Vision 2028: the Pope John Paul II Preparatory School Strategic Plan

Vision 2028 A Strategic Plan for 2023 - 2028

“I am very proud of the way in which educational excellence rooted in the faith is manifested in service to others and in an embrace of a calling that is greater than each individual’s success. Indeed, at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, students learn that their greatest potential lies in that intersection of their God-given gifts, the desire to learn, and service to others.”

Most Reverend J. Mark Spalding Bishop of the Diocese of Nashville

Inspired by Faith Throughout the strategic planning process, our community expressed a desire to return to our roots and the original inspiration for establishing a school named for Pope Saint John Paul II. We reflected on the story of our founders: after their deeply moving experience during their audience with the Pope, Ann and Monroe Carell returned to Middle Tennessee with a mission to give the initial gift for a new Catholic high school in the Diocese of Nashville. The Carells were called to support the formation of youth because Pope Saint John Paul II’s ministry focused on engaging the spiritual lives of the youth of the entire world. Our namesake serves as inspiration for our future strategic goals because he and all of the Saints point us to Christ. They are models of lives given to Christ at the highest level. With this inspiration, the following strategic plan took shape as a conduit for our work to refocus our connection to our namesake in all that we undertake as an institution inspired by faith.

“Young people of every continent, do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium! Be contemplative, love prayer; be coherent with your faith and generous in the service of your brothers and sisters.”

- Pope Saint John Paul II, World Youth Day 2000

Christ – Above All Things!

Every institution has inflection points – times when the past is remembered, and the future is embraced. I believe we are at such a time at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. The solid foundation laid by the myriad who sacrificed during our 21-year history makes this present moment of hope possible. As I end my seventh month at JPII, I have treasured looking back and having countless conversations about the founding and growth of our school. In the best sense, we have always been about growing the students placed in our care to their fullest potential in mind, body, character, and spirit. JPII has always been about the “more” - about reaching beyond what seemed possible and sacrificing and surrendering to allow a transformation toward something greater.

As exemplified by our great patron, Pope Saint John Paul II, this transformation is holistic: academics, arts, and athletics are all enveloped with the God who loves us more than we can possibly imagine. Our namesake embraced life by reading voraciously, studying assiduously, playing soccer enthusiastically, acting and writing passionately, and praying constantly. JPII is the perfect patron for our school, and in many ways, the culture that has grown here reflects the man who inspired the Ann and Monroe Carell family 25 years ago to give the gift that led to the construction of our school.

With the past remembered and appreciated, we now go boldly forward. I would like to highlight three great blessings.

First, we are grateful for the prudent management of our finances, the strong support of the Diocese of Nashville, the generosity of many benefactors, and the wise guidance of the Board of Trustees, which led to our debt of 23 million dollars being paid in full in 2023. This puts JPII in a strong position to address our needs for the future.

Second, the leadership team has developed a vision statement that complements our mission statement and provides clarity and inspiration. For the faculty and staff, it motivates us toward our highest and most important goals. For the parents, it allows them to understand the goal of our partnership, and for benefactors, it will enable them to see what they are supporting. The following vision statement will provide focus and direction for years to come: “To form young people who love God, self, and neighbor, seek Truth, serve others, and lead courageously.”

Finally, I am thrilled to unveil Vision 2028, our strategic plan that will provide a framework and discipline to allow JPII to systematically work toward and achieve its most important objectives for the next three to five years. This plan is the result of hours of work stretching back over two years, led by Board of Trustees president Russell Marino Jr., incoming board president Eddie Pearson, the Board of Trustees, and the school executive leadership team, with input from focus groups and survey feedback from over 1,400 community members.

With our mission and vision clear, our debt paid off, and our strategic direction set, the future is bright at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Undoubtedly, it will take dogged discipline and unflagging belief in God’s Providence, but we have a God who is never outdone in generosity. God will bless us richly as we prayerfully sacrifice for the future of JPII and align individual will with the Divine Will. Please hold JPII up in your prayers daily as we form students and help them literally reach for heaven!

Peace and all Good, Erick Chittle, Ph.D. President

Our Mission Inspired by faith, Pope John Paul II Preparatory School prepares students to be strong in mind, body, character, and spirit for lives of learning and service, according to the Gospel.

