Blaze Brighter Progress Report

URSULINE ACADEMY

Strategic Plan Progress Report 2022-2024

BLAZE BRIGHTER PROGRESS REPORT

Overview Ursuline Academy’s Blaze Brighter Strategic Plan is our roadmap to transformational change in support of our mission to empower students for leadership and service in our global society. Rooted in the spirit of St. Angela Merici, the plan elevates our school and strengthens our commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, and institutional growth.

Throughout the 2021-22 academic year, Blaze Brighter was developed by key contributors across Ursuline’s community.

Built on four interconnected goals, Purpose, People, Program, and Potential, these target areas serve as the plan’s foundation, creating a cohesive framework for action.

As we reach the mid-point of the plan’s implementation, we are thrilled by the remarkable progress made across all four areas. The introduction of new academic programs and spaces, coupled with enhanced efforts to foster community and strengthen financial stability, has led to significant improvements in how the Academy serves its students and engages with both local and global communities. Generous contributions from our donors have been instrumental in securing the financial health needed not only to advance Blaze Brighter but also to ensure the institution’s long-term sustainability. It is an exciting time for Ursuline Academy as we share and celebrate Blaze Brighter’s progress and look towards the next phases of this five-year plan.

Erin Prada

Dr. Trisha Medeiros

Director of Strategic Initiatives & Global Education

President

Goal Progress Goal 1: Purpose

62% complete

Goal 2: People 50% complete

Goal 3: Program

Key Figures 76

Initiatives currently in progress across campus

>80% 30% complete

Total number of strategic initiatives

Faculty & staff participation in Blaze Brighter

New employees joining Blaze Brighter since Fall 2024

Goal 4: Potential 19% complete

28

12

URSULINE ACADEMY STRATEGIC PLAN

BLAZE BRIGHTER PROGRESS REPORT

Strategic Leadership Our Goal Champion Team is a dedicated group of faculty and staff who work collaboratively to oversee and advance strategic initiatives. Acting as key intermediaries between the Board of Trustees administrative oversight team, represented by Megan Manlove McGlinchey ’90 P’25 and Brendan Kennealey P’34’36, and the individual initiative owners from across the Academy, the Goal Champions provide invaluable support and advocacy. This team’s leadership, commitment, and enthusiasm have been critical to the advancement and success of the Academy’s strategic efforts.

Goal Champions GOAL 1: PURPOSE

GOAL 2: PEOPLE

Erin Barillare ’95

Sam Hunsinger

Holly Colon ’04

Kelly O’Doherty

Upper School Counselor

Middle & Upper School Theology Teacher Theology Dept Chair

Middle School Math Teacher

Early Childhood Teacher

GOAL 3: PROGRAM

Jess Persoleo Corinne Pomeroy ’02 Lower School Teacher

Middle & Upper School Art Teacher

GOAL 4: POTENTIAL

Erin McNichol

Leigh Perillo

Director of Innovation & Leadership

Assistant Director of Finance & HR

GOAL 1: PURPOSE Purpose guarantees that our mission and values remain central to all we do. Through Blaze Brighter, we deepen our commitment to delivering an intellectually rigorous and spiritually enriching education. We aim to foster a vibrant educational environment where each learner can develop their unique talents and lead with compassion, integrity, and faith.

Goal 4 highlights...

This goal has inspired an expansion of pre-Mass teachings in the Early Childhood program, creating interactive lessons that bring the Catholic faith to life for our youngest students and a stronger commitment to our Employee Serviam Program, which engages faculty and staff in community service. Work within this goal also facilitates connections within the Ursuline network and broader Catholic education networks, exemplified by a recent collaboration with the Little Sisters of the Poor. These efforts are strengthening the charism of Ursuline education, educating all in the Ursuline heritage, and building lasting relationships within the global Catholic community.

GOAL 2: PEOPLE People recognizes that the success of our mission depends on the individuals who make up our community, including our staff and faculty, our students and their families, and our greater alumnae and community network.

