2023-2028 Tuscaloosa Academy Strategic Plan

WHERE PASSION SHAPES...

PAVING THE WAY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

THE MISSION OF TUSCALOOSA ACADEMY

FIVE AREAS OF FOCUS

FOCUS #1: STUDENT EXPERIENCE

FOCUS #2: FACULTY & STAFF

FOCUS #3: BUILDING & GROUNDS

FOCUS #4: FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY & ENROLLMENT

FOCUS #5: DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Having met many times throughout the school year, the members of the Strategic Planning Committee gave much of their time and talent to help shape the future of Tuscaloosa Academy. With the input from the community, these individuals determined the initiatives and goals that were presented to the Board of Trustees as outlined in this plan. Dedication of this magnitude shows true love and passion for TA. We are grateful for the hard work of the individuals below.

Reese Brooks, Committee Chair & Chair of the Board of Trustees

Beckie Share, Head of School

Noel Amason, Board Vice Chair

Lee Henderson, Board Treasurer

Josh Johnson, Board, Building & Grounds Committee Chair

Favor Hinton, Board Member

Brandon Stough, Board Member

David Hudson, Past Board Chair

Byron Abston, Director of Athletics & Operations

Jennifer Barnette, Chief Financial Officer

Julia Phifer, Director of Admissions

Jennifer Wright, LS Teacher

Jaclyn Foster, MS Teacher

Tammi Scheiring, US Teacher

Wolfgang Kneer, Parent

Nicole Godwin, Exec. Assistant to the Head of School

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A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

One of the primary functions of Tuscaloosa Academy's Board of Trustees is to focus on the school's long-term success. Every five to seven years, we engage in an effort to update our vision on how to grow and strengthen TA. Out of this vision, a living document is created in the form of a Strategic Plan that becomes the roadmap for achieving the identified milestones. I am pleased to announce that we have recently finished creating our new Strategic Plan, which our Board has unanimously approved.

Nine months ago, we formed a special committee to create our new Strategic Plan. It included parents, faculty, administration, alumni, and Board members (both past and present). Our goal was to get an extremely wide cross-section of perspectives and opinions. In addition, much of the data we gathered was done in the form of survey information sent to all parties affiliated with TA. We wanted to hear from everyone and were very pleased with the information and feedback provided.

We are now at the point where the finished version of the 2023 Strategic Plan is ready to be published. We felt strongly that everyone should have a copy of this Strategic Plan. With this information readily available, you can always know where the school is headed and be able to track our progress along the way.

Creating and implementing our own path forward is an incredible advantage we have as an independent school. It allows us to identify areas that are the most important to all of us and then drive the school in that direction. The Strategic Plan included is both aggressive and exciting and will be the start of a great new era at Tuscaloosa Academy.

Sincerely,

Reese Brooks Chair, Board of Trustees

A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Tuscaloosa A

From the momen exceptional in all our outstanding community that m

Since being foun independent scho school’s mission and align it with the values we navigate daily. To continue our growth and empower the next generation of learners, we have constructed a Strategic Plan that will shape the future of TA.

After speaking to many community members and gathering input, five main initiatives drive the Strategic Plan: enhance our school’s Building & Grounds, the Student Experience, our Faculty & Staff, our Financial Sustainability & Enrollment, and Tuscaloosa Academy’s Development & Fundraising. These assigned initiatives will help us achieve our goal of productively shaping the future of Tuscaloosa Academy.

Joining together as a community strategically led by our Board of Trustees, the spirit and pride of the TA community will work together to strive to be our very best while using our Strategic Plan as our roadmap for success.

I want to sincerely thank every member of the Tuscaloosa Academy community for welcoming me with open arms and a caring heart. I am truly thankful and humbled for your trust and support over the past year. I look forward to upholding Tuscaloosa Academy’s mission each day and shaping our future together.

Beckie Share Head of School

THE MISSION OF TUSCALOOSA ACADEMY

One of the Board of Trustees primary duties is to define our school by constantly reviewing the school's mission and ensuring that our direction and decision-making are mission appropriate.

During the Strategic Planning process, Faculty & Staff, Board of Trustees members, and Strategic Planning Committee members evaluated at length Tuscaloosa Academy's existing mission statement to reaffirm or make suggestions for edits. This feedback was taken to the Board of Trustees.

Ultimately, Mrs. Jennifer Wright took these ideas and visions and drafted a proposed updated mission that succinctly defines our school. As an alum of the class of 2003, Mrs. Wright has served as a Kindergarten teacher for over a decade at TA, and her children are current students. Mrs. Wright embodies the definition of Tuscaloosa Academy.

With excitement, the updated mission of Tuscaloosa Academy now reads:

Tuscaloosa Academy is a college-preparatory school community that empowers learners to reach excellence in responsibility, service, and achievement.

FOCUS #1: STUDENT EXPERIENCE

One of our primary goals at Tuscaloosa Academy is to create a memorable educational experience for every student that walks through the halls. To achieve this, we will hold onto the rich traditions our school has celebrated while developing new and innovative programs and initiatives.

These new and enhanced programs are designed to offer students and families a wide array of opportunities and provide memories and tools they can take far past their school years. In addition, these advancements are meant to encourage, grow, and inspire future students in their college endeavors and beyond.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Enhance College

Counseling & Preparedness

Ensure that a superior college-preparatory education is provided to each student. Reinstate the College Tour program. Host college representatives on campus for future academic events. Provide opportunities for Tuscaloosa Academy alumni to talk to current students about their college experiences, educational paths, and careers. Explore the possibility of establishing a shadow program allowing students to explore various career fields. Add a staff member dedicated to College Counseling.

