S T R AT E G I C P L A N
2016 –2025
" I F YO U H AV E FA I T H A S S M A L L A S A M U S TA R D S E E D …
P L A N T. NURTURE. G R O W.
…YO U C A N S AY T O T H I S M O U N TA I N , ' M O V E F R O M H E R E T O T H E R E ,' A N D I T W I L L M O V E . N O T H I N G W I L L B E I M P O S S I B L E F O R YO U ." Matthew 17:20
01 MISSION & VISION 0 2 W E B E L I E V E I N B U I L D I N G A L E G AC Y 0 4 G R OW I N G FA I T H 0 6 G R OW I N G E D U C ATO R S 0 8 G R OW I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S 1 0 G R OW I N G C O M M U N I T Y 1 2 G R OW I N G FAC I L I T I E S 14 G R OW I N G O U R FO U N DAT I O N 1 6 G R OW I N G L I V E S
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MISSION
Mount Pisgah Christ ian School provides an outstanding col legepreparator y educat ion grounded in Christ ian faith and values.
VISION
Mount Pisgah is a loving communit y that inspires each member to discover, explore, and pursue God-given talents and purpose. The Mount Pisgah experience bu ilds last ing relat ionships, develops leadership through ser vice, encourages a love of learning and engages in the intel lectual and social chal lenges of our t imes g u ided by a bibl ical worldview.
MOUNT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL   1
WE BELIEVE I N B U I L D I N G A L E G A C Y.
Dear Friends, As we prayerfully consider the mission and vision for Mount Pisgah Christian School, the parable of the mustard seed reminds us of the power of faith and how God has blessed the growth of our school over the past 30 years. We are thankful to God and humbled by the School’s progress since the launch of our last strategic plan, Vision 2020, including: • The addition of dedicated Christ followers to our faculty and staff who love God, young people and sharing their faith in the classroom and beyond. • The construction of the 48,000-square-foot state-of-the-art upper school Geier Hall. • The completion of the 33-acre Patriot Athletic Campus (the PAC). •T he expansion of academic technology in preschool–12th grade, including the new preschool STEAM lab. • The five-fold increased investment in faculty training and professional development. •M ore than $6 million dollars in annual scholarships received by graduating seniors over the past few years. • Security enhancements with the addition of a full-time nurse and campus security officer. • Increased and upgraded academic offerings in all divisions, including K–12 curriculum mapping. • Strengthened academic learning support programs in grades JK–12. •T he completion of the $20 million Building for the Future Campaign and record-breaking Annual Fund participation rates for parents, alumni and faculty. Building upon the success of these initiatives and grounded in prayer, an ambitious effort was undertaken to update Vision 2020 and chart a dynamic course for the next decade. A strategic planning committee, led by trustees Joe Gaynor and Gray Vallely, began work in the spring of 2015.
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Thanks to the thoughtful input of parents, students, teachers, alumni, administrators, staff and trustees, as well as area church, school and community leaders who participated in 26 focus groups, Strategic Plan 2025 came to fruition. The passion that our stakeholders expressed for our school and its mission of service to families is inspiring, and we are deeply grateful to many people for their valuable ideas and feedback. The board of trustees approved Strategic Plan 2025 this spring and is now entrusting the administration to implement. As we look to the future and pray for our continued success and growth, we have faith that God has even greater blessings in store for His school, more than we can even imagine. Leading through the power of the Holy Spirit, our school’s faculty and staff change lives in dramatic and profound ways. Our teachers and coaches partner with parents to provide excellence in education on every dimension: academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually. This strategic plan paints a powerful portrait of our school, which is grounded in its founding Christian mission and core values since 1986, and yet enthusiastic to grow even bigger and better over the next 30 years. In His Service,
John Marshall
Doug Williams
HEAD OF SCHOOL
CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCH OO L 3
" T H E R E F O R E G O A N D M A K E D I S C I P L E S O F A L L N AT I O N S , B A P T I Z I N G T H E M I N T H E N A M E O F T H E FAT H E R A N D O F T H E S O N A N D O F T H E H O LY S P I R I T, A N D T E A C H I N G T H E M T O O B E Y E V E R Y T H I N G I H AV E C O M M A N D E D YO U . A N D S U R E LY I A M W I T H YO U A LWAY S , T O T H E V E R Y E N D O F T H E A G E ." Matthew 28:19 –20
NOURISHING IN CHRIST AND
IN S ERVICE TO OTHERS
W E BELIEV E each student is in a unique phase of spiritual development, discovering his or her God-given talents and purpose.
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G R O W I N G FA I T H GOAL
AFFIRM the foundational concept of spiritual formation as a means of enhancing the quality of Mount Pisgah community life. "Spiritual formation" is an intentional Christian practice that has as its goal the development of spiritual maturity that leads to Christ-likeness. Common practices include prayer, scriptural study, worship, stewardship and service.
S T R AT E G I C I N I T I AT I V E S
• Formally adopt and communicate that the Apostle’s Creed is the primary doctrinal statement of Mount Pisgah Christian School. • E nhance the JK –12 Bible curriculum and religious life co-curriculum by strengthening Bible literacy and advancing spiritual development, leadership and service. • E xpand program opportunities that enable students to cultivate their spiritual gifts and grow in their faith.
