Building to Lead
Building to Lead Dear Woods Community, We are proud to share our 2018 Strategic Plan: Building to Lead. This vision for the next five years is built upon our tradition of excellence and is supported by a comprehensive planning process that included the greater Woods community. The outcome is a flexible roadmap that is true to the mission of the School. This is a plan that belongs to all of us, a plan that transforms our collective vision into deliverable action.
Building to Lead guides us into a complex and ever-changing world equipping us to prosper while keeping our mission at the center of all that we do. With our well-rounded students, passionate faculty, and supportive parents, The Woods Academy will continue to be the place where curiosity and confidence thrive because new opportunities and ideas are given space to grow and succeed. Building to Lead is a living document that we will use to set goals and measure success each school year. We will share our progress on a regular basis and address challenges as they arise. We look forward to growing as a school and living our mission together.
As we embark on this exciting time of growth at The Woods, we invite all of you to engage in the implementation of our plan – ask questions, attend meetings, share your opinions, and support The Woods. Your involvement is key to our success. Thank you for being a part of our collective vision! Sincerely,
Joe Powers Head of School
Anna Stewart Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Mission
The Woods Academy is an inclusive Catholic community preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance
Strategic Vision
The Woods Academy will distinguish itself as a co-educational Preschool through Grade 8 community with a strong and inclusive faith life, a dynamic and well-rounded program, and a personal approach to its students and families. We are committed to the growth of children through the development of foundational skills and an innovative curriculum, preparing them to thrive in a complex and ever-changing world. We will be known for‌
Well-Rounded Students
who are encouraged to be creative, invited to be curious, challenged to be critical thinkers, and called to be compassionate and impactful leaders.
Passionate Faculty
who embody modern educational excellence, inspire confidence in each individual child to reach his or her potential, and create a joyful and caring space for learning.
Supportive Parents
who embrace a community of inclusiveness, commit to active engagement in the life of the school, and advocate for the students, faculty, and the school.
Strategic Focus The Woods Academy’s 2018 Strategic Plan is focused on five key areas:
Educational Experience
Building Opportunity by enhancing and expanding the learning and teaching environment
Enhanced Campus
Building Space by reimagining and defining our campus for the future
Community Engagement
Building Community by cultivating and strengthening our vibrant school
Dynamic Leadership
Building Leaders by nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth
Financial Sustainability
Building Resources by planning and securing our present and our future
Educational Experience Building Opportunity by enhancing and expanding the learning and teaching environment
We will focus on‌
Promoting academic excellence by assessing and enhancing the core academic program with a concentrated effort on expanding: innovation entrepreneurship honors coursework learning support
Creating a deliberate and natural progression of the student life experience from Preschool through Grade 8 that focuses on interpersonal, social, emotional, and physical development and provides meaningful opportunities for: leadership service community engagement
We will achieve progress through‌ Establishing cyclical review of core subjects.
Ensuring coherence and continuity from Preschool through Grade 8. Leveraging technological tools. Deepening student awareness.
Advancing signature programs.
Supporting different learning modalities and cognitive development.
Merging foundational curriculum with cutting-edge and experiential learning.
Defining a guidance and wellness curriculum.
Incorporating interdisciplinary opportunities, collaborative studies, and real world applications. Developing programs that offer opportunities to learn and grow.
Enhanced Campus
Building Space by reimagining and defining our campus for the future
We will focus on‌
Developing a comprehensive facilities master plan to implement innovative improvements and modernization to the building and our exterior space to meet the future needs of the school.
Leveraging our facilities and programs to expand learning and teaching opportunities and demonstrate our positive impact on the greater community.
Proactively explore all land-use related opportunities and challenges that impact the school.
We will achieve progress through‌
Establishing a campus-wide facilities plan and capital campaign. Establishing a green building initiative.
Incorporating hands-on and open-space design.
Identifying, prioritizing, and planning for capital improvements and enhancements. Strengthening alignment between facilities and operations.
Ensuring that safety and security measures are a regular and ongoing priority. Enhancing our standing in the community.
Strengthening local partnerships with area non-profit organizations. Growing non-tuition revenue.
