Challenging and nurturing

Mind, Body, and Spirit, we

inspire boys and girls to

lead lives of purpose, faith,

and integrity. The Mission of The Episcopal Academy

2 0 1 0 S t r at e g i c P l a n

Message from Ed Vick ’62, Chair of Strategic Planning Committee

We did not begin this process with an eye toward rearticulating everything that defines The Episcopal Academy.

Rather, we began with a premise: as a school, we are very good…excellent in many areas. But we can always

be better. Rather than try to reinvent the wheel across the board, let’s focus on a relatively few important areas

where more attention or clarification or effort could really make a difference.

We engaged an unprecedented number of our constituents in this process, beginning over a year ago. We did

this because we, the Board of Trustees, did not want to presume that we knew all the issues, much less all the

answers. What would current parents deem our most fertile areas for improvement? On what would our faculty

want us to focus? Or our alumni? We surveyed thousands of you and interviewed hundreds. We formed working

committees, made up of dozens of members of the Academy family, to tackle those aspects of Episcopal that

research told us were good, but could be better. We set our timeline as being the next three to five years.

Our goal was to develop a short list of meaningful strategies that, if executed, will make us significantly better.

We ended up with nine of what we are calling “Driving Strategies.” That doesn’t mean that these nine things

are all we are going to focus on for the next few years. It simply means that success on these fronts will really

drive us forward. Each of the nine Driving Strategies, laid out here, has a specific set of Goals attached to it, as

you will see. And behind these Goals, specific Action Steps are set and will be implemented by the Board, the

Administration, or the Faculty as appropriate.

This Plan begins with a revised Mission Statement. Without changing Episcopal’s fundamental position, the intent

was to move to a Statement which is more succinct, a bit more lofty and, importantly, memorable, especially for

our students. Virtually all of the Plan flows from the spirit of this Mission.

O v e r v i e w 0—1

Strategy nO. 1

We are The Episcopal Academy and we enthusiastically embrace and honor all that means.

A fundamental value of being an Episcopalian school is religious openness and acceptance. We are in every way respectful of all faiths and recognize that the presence of students, families, and faculty of varied religions and backgrounds is vital to the vibrancy of our diverse community. That said, at Episcopal we practice our religious traditions every day, and we welcome and expect participation by all. All members of the community will attend Chapel and all of our children will engage with our religion curriculum.

We utilize our religious heritage, both in Chapel and elsewhere on campus, to teach not only religion, but also to develop character.

“At The Episcopal Academy we value deeply our traditions without getting stuck in them. We are an Episcopal school and our Chapel, with its regular services largely structured in concert with the practices of The Episcopal Church, is important and integral to both the academic and communal life of the School. Further, as a faith-based school, we have implicitly promised that in the context of our students’ intellectual, physical, and emotional development, we will endeavor to enlarge their spiritual lives and deepen their personal ethical competency.” —Task Force on

Religious Heritage

Goal 1: State clearly our identity as a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools and in a consistent manner represent our religious foundation in our written communications.

Goal 2: Commit to chapel services that are based on the Book of Common Prayer and that are respectful of our pluralistic community.

Goal 3: Review our course offerings in religion, giving consideration to variety, academic rigor, and the potential for a yearlong Upper School course.

Goal 4: Include character education as an intentional part of the curriculum at every level.

2—3

Strategy nO. 2

We will elevate to the level of strategic importance our historic belief in the value of challenging and nurturing children in Mind, Body, and Spirit.

We will evolve our perspective and philosophy toward a robust approach to Mind, Body, and Spirit, not as discrete activities, but as an holistic approach to educating, nurturing, and developing boys and girls. We do not believe that Mind, Body, and Spirit are competing interests at Episcopal, but rather that the three are clearly inseparable and mutually reinforcing.

“It is the continuing responsibility of Episcopal to provide an holistic and multi-disciplinary education that embraces Mind, Body, and Spirit from the beginning of the day to the end; in the classroom and Chapel; on the athletic field and on the performance stage or in the art studio.” —Task Force on Mind, Body, and Spirit

Goal 1: Articulate consistently our holistic approach to Mind, Body, and Spirit as a distinguishing characteristic of an Episcopal Academy education.

