Envision Our Future
STRATEGIC PLAN 2019–2024
AT CURTIS SCHOOL, EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH OUR MISSION:
To develop, in every child, a sound mind in a sound body, governed by a compassionate heart.
Literacy n. competency and deep understanding in an area
Created by Mission Minded. Printed by ColorNet Press.
To fulfill our Mission, we filter every decision through a single lens asking this question: “Does it result in higher quality learning outcomes?� This Strategic Plan commits us to move with agility in response to educational opportunities and to set the standard for elementary education in the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond. We do it to realize our vision of inspiring engaged, healthy, and empathetic young learners to embrace the next phases of their education and lives with joy, confidence, and purpose. This Strategic Plan is the culmination of over a year of work beginning in 2018. Our plan hinges around commitments to four learning outcomes for our students, articulated in terms of literacies: intellectual, human, wellness, and cultural.
WE INVITE YOU TO ENVISION OUR FUTURE.
AT CURTIS SCHOOL, EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH OUR MISSION:
To develop, in every child, a sound mind in a sound body, governed by a compassionate heart.
Literacy n. competency and deep understanding in an area
Created by Mission Minded. Printed by ColorNet Press.
To fulfill our Mission, we filter every decision through a single lens asking this question: “Does it result in higher quality learning outcomes?� This Strategic Plan commits us to move with agility in response to educational opportunities and to set the standard for elementary education in the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond. We do it to realize our vision of inspiring engaged, healthy, and empathetic young learners to embrace the next phases of their education and lives with joy, confidence, and purpose. This Strategic Plan is the culmination of over a year of work beginning in 2018. Our plan hinges around commitments to four learning outcomes for our students, articulated in terms of literacies: intellectual, human, wellness, and cultural.
WE INVITE YOU TO ENVISION OUR FUTURE.
Nothing Less Than Our Best Dear Curtis Community, As Head of School, I am committed to keeping Curtis on the leading edge in all areas of the school’s administration, programs, instructional strategies, and curriculum. In developing this strategic plan over the past year, it has been an honor to work with our community to harness our best critical and creative thinking to ensure a strong future for our school. Our students—current students, alumni, and future generations—deserve nothing less than our best efforts on their behalf. If you know Curtis School, it will not surprise you that our strategic plan process did not produce a generic plan. Rather than create operational objectives, our strategic plan focuses on what we want for our students. When a young person graduates from Curtis School and heads on to middle school and beyond, we want them to be dexterous learners with healthy, sustainable habits of body and mind who know and understand the impact of their own character on others. We want them to have purpose beyond themselves. Over the next five years, we will pursue these learning outcomes—many of which are intertwined and overlapping in the sense that success in one will create success in others—and strive to realize our envisioned future as our 2025 centennial celebration comes into view. We are so glad to have you with us for this exciting next chapter in our story.
DR. MEERA RATNESAR
Our students deserve nothing less than our best efforts on their behalf.”
Nothing Less Than Our Best Dear Curtis Community, As Head of School, I am committed to keeping Curtis on the leading edge in all areas of the school’s administration, programs, instructional strategies, and curriculum. In developing this strategic plan over the past year, it has been an honor to work with our community to harness our best critical and creative thinking to ensure a strong future for our school. Our students—current students, alumni, and future generations—deserve nothing less than our best efforts on their behalf. If you know Curtis School, it will not surprise you that our strategic plan process did not produce a generic plan. Rather than create operational objectives, our strategic plan focuses on what we want for our students. When a young person graduates from Curtis School and heads on to middle school and beyond, we want them to be dexterous learners with healthy, sustainable habits of body and mind who know and understand the impact of their own character on others. We want them to have purpose beyond themselves. Over the next five years, we will pursue these learning outcomes—many of which are intertwined and overlapping in the sense that success in one will create success in others—and strive to realize our envisioned future as our 2025 centennial celebration comes into view. We are so glad to have you with us for this exciting next chapter in our story.
DR. MEERA RATNESAR
Our students deserve nothing less than our best efforts on their behalf.”
Intellectual Literacy Through teaching and learning excellence, how do we further instill the communication, work habits, habits of mind, knowledge, and resilience needed for success in the next stage of our students’ lives?
Our students will have the ability and agility to see and make meaning out of information in both a reflective and innovative way. WE COMMIT TO:
Our graduates are dexterous learners.
