place to work and advance through customized growth opportunities and professional pathways.

5. Establish community partnerships for professional development and learning that set us apart and establish the school as the premier place to work, learn, and grow for a diverse group of educators.

There’s only one opportunity to secure a future in pursuit of our Core Values.

And the future has never looked bolder or brighter.

St. Edmund’s Academy stands as an exceptional school, providing a distinctive, Core Values-aligned education that prepares children for the uncertainties of the future. We recognize that this is a unique opportunity, one that calls for our collective support and investment to ensure our school’s continued success.

One of our greatest strengths lies in the richness of our socioeconomically, racially, and culturally diverse community. It is through this diversity that we find our true excellence, fostering an environment where every child can thrive. Together, we have the power to secure the necessary resources that will not only sustain but also make permanent this invaluable diversity, ensuring a vibrant and inclusive future for St. Edmund’s Academy.

Our shared vision presents St. Edmund’s Academy graduates whose habits of mind and dispositions not only result in their thriving today, but prepare them to make our city, region, and world a more just, fair, and compassionate place in the years ahead.

SEA’S COMMITMENTS TO FURTHERING OUR OPPORTUNITY:

1. Cultivate a culture of philanthropy throughout our community to fortify our future.

2. Deepen the school’s identity in the Heart of Squirrel Hill as an asset essential for the neighborhood and the city at large.

3. Distinguish St. Edmund’s Academy as the only institution of its kind.

OUR VISION FOR TODAY, TOMORROW, AND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

There’s only one child like yours. There’s only one time in life when children can be children – and where we can lay the foundations for a lifetime of success.

There’s only one St. Edmund’s Academy.