5,954
upper school students' total service hours
• I ncrease outreach efforts for school leadership to build relationships with the leadership of local churches and social service organizations throughout north Atlanta and across the state. •E xpand and enhance opportunities for Christian missions and community outreach locally, nationally and globally.
550
students grow in their faith through annual spiritual retreats M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOO L 5
"J U S T A S E A C H O N E H A S R E C E I V E D A G I F T, US E IT TO S ERVE ON E ANOTHER AS G O O D S T E WA R D S O F T H E VA R I E D G R A C E O F G O D ." 1 Peter 4:10
PL ANTING A HUNGER FOR KNOWLEDGE AND
PERSONAL GROW TH
WE BELIEVE each student learns individually and benefits from differentiated instruction and exceptional personal attention that challenges and encourages each to reach his or her full potential.
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G R O W I N G E D U C AT O R S GOAL
CONTINUE to attract and retain extraordinary faculty who are impassioned about their subject areas, experts in their f ields, committed to the mission of the School, and excited about bu ilding personal relat ionships with students and famil ies.
S T R AT E G I C I N I T I AT I V E S
• C ontinue to support and invest in a top-tier teaching faculty comprised of passionate Christian educators from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
•F oster a collaborative working environment that includes mentorships and evaluation, input from students and families, and professional peer feedback and coaching.
• E nsure the School is the employer of choice among the most qualified teachers who are passionate about sharing their faith.
• I ncrease our investment in professional development, faculty recognition and excellence awards.
100 % 68 % top
5%
employees who sign a profession of faith teaching faculty who hold advanced degrees national ranking among Christian schools in investment to support faculty professional development M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOO L 7
" F I N A L LY, B R O T H E R S A N D S I S T E R S , W H AT E V E R I S T R U E , W H AT E V E R I S N O B L E , W H AT E V E R I S R I G H T, W H AT E V E R I S P U R E , W H AT E V E R I S L O V E LY, W H AT E V E R I S A D M I R A B L E — I F A N Y T H I N G I S E X C E L L E N T O R P R A I S E W O R T H Y — T H I N K A B O U T S U C H T H I N G S ." Philippians 4:8
P R E PA R I N G S T U D E N T S FO R C O L L E G E AND
DE VE LO PI NG LE AD ERS FO R LIFE
W E BELIEV E in preparing students for the world by educat ing t he whole child intellectua lly, spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially while reinforcing ethics and morals that will last a lifetime.
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GROWI NG OPPORTUNITIES GOAL
PROVIDE extraordinary programs of academics, athletics and arts that inspire each student to discover, explore and pursue his or her God-given talents and purpose. Additionally, develop several Centers of Excellence to advance the School's mission. S T R AT E G I C I N I T I AT I V E S
• D evelop STEAM-based programs across all divisions. • D evelop a Center for 21st Century Leadership. • Develop a Center for Writing Excellence. • E xpand differentiated classroom instructional programs that serve both gifted students and those who benefit from additional learning support. • I nvest in appropriate capital improvements to our academic, athletic and arts facilities.
100 % 13
class of 2016 accepted into a four-year College or University advanced placement courses offered
•E ncourage each student to embrace physical fitness to be “life ready” as well as to participate in at least one sports season in both the Middle School and Upper School. •C ontinually assess and expand the arts offerings to inspire each student to discover and develop his or her God-given talents. • I ncrease participation in the Arts to expand each student's creativity and appreciation for life, beauty and culture.
$6+
mil lion
70 %+
scholarships awarded to the classes of 2015 and 2016 upper school students participate in arts and/or athletics M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOO L 9
"A F T E R T H I S I L O O K E D , A N D T H E R E B E F O R E M E WA S A G R E AT M U LT I T U D E T H AT N O O N E C O U L D C O U N T, F R O M E V E R Y N AT I O N , T R I B E , P E O P L E A N D L A N G U A G E , S TA N D I N G B E F O R E T H E T H R O N E A N D B E F O R E T H E L A M B ." Revelation 7:9
E X T E N D I N G E M PAT H Y AND
C O M PA S S I O N
W E BELIEV E students learn invaluable lessons about compassion, friendship and community by expanding their world to connect with others.
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GROWI NG COMMUNIT Y GOAL
PROVIDE a healthy, loving campus community where all students, parents, faculty and staff feel welcomed and supported so that all thrive academically, socially and spiritually.
S T R AT E G I C I N I T I AT I V E S
• E mbrace a biblically-based Statement of Diversity • E xpand community connections to enhance that articulates the School’s commitment the diversity of families, faculty and staff to the value of diversity, inclusion and love who become part of the Mount Pisgah family. for all people. • E mbrace and celebrate the ethnic and • I ntentionally build the International economic distinctiveness of peoples from Students Program to encourage English across the globe and encourage them to be language acquisition, acclimation into the life part of Mount Pisgah Christian School. of the school community, and knowledge of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. • Further the globalization of the Mount Pisgah educational experience and advance the School's connectedness with the world through international travel, mission trips and exchange programs.