• fully integrating a DK-6th-grade curriculum and assessment philosophy through which students develop skills to effortlessly shift between disciplines and demonstrate their learning through a variety of forward-thinking measurements of academic and social competencies. • teaching excellence in every classroom and engaging faculty in a collaborative structure that supports individual, professional, and institutional growth.
• empowering learners to effectively use technology as both creators and consumers. • creating flexible, state-of-the-art spaces for learning, making, and creating. • creating a culture where parents and alumni networks understand and engage with the curricular priorities of the school. • identifying and creating non-tuition sources of revenue to ensure master teaching excellence in every classroom.
Intellectual Literacy Through teaching and learning excellence, how do we further instill the communication, work habits, habits of mind, knowledge, and resilience needed for success in the next stage of our students’ lives?
Our students will have the ability and agility to see and make meaning out of information in both a reflective and innovative way. WE COMMIT TO:
Our graduates are dexterous learners.
• fully integrating a DK-6th-grade curriculum and assessment philosophy through which students develop skills to effortlessly shift between disciplines and demonstrate their learning through a variety of forward-thinking measurements of academic and social competencies. • teaching excellence in every classroom and engaging faculty in a collaborative structure that supports individual, professional, and institutional growth.
• empowering learners to effectively use technology as both creators and consumers. • creating flexible, state-of-the-art spaces for learning, making, and creating. • creating a culture where parents and alumni networks understand and engage with the curricular priorities of the school. • identifying and creating non-tuition sources of revenue to ensure master teaching excellence in every classroom.
Human Literacy How can we develop in our students the ability to know and understand the impact their actions have on others, and to be empathic decision makers?
Our students will have the ability to understand their own emotions, listen to others and empathize with their emotions, and express emotions productively in order to understand and connect with other human beings. WE COMMIT TO: • developing a curriculum where social emotional education and effective assessment tools emphasize development of emotional skills and demonstrates each student’s individual growth and emotional competencies. • providing professional development that creates a shared language and understanding of our community values and ensures we can support our students’ social and emotional needs. • cultivating our students’ skills and competencies in creating and managing their digital identities.
• welcoming and nurturing spaces that balance community and learning. • diversifying and supporting our community of unique and valuable voices and backgrounds. • prioritizing and allocating finances to support socio-economic diversity in our community in our efforts to develop greater empathy amongst all students from all backgrounds.
Our graduates know and understand the impact of their own character on others.
Human Literacy How can we develop in our students the ability to know and understand the impact their actions have on others, and to be empathic decision makers?
Our students will have the ability to understand their own emotions, listen to others and empathize with their emotions, and express emotions productively in order to understand and connect with other human beings. WE COMMIT TO: • developing a curriculum where social emotional education and effective assessment tools emphasize development of emotional skills and demonstrates each student’s individual growth and emotional competencies. • providing professional development that creates a shared language and understanding of our community values and ensures we can support our students’ social and emotional needs. • cultivating our students’ skills and competencies in creating and managing their digital identities.
• welcoming and nurturing spaces that balance community and learning. • diversifying and supporting our community of unique and valuable voices and backgrounds. • prioritizing and allocating finances to support socio-economic diversity in our community in our efforts to develop greater empathy amongst all students from all backgrounds.
Our graduates know and understand the impact of their own character on others.
Wellness Literacy How can students develop life-long habits of health, balance, and wellness? Our students will develop the ability to be aware of, and have the skills to make choices that lead to, healthy mental and physical well-being. WE COMMIT TO:
Our graduates have healthy, sustainable habits of body and mind.
• supporting our students’ well-being by building upon and diversifying an intentionally sequenced Health and Wellness Education program. • staffing to ensure the integration of wellness education into all-school programming. • teaching and modeling the importance of a healthy and productive digital lifestyle and footprint.
• optimizing spaces for physical and mental health, well-being, and learning, including the enhancement of garden space. • growing a robust and innovative parent education program that uses the latest research on neuroscience, child development, technology, and education to ensure the health and wellness of our students. • evaluating fundraising capacities and programming to ensure a robust capital campaign to support future capital projects.
Wellness Literacy How can students develop life-long habits of health, balance, and wellness? Our students will develop the ability to be aware of, and have the skills to make choices that lead to, healthy mental and physical well-being. WE COMMIT TO:
Our graduates have healthy, sustainable habits of body and mind.