Š Darren S. Higgins
Community Engagement
Building Community by cultivating and strengthening our vibrant school
We will focus on‌
We will achieve progress through‌
Promoting and increasing our visibility as a leading Preschool through Grade 8 school.
Managing enrollment to cultivate our diverse student body.
Embracing our diverse and inclusive community by expanding opportunities for engagement, collaboration, and connection.
Integrating our Preschool with the Lower and Upper Schools, creating one school community.
Ensuring the further development of clear and mission appropriate messaging.
Exploring new opportunities to market and increase the visibility of the school.
Creating further opportunities for active participation by parents. Reviewing external events and programs to encourage parental engagement in all divisions. Developing and securing our role as an indispensable neighbor in the neighborhood and the county. Embracing our diversity and defining ways to strengthen the inclusiveness of our community.
Dynamic Leadership
Building Leaders by nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth
We will focus on‌
Developing a formal plan for professional development and mentorship to attract, grow, and retain exceptional faculty and staff.
We will achieve progress through‌
Formalizing a staff development structure that outlines growth and advancement opportunities. Enhancing the faculty and staff mentoring program.
Reviewing and revising the school organization chart.
Re-evaluating the current organizational structure of the school to ensure the most efficient allocation of personnel resources and responsibilities. Developing and expanding Board contribution to and engagement in the life of the school.
Formally developing, defining and sharing our Character Development and Individual Leadership Skills Curriculum for students.
Establishing succession and progression plans. Improving on-going Board education.
Increasing Board involvement and strengthening Board communications.
Increasing opportunities for students to engage in leadership roles. Enhancing leadership tools and character development program provided to students.
Financial Sustainability Building Resources by planning and securing our present and our future
We will focus on‌
Strengthening our value positioning among private schools in our market
Repurposing and establishing new Board Designated Reserves.
Prioritizing philanthropy to support the mission of the school and vision of the Strategic Plan.
Developing a Financial Plan which incorporates all initiatives generated from the Strategic Plan to help achieve long-term financial security.
We will achieve progress through‌
Ensuring tuition is aligned with value proposition.
Developing a comprehensive policy for providing Tuition Assistance. Implementing a target funding level and spending policies for each Board Designated Reserve category.
Developing a multi-year plan to include a defined capital campaign, annual fundraising, and endowment priorities.
Calculating all financial implications from implementing the Strategic Plan.
Thank You Strategic Planning Team
Anna Stewart, Chair Iñigo Ascanio Capelli Bob Gregg Melanie Funkhouser (1988) Paul Paoletti Joe Powers Ray Briscoe Hasmig Mahshigian Traci Grigg Molly McNamara Hugo Jodie Shoemaker Eric Smith Erin Ricca JP Clubbs Debbie Dosh Christina Phelps Charmaine Taverner
2017–2018 Board of Trustees
Warren Blanchard, Chair Iñigo Ascanio Capelli Ray Briscoe, Assistant Head of School Kelli Campbell Jennifer Clark (1997) Steven Fay Melanie Funkhouser (1988) Bob Gregg Brad Heming Peter Kenny Hasmig Mahshigian, Director of Finance Ted Mekonnen Jack O’Rourke Paul Paoletti, Faculty Representative Joe Powers, Head of School George Reese Jeanne Shriver Anna Stewart Catherine Valente-Grosh Sheryl Wilbon Darrien Wright
2018–2019 Board of Trustees
Warren Blanchard, Chair Iñigo Ascanio Capelli Ray Briscoe, Assistant Head of School Kelli Campbell Jennifer Clark (1997) Ted Farrell Melanie Funkhouser (1988) Bob Gregg Julia Jordan Brad Heming Peter Kenny Hasmig Mahshigian, Director of Finance Ted Mekonnen Jack O’Rourke Joe Powers, Head of School George Reese Erin Ricca, Faculty Representative Anna Stewart Catherine Valente-Grosh Sheryl Wilbon Darrien Wright
Curiosity and confidence thrive when new opportunities and ideas are given space to grow We invite you to join us in Building to Lead at The Woods Academy.
Engage with this strategic plan by asking questions, attending meetings, continuing to share your opinions, and supporting the implementation of the plan. For more information about and to track the progress of the 2018 Strategic Plan, please visit woodsacademy.org/buildingtolead
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