Waldron Mercy Academy Five-Year Strategic Plan

Investing in Waldron Waldron Mercy Academy Five-Year Strategic Plan 2015-2020

Board of Trustees 2015-2016 Sister Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM Acting Chair Secretary – Mary Graham-Zak Treasurer – Joan Barone Kimberly Baxter Marissa Cherian Beth Delaney Sister Marie Michelle Donnelly, RSM Stephen Gleason* Michael Guzzardi ’64* Eric Hodges Sister Rose Martin, RSM Andrew McCloskey ’84 Jim McGovern ’85 Maureen Meacham Jeff Mullen Marcia Penn-Cummings Derek G. Redcross ’77 Nell Stetser+ Sister Marianna Walsh, RSM T. David Williams Jr. Jack Zeller ’68* +The principal is automatically a member of the Board of Trustees. * Board term ended June 2015

The Process...

B

eginning in the fall of 2014, Waldron Mercy Academy collaborated with Independent School Management (ISM) to formulate a Strategic Plan which will inform strategic decisions and prudent financial planning through 2020.

Over several weeks, Board members, current parents, faculty and staff were surveyed to ascertain WMA’s strengths and recommended improvements for students, faculty and the Waldron community. These confidential surveys were tabulated and those results presented to the Board of Trustees and several members of Waldron Mercy’s Administrative Team. From there, priorities were set and this strategic plan was approved ensuring the continued success of Waldron students within a Catholic community guided by the charism of Mercy.

Waldron Mercy Academy, a Catholic

Goal 1: Investing in Our Students…

W

e believe that by providing a strong foundation in the Catholic faith, challenging academics, outreach experiences and extracurricular opportunities, our students will develop the skills needed to be creative and critical thinkers who will be compassionate leaders in a global society.

By investing in our students, we will…

• Deepen the culture of faith, service and community by expanding the service learning opportunities for students and families.

• Develop a more robust Spanish curriculum by increasing content, time, understanding and fluency of the language.

• Construct a more comprehensive S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program by designing projects to enhance the themes of robotics, engineering and programming.

• Provide opportunities for full participation in extracurricular activities to promote a holistic experience for students.

school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy,

is a diverse, faith community rooted in the

Goal 2: Investing in Our faculty…

W

e believe that faculty who embrace the mission of Mercy, who value professional growth and who collaborate with peers, will set high standards for quality teaching and learning.

By investing in our faculty, we will…

• Implement hiring strategies which would broaden the pool of qualified candidates to reflect the diversity of the student body within the teaching staff.

• Enhance professional development opportunities to educate and engage teachers to work collaboratively in the curriculum development process.

• Investigate faculty evaluation systems that would consider the implementation of a merit-based structure to improve salary competitiveness for retention and attraction of highly qualified educators.

gospel values of mercy and justice.

We are a school where

Goal 3: Investing in Our Leaders…

W

e believe that effective leaders further the school’s mission. Leaders look at the “big picture” to plan strategic initiatives and create policies that will ensure the future success of the school. Leaders are fiscally responsible, and budget and invest wisely.

By investing in our leaders, we will…

• Review the overall committee structure of the Board and assure that all committees support best practices.

• Recruit Board members by focusing on building Board capacity to enhance the Board’s strategic performance and effective fundraising.

• Create a succession plan for key leadership roles.

• Develop a facilities plan that supports collaborative learning spaces and evolving technologies.

the joy of discovery...

inspires serious study, social

Goal 4: Investing in Waldron…

W

e believe that the education of children, the desire to help the poor, the extension of hospitality and creating an environment of openness and trust are hallmarks of a Mercy education. We celebrate this tradition of Mercy rooted in the works of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. We live by these core values in our daily actions. As we continue this tradition, we commit to develop new resources and cultivate lasting relationships with students, parents, alumni and our extended Waldron family.

By investing in Waldron, we will…

• Develop dynamic and compelling messaging and branding to effectively communicate the value of a Waldron education.

• Develop a robust fundraising operation by enhancing existing efforts and by developing a donor-centric major gifts program.

• Prepare for a campaign to grow endowment and enhance facilities and a celebration of Waldron’s centennial.

responsibility, and strong faith.

Waldron Mercy Academy 513 Montgomery Avenue Merion Station, PA 19066 610-664-9847 www.waldronmercy.org Celebrating Over 90 Years in Mercy!