students from 6 counties and 2 states of students are Catholic faculty members (58% with advanced degrees) of students receive tuition assistance
72 49% ONLY 53%
Southern Maryland High School with AP Gold Recognition
Dear St. Mary’s Ryken Community,
With help from all corners of our school community, we have created a Strategic Plan to help shape St. Mary’s Ryken’s future as a leading Catholic college preparatory school and guide us in the years ahead. This plan is built on four critical pillars that reflect our unwavering commitment to enriching all aspects of school life while upholding our core values of faith, service and scholarship.
Building the Endowment to Secure Our Future
This initiative supports financial aid, attracts talented faculty, and ensures our facilities remain top-notch in an evolving educational landscape.
Nurturing the Faith Life of the School
We are committed to deepening the spiritual lives of our students, faculty and staff. With enhanced campus ministry programs, service opportunities and retreats, we will empower students to broaden their faith here and in the wider world.
Fostering Education Beyond the Classroom
This strategic focus emphasizes the development of the whole person — intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We will expand extracurricular programs, invest in national recognition for SMR, and help students thrive in every aspect of their lives.
Enhancing the Educational Experience
We will continue to elevate our programs to meet the demands of 21st-century learners by using cuttingedge technology, innovative teaching methods, and personalized learning opportunities.
This Strategic Plan is our roadmap to the future, and with your support, we are confident that the best is yet to come.
Peace,
Dr. Rick Wood President and CEO
Securing Our Future
Nurturing the Faith Life
Fostering Education Beyond the Classroom
Enhancing the Educational Experience
The Strategic Plan Development Process
Planning and Preparation (August–October 2023)
Formed the Strategic Planning Steering Committee
Conducted workshops and surveyed the Board of Directors, faculty and staff
Gathered feedback
Data Collection and Analysis
(November–December 2023)
Gathered input from specific groups (e.g. grade-level and alumni surveys)
Held listening sessions to interpret survey results
Strategic Development (January–February 2024)
Identified key strategic themes
Subcommittees drafted sections of the plan
Finalization (March–May 2024)
Completed plan drafts by subcommittees
Board reviewed drafts and approved the final plan
Engagement
and
Review
(August–October 2024)
Faculty and staff reviewed the plan, and engagement began
Published the final strategic plan, and engagement began with the broader community
Goal 1: Mission Engagement
We will strengthen our Xaverian values and Catholic identity of SMR by educating stakeholders through mission-centered programming that spans curriculum, extracurricular activities, and student/adult faith formation.
Key Priorities
Expand Xaverian-Catholic formation opportunities for students and staff
Strengthen Catholic identity across non-theology courses
Prioritize mission-centered hiring and onboarding processes
Enhance and grow Campus Ministry initiatives, including diversifying retreat and spiritual program offerings, and promoting deeper discipleship and faith development
Increase and improve non-salary benefits for faculty and staff, and celebrate faculty and staff achievements to boost school pride
While every school offers an education, I truly cherish how St. Mary’s Ryken helped me discover myself and embrace a love for life. That, to me, is the most valuable education I could ever receive.”
Goal 2: Academic Distinction
We will implement strategies to improve academic outcomes, including achieving National Blue Ribbon and AP Platinum recognition, through a multi-faceted approach that addresses professional development, curriculum enhancement, rigorous preparation for college entrance assessment, and content-based student activities.
Key Priorities
Achieve National Blue Ribbon School status by leveraging preACT and HSPT assessment data to drive academic improvements
Attain and maintain AP Honor Roll Platinum status
Elevate SAT/ACT standardized test performance
Goal 3: Student Experience
We will provide a holistic and enriching experience for students, in and out of the classroom, which will increase campus spirit and culture.
Key Priorities
Offer more diverse activities by fostering collaboration between the Fine Arts and Athletics departments to boost event attendance, and between the Campus Ministry and Athletics departments for service and prayer initiatives
Enhance the athletics staffing model to better support student-athlete development, and focus on recruitment efforts for mission-centered student-athletes
Increase corporate partnerships to drive fundraising that supports student programming
Goal 4: Community Sustainability
We will grow enrollment by attracting and retaining a diverse student body, and offering compelling academic programs, leadership opportunities, community connections, mentoring and financial accessibility.