• supporting our students’ well-being by building upon and diversifying an intentionally sequenced Health and Wellness Education program. • staffing to ensure the integration of wellness education into all-school programming. • teaching and modeling the importance of a healthy and productive digital lifestyle and footprint.
• optimizing spaces for physical and mental health, well-being, and learning, including the enhancement of garden space. • growing a robust and innovative parent education program that uses the latest research on neuroscience, child development, technology, and education to ensure the health and wellness of our students. • evaluating fundraising capacities and programming to ensure a robust capital campaign to support future capital projects.
Cultural Literacy Our students will develop the ability to communicate across cultures and boundaries in order to interact fluidly among people of different social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.
How do we continue to foster a community that is culturally and globally inclusive and engaged?
WE COMMIT TO: • expanding our language program, formally implementing an anti-bias curriculum, and continuing to develop an experiential education program that challenges students to broaden their perspectives and understanding of the world they live in. • creating a holistic enrollment management model that attracts, retains, and supports a community that represents the diversity of the Los Angeles community. • empowering students to use technology as a tool for civic engagement and narrative change by understanding the intersection of technology and social justice.
• sustaining a campus that integrates 21st century learning skills, is accessible to relevant community organizations, and models the best practices in environmental stewardship. • creating partnerships and networks that expand our community’s worldview and self-understanding, including expanded options for providing support to the school. • identifying new sources of funding to sustain a diverse learning environment that cultivates cultural competency skills and a global mindset.
Our graduates have purpose beyond themselves.
Cultural Literacy Our students will develop the ability to communicate across cultures and boundaries in order to interact fluidly among people of different social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.
How do we continue to foster a community that is culturally and globally inclusive and engaged?
WE COMMIT TO: • expanding our language program, formally implementing an anti-bias curriculum, and continuing to develop an experiential education program that challenges students to broaden their perspectives and understanding of the world they live in. • creating a holistic enrollment management model that attracts, retains, and supports a community that represents the diversity of the Los Angeles community. • empowering students to use technology as a tool for civic engagement and narrative change by understanding the intersection of technology and social justice.
• sustaining a campus that integrates 21st century learning skills, is accessible to relevant community organizations, and models the best practices in environmental stewardship. • creating partnerships and networks that expand our community’s worldview and self-understanding, including expanded options for providing support to the school. • identifying new sources of funding to sustain a diverse learning environment that cultivates cultural competency skills and a global mindset.
Our graduates have purpose beyond themselves.
This bold plan is only possible because of our community’s shared values and commitment to Curtis School. Thank you.
Intellectual Literacy Human Literacy Wellness Literacy Cultural Literacy
OUR VALUES
We look forward to a future with you.
Educate in Balance
Embrace Diversity
Improve, Always
Cherish Childhood
Roam Freely
Live with Purpose
This bold plan is only possible because of our community’s shared values and commitment to Curtis School. Thank you.
Intellectual Literacy Human Literacy Wellness Literacy Cultural Literacy
OUR VALUES
We look forward to a future with you.
Educate in Balance
Embrace Diversity
Improve, Always
Cherish Childhood
Roam Freely
Live with Purpose
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (2018–2019) Roy Choi · Parent Rob Friedman · Trustee, Parent Vanessa Keith Garcia · Trustee, Parent Ginger Healy (’97) · Upper Elementary Teacher Ashley Ma · Director of 6th Grade & Secondary School Outplacement, Parent Kirstin Meyer · Former PA President, Parent Kasey Nott · Lower Elementary Teacher, Parent Dr. Meera Ratnesar · Head of School Dan Rothbauer · Chief Operating & Financial Officer Corinne Schulman · Director of Advancement Allan Schweitzer (’79) · Board Chair, Parent Jon Wimbish · Trustee, Parent
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (2018–2019) Allan Schweitzer (’79) · Chair Kathy Shane · Treasurer Jim Miller (’90) · Secretary Dilip Bhavnani Steve Chang Judy Codding Shadi Daneshrad Rachel Edwards Rob Friedman Katherine Holmes-Chuba Vanessa Keith Garcia
STRATEGIC PLAN 2019–2024
Sharoni D. Little
15871 Mulholland Drive Los Angeles, CA 90049
Kevin Newman (’83)
(310) 476-1251
Jon Wimbish
strategicplan.curtisschool.org
Rachel Yang
Tracy Minker (’88) Alex Nehorai Priscilla Sands