Strengthen School Pride & Culture

Enhance the opportunities for older and younger students to interact with each other. Host athletic competitions during school operating hours to increase student fan attendance.

Add opportunities for vertical and mixed-age academic experiences to create a more cohesive and tight-knit atmosphere.

Develop Robust Travel Opportunities

Create both domestic and international travel options.

Foster initiatives to broaden our reach and introduce students to new cultures.

FOCUS #2: FACULTY & STAFF

Tuscaloosa Academy's faculty and staff are our community's heart, backbone, and foundation. With them, our mission of empowering learners to reach excellence in responsibility, service, and achievement is possible.

Our faculty and staff are some of the best in their fields and share a passion for teaching the future of our society. We aim to provide faculty and staff with every resource and opportunity possible to help them succeed in our mission.

Recruit and Retain Quality Faculty & Staff Members

Increase faculty and staff salaries. Develop an internal salary range scale. Explore the possibility of full tuition remission as an employment benefit. Further establish a set of professional expectations and standards. Develop a robust teacher appreciation program to show our commitment and support for TA educators.

Commitment to Teaching & Learning

Increase quality professional development opportunities.

Increase the budget for professional development opportunities. Empower teachers to explore various teaching models and strategies.

FOCUS #3: BUILDING & GROUNDS

Over the decades, the school's campus has been the heartbeat and home for students and faculty. It is a safe space to explore, learn, and carry out Tuscaloosa Academy's mission statement.

Over time, the TA campus has achieved its purpose of housing curious minds and producing achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts. However, through the years, the campus, both in building and grounds, has gradually begun to show its age in infrastructure and appearance. To showcase the beauty of Tuscaloosa Academy, renovations on areas that have dutifully served their purpose are planned. Updated spaces will continue to serve students and help TA fulfill our mission.

In addition, dreams of constructing new buildings and facilities will help the next several decades of students exceed their potential. These projects will help serve as safe havens for students to learn, play, and explore all that our school offers. They will help foster growth and provide the best possible atmosphere for students to thrive as a whole child.

BUILDING & GROUNDS

Renovate & Upgrade

Current Facilities

Refresh paint and color scheme both on the inside and outside of buildings. Replace existing flooring in the corridors and classrooms.

Create a 'Hall of Champions.'

Establish a front lobby for guests and visitors. Increase interior and exterior signage. Add flagpoles adorned with TA flags along the entrance drive.

Enhance current safety and security measures, such as increased lighting and security cameras.

Renovate the Preschool playground.

Build the Future

Build a multi-purpose building to include the possibility of a new gymnasium with a performance stage, classroom space, football field house, additional office space, and much needed storage.

FOCUS #4: FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY & ENROLLMENT

One of our main goals with our Strategic Plan is to continuously support and maintain these changes over time. We must produce the funding and support for these visions to implement the desired updates. By continuing to build relationships with donors, hosting various events, and growing enrollment capacity, we can begin to generate the revenue needed for these changes while maintaining funding for years to come.

In relation, we want students of all backgrounds to have the opportunity to explore everything that TA has to offer. By partnering with local educational institutions and corporations, we can reach an audience outside of our geographical range and enhance enrollment opportunities. In addition, articulating our mission and values clearly to the community outside of TA will help create a cohesive message about who we are as a whole.

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Enhance Enrollment Numbers & Opportunities

Work to enhance enrollment numbers to meet our maximum capacity of 580 students.

Partner with the University of Alabama and other employers in the greater Tuscaloosa area and connect with their Human Resources Department to ensure that TA's necessary admissions and marketing materials are part of the recruitment process. Specifically target Middle and Lower School aged families through various events and programs.

Market our mission by clearly communicating the value proposition of TA and better deliver the message of our purpose to Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas.

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#5: MENT &

DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING

Cultivate Donors

Increase the visibility of the Director of Development, Head of School, and Board of Trustee Members in opportunities to interact with donors. Develop a system to identify donor priorities and their threshold of giving. Establish defined giving policies to include policies on naming rights. Establish planned giving opportunities. Cultivate grandparents by enhancing grandparent celebrations and providing targeted communications.

Build Alumni Relationships

Engage alumni by hosting events and increasing communication. Establish a 'Young Alumni' level of giving.

Focused Fundraising Efforts

Stream all fundraising efforts through the Tuscaloosa Academy Development Office. Create a calendar of planned, annual projects and events; create a calendar of projected projects.

Better educate about the Annual Fund and provide the 'Dream List' ahead of asked giving.

With the help of a consulting firm, conduct a campaign study to determine the projected giving available for the project under Building & Grounds.

If deemed possible, conduct a capital campaign to build the new building and establish an endowment.

THANK YOU!

Creating and implementing a Strategic Plan is a complex process that involves many people. We want to give a huge 'Thank You' to everyone involved in this process. We thank our faculty & staff, students, parents, coaches, grandparents, alumni, and friends for investing in our students' lives by investing in Tuscaloosa Academy.

The initiatives outlined within this Strategic Plan will elevate Tuscaloosa Academy to the next level and continue to support and emphasize our mission of empowering all learners to reach excellence in responsibility, service, and achievement.

The future is bright at Tuscaloosa Academy. We are excited that you are joining on the journey to pave the way!

Where Passion Shapes the Future!