Key Priorities
Increase financial accessibility for all students by maximizing tuition assistance
Drive enrollment growth across all grade levels, boost enrollment of St. Mary’s County students and increase female student enrollment
Enhance retention strategies to reduce attrition
Goal 5: Community Connections & Financial Stability
We will strengthen relationships and engagement with parents, alumni, donors and the broader community to foster support for the endowment, competitive salaries and physical plant improvements.
Key Priorities
Educate stakeholders to increase philanthropy efforts through planned giving initiatives for long-term financial support
Strengthen alumni engagement through targeted programs and outreach
Implement capital improvements for the turf field, Paschal Hall roof, classroom furniture, and flooring
Increase the endowment through a focused capital campaign to secure financial sustainability and ensure competitive salaries to attract and retain top talent 5
THANK YOU
Board of Directors 2023–24
Enid M. Sanchez-Bubb P ’21, ’23 - Board Chair
President and CEO, C3 Innovations Inc.
Sue Ann Lewis Armitage ’83, P ’16
Attorney, Armitage & Armitage, PA
Paul Barker, Ed.D.
Retired Educator/President, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Leonard Brown Jr., D.M.
Vice President of Student Affairs, Norfolk State University
Lance Casimir ’13
Manager, Regulatory Affairs Attorney, National Automobile Dealers Association
Brendan Donohue
Principal, Mount St. Joseph High School
Rosine Hodges Downs
Business Owner, Property Management & Development, CRD Management LLC
Gabrielle Forte P ’12, ’15
Assistant Program Manager for Test and Evaluation, NAWCAD
Kristi Getson P ’20, ’21
Chief Operating Officer / Clinical Director, Personalized Therapy LLC
Derek Greer ’99, P ’25, ’28 - Board Vice-Chair
Department Head, NAWCAD
Sue A. Greer P ’19
Attorney, Law Offices of Sue A. Greer
Mark Guadagnoli P ’19, ’19, ’20, ’24
Vice President, Rainbow Construction Corp.
Pat Haley II ’99
Insurance Agency Owner and President, OakPoint Insurance
Brian Harper ’87, P ’22
Vice President, Digital Transformation, Sabre Systems Inc.
Jake Heibel ’88, Ed.D.
Senior Consultant, Spalding Consulting Inc.
Retired Educator/Principal, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Susan Keller Miller ’78, P ’08, ’13
Retired, Keller Transportation
Patrick Murphy ’87, P ’19, ’21
Senior Director, Lead Counsel, Robert Half and Protiviti
Brian Norris ’84, P ’08, ’10, ’16
Developer, President and CEO, The Cherry Cove Group
Mary Lynn Stone P ’06, ’08
President and Co-Owner, Century 21 New Millennium, NM Management Inc., and NM Commercial Real Estate
Eleanor Long Tennyson P ’13, ’15, ’18, ’20
Senior Vice President – Investments, Tennyson Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Rick Wood P ’16, ’19, ’22, Ed.D.
President and CEO, St. Mary’s Ryken High School
Strategic Planning Committee
Sandy Adams ’86, P ’24 - Business Office Manager
Beth Allen P ’12, ’16, ’22 - Campus Minister
Jennifer Baker P ’27 - Faculty Member
Paul Barker, Ed.D. - Board Member
Will Bolin - Faculty Member
Catherine Bowes ’81, Ph.D. - Principal
Lance Casimir ’13 - Board Member
Amy Cricchi - Director of Enrollment Management
Emma Davis - Campus Minister
Jason DeLucco ’98, P ’23, ’26 - Dean of Student and Faculty Development
Gabrielle Forte P ’12, ’15 - Board Member
Frances Foster - Director of Sports Medicine
Derek Greer ’99, P’25, ’28 - Board Vice-Chair
Sue A. Greer P ’16 - Board Member
Betsy Haley P ’24, ’26 - Director of Communications and Marketing
Christine Jaffurs P ’18, ’22 - Director of School Counseling
Tom Loker ’73 - Co-Founder, Chairperson & CEO, Individual Centricity Corporation
Jon Lombardo - Director of Athletics, Coach
Michele Minicozzi - Director of Development
Kim Norris P ’08, ’10, ’16 - Fine Arts Department Chair
James Parker - Director of Campus Ministry
Enid Sanchez-Bubb P ’21, ’23 - Board Chair
Deacon Ken Scheiber - Faculty Member
Blaine Somerville - DEI and Catholic Social Teaching Lead, Faculty Member, Coach
Rick Wood P ’16, ’19, ’22, Ed.D. - President and CEO
Luke Young P’ 26, ’27 - Faculty Member
P = Parent