Goal 2: Ensure that educators in all three units are continuously aware of Mind, Body, and Spirit in themselves and their students and look for opportunities to incorporate all three in everything they do.

Goal 3: Look for ways to enhance our students’ mental, physical, and emotional health.

Goal 4: Create an ad hoc or standing committee that works to be sure that Episcopal maintains its constant commitment to Mind, Body, and Spirit throughout the school.

4—5

Strategy nO. 3

Continuing to build academic excellence, we will invest in and capitalize on new knowledge surrounding how children learn.

Academic excellence, in teaching and in learning, is an endless pursuit. We know there is no such thing as “excellent enough.” We will always strive to be better than we are. In so doing, we will continue, with determination, to meld 21st-century teaching methods and learning techniques into our classical curriculum, seeking in effect to create a “New Classical” form of education.

We hope and expect to always be home to a range of intelligent, talented, and interesting children with varied skills and learning styles. We will always want to recognize and encourage the unique gifts of our children and teach in ways that allow each to engage with our curriculum and take responsibility for his or her own education.

Since we believe that children learn most effectively in a purposeful context that integrates factual content, individual knowledge, and the ideas of others, we will commit to greater active and participatory learning to complement the more traditional “teacher to student” impartation of knowledge.

“Episcopal must offer a dynamic learning environment in which boys and girls master 21st-century skills within the framework of a classical education. In so doing, these children will ultimately become creative, complex, and critical thinkers; effective and artful communicators; respectful leaders; and successful collaborators. We want each child to reach his or her own unique potential and to live, serve, and succeed in the world of tomorrow.” —Task Force on Philosophy of Learning

Goal 1: Each academic discipline will develop a mission statement which reflects Episcopal’s Mission and Philosophy of Learning Statement.

Goal 2: Enhance and incorporate 21st-century methods into Episcopal’s classical curriculum in a seamless manner so as to avoid a dichotomy between that which is “21st Century” and that which is “classical.”

Goal 3: Provide students with interdisciplinary experience and courses.

Goal 4: Expand opportunities for active and experiential learning including peer-to-peer group learning and shared inquiry methods.

Goal 5: Encourage an awareness and acceptance of varied learning styles for both students and faculty.

Goal 6: Recognize teachers and students for accomplishments in new, creative, and 21st-century based learning.

Goal 7: Commit to an ongoing process by which, each year, one department will undergo a thorough evaluation of its pre-kindergarten through VI Form curriculum by outside experts that will address continuity, academic rigor, foundational learning, relevance, and comprehensive pedagogy.

Goal 8: Seek to develop a program to test and benchmark for qualitative measures of an Episcopal Academy education.

6—7

Strategy nO. 4

We will assume a greater responsibility for life preparation, beyond college preparation, and we will develop a more diverse and international perspective.

Guiding seniors to top colleges is not a lofty enough goal for Episcopal. The preparedness of our children for meaningful success in life is more important to us than simply the list of colleges to which they attain entrance. But if we do our job right, our children will have the characteristics that will make them strong college candidates as well as successful students and adults.

As an important part of life preparation, we will significantly enhance our international perspective, recognizing our responsibility to prepare our children to compete and contribute in a changing and complex world.

In concert with this evolving international perspective, we will become an ever more diverse community. Across our campus we will continue to seek more diversity in backgrounds and perspectives in our administrators, faculty, and students.

“The commitment of the entire academic community is to unleash the full potential of every child and to provide academic experiences that are enriching and even transforming.” —Task Force on Academic Excellence

Goal 1: Engage all community members, administration, faculty, and parents with our philosophy of “life prep beyond college prep.”

Goal 2: Become internationally minded, better preparing students to live and serve throughout the world.

Goal 3: Continue to pursue diversity.

Goal 4: Evaluate, at regular intervals, our graduates’ college and career preparedness through alumni surveys.