22 %
ethnic diversity in the school population
32
students in the International Program M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOO L 11
"A N D G O D I S A B L E T O B L E S S YO U A B U N D A N T LY, S O T H AT I N A L L T H I N G S AT A L L T I M E S , H AV I N G A L L T H AT YO U N E E D , YO U W I L L A B O U N D I N E V E R Y G O O D W O R K ." 2 Corinthians 9:8
SUPPORTING LEARNING AND
E N C O U R A G I N G S T E WA R D S H I P
W E BELIEV E students are greatly affected by their environment and also have the ability to affect their environment.
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G R O W I N G FA C I L I T I E S GOAL
PREPARE for the continued growth of the School and provide a campus that advances the School's mission and vision.
S T R AT E G I C I N I T I AT I V E S
• E nsure that facilities support and encourage • C omplete the Campus Master Plan, an optimal learning environment for all with special attention to completing the stakeholders in the school community while Patriot Athletic Campus and enhancing being good stewards of God’s earth. the Lower School. •
Enhance existing facilities to support a growing enrollment and the expansion of programs in academics, arts, athletics and spiritual life.
48,000 square feet
33 acre
120 yards
• C ontinue to pursue financial and environmental sustainability goals to be an excellent steward of resources.
Geier Hall provides state-of-the-art learning environment Patriot Athletic Campus features football, soccer, track, baseball, softball and lacrosse cutting-edge turf field provides superior safety as well as the ultimate player experience M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOO L 1 3
" T H E R E F O R E , A S YO U R E C E I V E D C H R I S T T H E L O R D , S O WA L K I N H I M , R O O T E D A N D B U I LT U P I N H I M A N D E S TA B L I S H E D I N T H E FA I T H , J U S T A S YO U W E R E TA U G H T, A B O U N D I N G I N T H A N K S G I V I N G ." Colossians 2:6 –7
LOO KI NG TO TH E FUTU RE AND
GROU NDED IN OU R ROOTS
W E BELIEV E a Mount Pisgah education is a valuable investment that provides countless opportunities for students to learn, lead and gain skills needed to thrive in college and in life.
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G R O W I N G O U R F O U N D AT I O N GOAL
ENSURE the economic viability of the School to advance the mission for today's students and for future generations.
S T R AT E G I C I N I T I AT I V E S
• C ontinue to operate within a balanced budget. • G row enrollment to expand the reach of the School and touch more lives for Christ. • Establish an endowment to underwrite programs in spiritual formation, teaching excellence, academics, tuition assistance, facilities and diversity.
• E liminate long-term debt by 2020. • S ecure alternative sources of revenue equal to 10% of tuition revenue by 2022. •
Build relationships to strengthen a culture of giving that inspires the Mount Pisgah community to support the Annual Fund and future capital campaigns.
2 0 1 2 –2 0 1 5 P H I L A N T H R O P I C S U C C E S S E S
100 %
faculty, staff and board member A nnual Fund participation
$20.9
total funds raised for the Building for the Future campaign
$2.27
secured from foundations
mil lion
mil lion M OU NT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOO L 1 5
GROWI NG LIVES Portrait of a Mount Pisgah Christian School Graduate
MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNIT Y AND IN THE W I D ER WO R LD BY WO R K I N G FO R J U STI C E, PRO M OTI N G P E A C E , A N D P R O T E C T I N G G O D ’ S C R E AT I O N .
C O L L A B O R AT E S T O A C C O M P L I S H G O A L S , S O LV E P R O B L E M S , A N D R E S O LV E C O N F L I C T.
S O LV E S P E R S O N A L A N D R E A L- W O R L D C H A L L E N G E S W I T H C R E AT I V E T H I N K I N G , S E L F - A D V O C A C Y, RESILIENCE AND PERSEVER ANCE.
T H I N K S A N D C O M M U N I C AT E S WITH CLARIT Y AND PURPOSE.
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ACHIE VES A BAL ANCED LIFE GROUNDED I N S P I R I T U A L , E M O T I O N A L A N D P H Y S I C A L H E A LT H .
VA L U E S A N D B U I L D S A U T H E N T I C R E L AT I O N S H I P S T H AT B R I N G M E A N I N G T O L I F E , S T R E N G T H E N I N G FA M I LY A N D C O M M U N I T Y.
U N D E R S TA N D S A N D C U LT I VAT E S U N I Q U E G I F T S A N D TA L E N T S A N D H A S T H E CO U R AG E TO AC T O N CO N V I C TI O N S.
RES PEC TS TH E D I G N IT Y O F E VERY I N D IVI D UAL T H R O U G H R E S P O N S I B L E A N D E M PAT H E T I C C O M M U N I C AT I O N A N D A C T I O N .
I S I N S PI R ED TO LI V E A LI FE O F P U R P O S E T H R O U G H FA I T H .
MOUNT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
AT M O U N T P I S G A H , WE BELIEVE GROWI NG I S A WAY O F L I F E .
TO L E A R N M O R E A B O U T O U R S T R AT E G I C P L A N O R T H E S C H O O L ,
visit www.mount pisgahschool.org or call 678-336-3443