Our Vision To form young people who love God, self, and neighbor, seek Truth, serve others, and lead courageously.

CLASS OF 2022 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Skylar Cummings ‘18

Anna Reding ‘15

Golden Tate ‘07

While our mission remains unchanged, our new vision statement reflects the values of our mission and allows us to envision the potential of our graduates as they become adults who choose careers focused on working for the Kingdom of God.

mission &

CATHOLIC IDENTITY Ensuring our values of faith, excellence, character, community, and service are everpresent in all that we do, creating a welcoming environment for all

SERVICE DAY AT NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION

Integrate the mission, values, and Catholic identity into the daily lives of our faculty, staff, and students.

When our founders envisioned Pope John Paul II High School, they dreamed of a unique culture and charism that would bring the school’s mission to life. We will continue to ensure that all decisions reflect the mission and vision of our school. Initiatives will center on increasing understanding of Pope Saint John Paul II’s life and legacy and Catholic school philosophy, integrating faith into curricular and athletic programs, discerning the unique needs of middle school students, and expanding sacramental and devotional opportunities for our entire community.

Ensure a welcoming environment where each person is valued.

By increasing program variety to provide more opportunities for student involvement, we will strive to create a community where each student feels valued and a sense of belonging as we respect the inherent dignity of each student in our care. We will also continue to form relationships with Christian churches in our local community to develop a welcoming environment for students from other faith traditions.

Strive for the school community to reflect the school’s values.

Service learning has been a central pillar of our program since our inception, and we will continue to seek opportunities to increase community service initiatives that encourage participation from our entire community and reflect Catholic social teachings.

culture of

EXCELLENCE Pursuing excellence in all programs, academics, arts, and athletics in a supportive and challenging environment

MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASS

Meet the needs of the whole student and help each fulfill their God-given potential.

Inspired by the example of Pope Saint John Paul II, a holistic program focused on academic, artistic, and athletic excellence has been fundamental to our school’s identity. We will continue to pursue excellence in support of the whole student in all stages of development through careful examination of student and program data and by supporting the professional development of our faculty and staff.

Attract and retain exceptional faculty and staff.

Student/teacher relationships are at the heart of our school community. Using a variety of recruiting tools will be essential for attracting exceptional faculty and staff who support the mission of Catholic education. Faculty and staff retention will depend on carefully planned professional and community engagement opportunities, helping build a culture of trust and support for our colleagues.

community

DEVELOPMENT Creating and maintaining valuable, life-long relationships with current students, alumni, and members of the community

CLASS OF 2012 REUNION

Deepen the strength and reach of the school’s impact and reputation.

As we imagine the possibilities of our institution in the future, we envision ways to develop strong relationships and serve children and families in our diocese, local churches, and greater community. By enhancing our camp programs and athletic clinics, developing more community events, and hosting educational opportunities for all age groups, we strive to become a place that serves our local community in meaningful ways.

Develop and engage the alumni community.

Engaging our alumni community and their families is an essential part of the life of our school. Enhancing data-tracking, developing strategic alumni engagement opportunities, and creating ways to support the needs of our alumni community in all stages of life will allow us to form lifelong relationships with our graduates and their families.

campus

ENHANCEMENT Maintaining and enhancing our campus for our students and the community

Establish a prioritized list of enhancements and major maintenance needs for the existing campus.

Our facilities have now served thousands of students for over two decades. The need for enhancements and major maintenance becomes a priority as we continue to be responsible stewards of our beautiful buildings and grounds.

Develop and take steps toward implementing a 20-year campus master plan.

The recent growth of our student population and programming clearly necessitates campus growth. As we consider both immediate and future needs, we will work with all constituents and a team of professional advisors to develop a campus master plan, allowing us to continue to serve our current students and expand our offerings as an institution.

Maintain and enhance campus security.

Campus safety and security has always been a high priority, and we have enhanced security efforts to match the evolving needs of schools nationwide. We answered immediate safety priorities by hiring a Director of Safety & Security and updating the security of doors, cameras, windows, and visitor procedures. We will continue to focus on regular security training for faculty and staff and regular communication with stakeholders in our community.

financial

STRENGTH Increasing financial strength to ensure longterm sustainability and expand financial aid options for our students

Ensure the school is accessible to all with a vibrant financial aid program.