This goal emphasizes the importance of recruiting and retaining exceptional faculty and staff, supporting their professional growth, and ensuring a welcoming environment for all. We prioritize the health and well-being of our community members, exemplified by the introduction of new mental health and wellness programs for our students and the addition of Winnie, our school dog, to provide comfort and companionship to our campus community. Increased professional development opportunities have sparked more knowledge-sharing and collaboration, while organized social events and the Angela’s Ambassadors Buddy Program have amplified the support available for both new and returning faculty and staff.

Expanded partnerships with and through Ursuline’s house system and the Ursuline Academy Parent Association have further strengthened our community, reinforcing our commitment to inclusion and growth.

GOAL 3: PROGRAM Under Program, we focus on enhancing our academic offerings and ensuring our programs reflect the evolving needs of today’s students. By expanding our curriculum and emphasizing innovation in teaching, we champion an educational experience that prepares students for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

New course offerings in the Upper School include engineering, law, financial literacy, and digital art. Middle and Lower School have also seen curricular enhancements with a global lens being added to several courses, allowing students to engage with peers in the Ursuline global network and beyond to sharpen their intercultural skillset. The Center for Success has become an indispensable academic support resource for Middle and Upper School students since its creation at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. Ursuline has also been recognized for its robust programs that focus on the development of the whole student and was recently named a Promising Practice by Character.org, representing the first milestone on our journey to becoming a School of Character.

GOAL 4: POTENTIAL Potential focuses on efforts to maximize our Ursuline community’s engagement and resources to help the Academy reach new heights.

This includes building a sustainable financial model, improving our facilities, and expanding opportunities for community involvement.

Through intensified fundraising efforts, additional strategic partnerships, and campus development projects, we are creating the foundation for enduring growth and success. The increased support of alumnae, parents, and local organizations has been a crucial factor in unlocking new possibilities for the Academy.

Under our Blaze Brighter goals, Ursuline has renovated key areas of campus, such as the Laffey McHugh Gymnasium and introduced new learning spaces like the 1893 I.D.E.A. Studio and McConnell Dream Lab. These facilities provide students with opportunities to be experimental and creative while building real-world skills. Our student-run café and Get Real Speakers Series utilize these spaces to build relationships with local businesses and give students the chance to interact with professionals from diverse fields. Our ventures in and around our community further position Ursuline as a leader in problem-solving, innovative thinking, and all-girls education, both locally and globally.

What’s Next?

BLAZE BRIGHTER PROGRESS REPORT

While we pause to recognize the midpoint of Blaze Brighter’s implementation, we have laid the groundwork to begin the second half of the strategic plan, which is set to take us through 2027. Looking ahead, we are eager to continue building on the current momentum and strengthening our foundation in Purpose, People, Program, and Potential.

The upcoming phases of our strategic plan reflect a sustained commitment to enhancing both infrastructure and educational quality. The second phase of our Anthony N. Fusco, Sr. Fitness & Health Center project (anticipated in the 2025-26 school year) will provide expanded fitness and wellness facilities, while the renovation of the Performing Arts Center and the development of comprehensive performing arts and leadership curricula will enrich the creative student experience.

We will also invest in cutting-edge technology to foster digital literacy among our students. Additional initiatives focused on inclusion will include the construction of an elevator in the Upper School to improve accessibility for all.

As part of our commitment to holistic development, we will build a piazza garden dedicated to self-reflection, creating a peaceful space for students and employees to deepen connections with nature, one another, and their spirituality.

Our focus on family education will be expanded with offerings like “Screenagers,” a screening and discussion geared towards helping parents and educators navigate the challenges of the Digital Age. Our ongoing efforts to grow the endowment will continue to support faculty development, increase retention, and tuition assistance, furthering our aim to ensure long-term institutional growth. Through Blaze Brighter, we are in collaborative pursuit of an even more vibrant, inclusive, and transformative future for Ursuline Academy.

Our shared commitment to Ursuline Academy’s values has united our community and reignited our Purpose, propelling the institution forward to harness its full Potential. Through direct investment in our People and our Programs, we seek to generate a positive and lasting impact on our students, faculty, and community as a whole. Thank you for your valued support in helping Ursuline Academy Blaze Brighter.