8—9

Strategy nO. 5

Because the quality of education is a direct result of the quality of teaching, we will work to make Episcopal a place where excellent teachers can be their best professional selves.

Our teachers must be more than smart, well-educated, and skilled. They must also feel both satisfied and proud to work at Episcopal. We will develop specific plans to ensure that our teachers enjoy the respect, trust, and quality of life that their dedication deserves.

We will move toward a goal of compensating our faculty in the top quartile when measured against other Joint Research and Planning Office (JRPO) and Pennsylvania independent schools.

Recognizing our responsibility to ensure that an excellent teacher today remains an excellent teacher in the future, we will increase our financial and institutional commitment to the professional growth and development of our faculty.

All of our teachers must be excellent. We will explore more directly tying our teachers’ performance evaluations to a development plan and, ultimately, to a renewal contract.

“Show me a school where the teachers are smart, well-educated, skilled, and happy to be there and I’ll show you a group of children who are getting a good education.” —Faculty Task Force, quoting from Susan Engel, psychologist and educator.

Goal 1: Offer salaries in the top 25% of JRPO schools and benefits in the top 25% of Pennsylvania independent schools by 2015.

Goal 2: Provide continuing professional development opportunities to support teachers as 21st-century educators.

Goal 3: Foster a work environment that leads to a superior quality of life for our faculty.

Goal 4: Develop an even more robust annual evaluation process.

Goal 5: Consider a comprehensive plan whereby all human resource functions are centered in an expanded and well-defined position.

10—11

Strategy nO. 6

We want to build a truer sense of community on our campus and within our extended neighborhood.

Episcopal is ensconced in a wonderful campus where our entire community exists in very close proximity to one another. We want to use this proximity to our advantage, to engage all members of the community, and cultivate an authentic sense of belonging.

We will boost dedication to the qualities of civility, decency, and respect for others. We will develop and institute a Community Code of Conduct throughout the school. We will use our Episcopalian heritage and The Stripes as the foundation for the Code.

In preparing our children for a broader life, it will be our goal to better embrace local and global citizenship through “service doing” as well as service learning.

“The people of The Episcopal Academy, its faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni are the soul of the school, its greatest treasure. Let us truly become one campus, one community, ensuring that all persons feel welcomed, appreciated, and celebrated.” —Task Force on Community

Goal 1: Create specific initiatives to engage all members of the community and cultivate an authentic sense of belonging.

Goal 2: Constantly strive for clear, effective communication, both from the school and within the school.

Goal 3: From the chapel to the classroom to the sports field and everywhere in between, all members of the community will emphasize and celebrate our ongoing commitment to courtesy, respect, and human dignity.

Goal 4: Invest in service learning so that it is an integral part of an Episcopal education resulting in a model of service doing.

Goal 5: Focus on maintaining our connection with Philadelphia while building our ties with our new neighbors.

12—13

Strategy nO. 7

We recommit to the value of successful sports teams.

At Episcopal, we believe that athletic competition provides life-long skills and perspectives in shaping the character of children. We also believe that it is our responsibility to give our athletes and teams every chance to win.

Further, we will reinforce our belief in the teacher-counselor-coach model and will accept the challenges that will present in our staffing.

“Through the athletic experience students are challenged to make good decisions, to experience team unity, to embrace leadership roles, and to manage adversity with grace.” —Task Force on Mind, Body, and Spirit

Goal 1: Pursue athletic excellence with a systemic approach that will ensure the success of our athletic teams.

Goal 2: Emphasize the integration of Mind, Body, and Spirit in every aspect of the athletic experience.

Goal 3: Increase the strength and fitness of our student athletes.

Goal 4: Communicate all the above goals consistently and effectively to students, parents, faculty, alumni, and coaches.

14—15

Strategy nO. 8

We will work with our alumni to better harness the invaluable resource that they represent.

We will take every opportunity to keep alumni integrated in the life of the school, most specifically in counselor and mentor programs, which engage and benefit students and younger alumni.