We believe that families who support our mission and make personal financial sacrifices to afford tuition should not be denied access to Catholic education due to financial obstacles. By increasing endowed funds for financial aid, partnering with the Diocese of Nashville, and identifying new donors, we will increase access to Catholic education by expanding need-based financial aid for families.

Grow the endowment for long-term stability.

Increasing endowment funds will expand opportunities for long-term growth while ensuring financial stability. Developing clear policies, understanding donor intentions, and setting institutional goals will serve as a starting point for the growth of the endowment.

Establish a clear five-year financial plan for annual sustainability.

A plan for financial sustainability will promote institutional growth by supporting families and remaining financially appealing to potential and current faculty and staff. We will work to plan for predictable tuition increases, allowing families to organize a budget for their children’s Catholic education over multiple years. We will research best practices to develop benchmarks for sustainable spending categories in the budget, which will create a financial plan that includes long-term institutional growth strategies and supports faculty and staff retention goals by ensuring salaries and benefits are commensurate with the local economic market.

STRATEGIC PLANNING TIMELINE AND PROCESS Summer 2021 - Under the leadership of board president Russell Marino Jr., the Board of Trustees of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School began brainstorming potential goals and started conversations around a strategic planning process.

Summer and Fall 2022 - The school partnered with Lighthouse Counsel, and the Strategic Planning Committee — made up of members from various school constituencies — worked diligently over four months to craft a plan for presentation to the Board of Trustees. This process included three Strategic Planning Committee meetings. Research was conducted with more than 1,450 participants reflecting the school’s constituencies.

Spring 2023 - The Strategic Planning Committee presented a draft of strategic priorities to the Board of Trustees, the faculty, and staff. Based on feedback, the committee edited a second draft to present to the Diocese of Nashville and the candidates for the new president position.

Fall 2023 - After Dr. Erick Chittle was hired as the first president of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, he worked with the school’s executive leadership team and Board of Trustees under the direction of Russell Marino Jr. and Eddie Pearson to review the second draft of the document and solidify goals in the strategic plan. This team selected the top four priorities to begin work in the winter and spring of 2024.

2022-2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2022-2023 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Mr. Russell Marino Jr.

Dr. Erick Chittle

Fr. Austin Gilstrap

President

President

Co-Chair

Mr. Terry Wallace

Mrs. Jennifer Dye

Dr. Jennifer Uhl

Mrs. Sharon Edwards

Mrs. Laura Thigpen

Treasurer

CFO/COO

Mrs. Allison Beahm ‘09 Mrs. Emily Clavin ‘09 Ms. Alex Denton ‘22 Mr. Scott Gettelfinger Mr. Andrew Griffith Mrs. Rachel Grisard ‘12 Mrs. Amy Lavender Mr. Russell Marino Jr. Mrs. Abby Newby Mr. Zach Pelka Ms. Karen Phillips Mr. Allen Ramsey Mr. Stephen Strickland ‘22 Mr. Wesley Tate ‘09 Mrs. Laura Thigpen Mr. Jamaal Thompson ‘17 Dr. Charles Wade

Vice President

Mrs. Angela Bagsby Secretary

Mrs. Molly Altenbern Ms. Ashley Fox ‘09 Mr. Cameron Goss Mr. Dave Gould Mr. Rick Heagarty Mr. Alex Isaacson ‘10 Mr. Jonathan Langlois Mr. Zach Pelka ‘13 Mr. Luke Pulliza ‘14 Mr. David Snow Mr. Wesley Tate ‘09 Fr. Austin Gilstrap Ex officio

Interim Principal

Mrs. Michelle Barber Mrs. Emily Clavin ‘09 Mr. John Dempsey Mrs. Lori Jones Fr. Nonso Ohanaka Mrs. Jennifer Smith Dr. Charles Wade

Co-Chair

117 Caldwell Drive Hendersonville, TN 37075 www.popeprep.org phone 615-822-2375 fax 615-822-6226