“The rich history and traditions of Episcopal’s alumni need to be passed on to its current students. A sense of inclusion will make Episcopal a stronger and more fertile environment in which to teach and learn.” —Task Force on Community

Goal 1: Collaborate with alumni to strengthen and expand their involvement with Episcopal.

Goal 2: Work to engage alumni with school life and our current students.

Strategy nO. 9

In conjunction with this Plan, we will undertake, beginning in 2011, an aggressive five-year endowment campaign.

Consistent with the prior eight goals, the funds from this campaign will be used primarily for three purposes:

x To improve the lives of our staff and faculty through compensation, benefits, and professional development.

x To increase and provide a stable source of student financial aid.

x To build our diversity, global perspective, and international credentials.

The Episcopal Academy1785 Bishop White Drive | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073-1300 | 484-424-1400 Tel | 484-424-1600 Fax | www.episcopalacademy.org

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Kris Aldridge Former Faculty/Staff Executive Committee Chair

Bob Bishop ’58 Upper School Faculty

Gretchen Burke Chair, Board of Trustees

Brad Cates CFO/Business Manager

Ham Clark Head of School

Jeremy Coote Trustee

Melanie Cox Trustee

Steve Dana Trustee

Andrea Danial Lower School Head

Brendan FitzPatrick, Hon. Lower School Faculty

Edes Gilbert Consultant

Peri Higgins Trustee

Mindy Hong, Hon. Academic Dean

Lori Kelly Trustee

Mark Luff, Hon. Middle School Faculty

Gary Madeira ’72 Trustee Emeritus

Steve Morris Middle School Head

Henry Nassau ’72 Trustee

Patsy Porter Trustee

Holly Sando Rieck ’91 Trustee

Geoff Wagg Upper School Head

Geoff Worden ’57 Trustee

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

Philosophy of Learning

Kris Aldridge Paul Anderson Gretchen Burke* Gordon Cooney ’77 Andrea Danial Lynne Hay, Hon. Andy McGregor Holly Rieck ’91* Caryn Rivers ’90 Laurie Robinson David Sigel Joe Zoll

Episcopal Heritage

Lee Billmyer, Hon. Steve Copit ’80 Jill Durovsik Brendan FitzPatrick, Hon. Meg Hollinger, Hon. Sandy McCurdy ’57 Patsy Porter* Nancy Reinhard, Hon. Jim Squire, Hon. Carolyn Turner Connie Williams Geoff Worden ’57*

Academic & Curricular Excellence

Kathy Crothall Steve Dana* Beth Gadsden

Will Gibbs Matt Haldeman ’98 Anne Hall, Hon. Cathy Hall Mindy Hong, Hon. Linda Kinzig Carol Leach Chris McHugh Henry Nassau ’72* Courtney Portlock Geoffrey Wagg

Faculty

Beth Corrigan Beinkampen Chuck Bryant, Hon. Brad Cates Elizabeth Cocco, Hon. Melanie Cox* Jeannie Haab ’84 Peri Higgins* Donna Maple Chris McConnell Steve Morris John Powell ’70 Jeff Semmer

Finance

Amy Bosio Brad Cates Paige Peters LeGrand Frank Leto ’77

Gary Madeira ’72* Jim Minnick Howard Morgan ’57 Doug Parsons

Mind/Body/Spirit

Gina Buggy, Hon. Michael Ciccotti ’04 Ham Clark Dan Clay Jeremy Coote* Crawford Hill ’70 Mark Luff, Hon. Kim Piersall David Reape ’80 Anne Robinson Roy Simpson Bert Zug ’78

Community

Tisa Baena Bob Bishop ’58 Justin Brandon Rush Haines ’61 Lori Kelly* Maude Kent, Hon. Mike Letts Aggie Malter Karl Mayro ’84 Rob Melchionni ’98 Mark Turner

*Chairs

2009-2010 Strategic Plan MeMberS

CHAIR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

Ed Vick ’62 Trustee

CHAIR OF STEERING COMMITTEE

Debby HirtleTrustee