RPCS Strategic Plan - An Education Above

2015

An Education Above A Strategic Plan for Roland Park Country School

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Underneath all the layers of academic, athletic and artistic success and passion, there lies a deep, powerful joy in our hearts.

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- Student Government Association President

An Education Above The 2015 RPCS Strategic Plan - An Education Above approved by the Board of Trustees in May 2015 represents a shared and collective vision of the values, goals and strategies which create the fabric of our School. It represents both a continuation of the School’s successes as well as a blueprint to advance Roland Park Country School into the future. The hallmarks of RPCS include a rigorous and relevant academic program; an inclusive, dynamic, engaging and joyful culture; a community that values tradition and embraces innovation; and a strong financial foundation. RPCS must continue to uphold excellence in all aspects of its program and remain current in an ever-changing world. It must evolve, refine and adjust its course to ensure graduates are well equipped to lead lives of purpose.

School Philosophy Roland Park Country School, a college preparatory school for girls, is dedicated to the intellectual and moral development of its students. We cultivate creativity, independence of thought, tenacity of purpose, self-discipline, and emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. We maintain high academic standards, uphold tradition, and promote innovation. We nurture a cooperative, resilient spirit within an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. In a diverse, inclusive, and joyful community, Roland Park Country School strives to instill in its students a lifelong love of learning as well as the responsibility to look within and beyond themselves to contribute to and serve as stewards and leaders of their communities.

Uphold Excellence Inspire girls and young women to achieve excellence

Provide a rigorous, innovative, college preparatory program that will challenge each student to strive to meet her highest potential.

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Offer a student-centered learning environment, based on current research on teaching and learning, that promotes creative problem solving, curiosity of thought, and encourages interdisciplinary connections.

Utilize leading-edge technology to teach and foster innovative ways to analyze, communicate, collaborate and create.

Measure student learning through a broad range of authentic assessments.

Optimize the benefits of Tri-School coordination.

Attract and retain dedicated, vibrant and creative employees who represent a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.

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Offer a highly competitive total compensation package.

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Embrace a culture of professional excellence.

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Provide professional review, feedback, growth and accountability.

Enroll talented students and nurture each one’s strengths and passions to foster happy, healthy individuals.

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Develop in our students lifelong habits of mind, learning and work so they can evaluate, process and apply information and ideas effectively.

Promote balance, health and wellness.

Foster academic, artistic and athletic excellence and expression.

Develop leaders with integrity whose voices are valued and who work to create positive change.

Strengthen Our Community Connections Communicate effectively the philosophy, excellence and qualities of an RPCS education

Tell Our Story Boldly.

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Articulate the strength of RPCS and the power of an all girls’ education with a strong, consistent message.

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Produce best-in-class materials and methods to strengthen and deliver our message.

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Embrace innovation while staying grounded in our deeply held traditions.

Use a variety of media to promote and celebrate RPCS, its programs and accomplishments.

Enrich Our Community Relationships.

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Strengthen the formal and informal communication amongst our constituencies.

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Engage students, parents and families, and employees in mutually beneficial community relationships, increasing and strengthening the RPCS impact and brand.

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Maintain and nurture active, committed and diverse boards – Trustees, Parents’ Association, Alumnae Association, and Kaleidoscope.

Increase alumnae partnerships, participation and connections to the School.

Cultivate Our Broader Network.

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Engage prospective families.

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Identify opportunities where RPCS can be a resource to the greater Baltimore region.

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Promote external and Kaleidoscope programs to the broader community.

Build relationships with thought leaders and local educational and cultural institutions.

Enhance Our Infrastructure And Resources Provide the foundation for an institution of excellence

Ensure teaching and learning takes place in appropriately designed, safe and well-maintained facilities with a deliberate commitment to environmentally sound practices.

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Continue to evaluate campus infrastructure to ensure it meets changing program needs while considering access, flexibility, security and sustainability.

Continue to explore acquisition of, and partnerships involving, additional off campus sites.

Evaluate and enhance, as appropriate, the technology infrastructure, network, capacity and access on an ongoing basis to ensure that programmatic priorities are fulfilled in ways that are efficient, cost effective, and designed for access and security.

Maintain a prudent fiscal policy that is centered on an efficient use of revenue to allocate funds to mission-driven priorities and ensures the long-term fiscal health of the School.

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Develop a long-term enrollment management strategy which considers demographics, market, capacity, tuition structure and program.

Remain committed to financial assistance, balancing access with financial sustainability.

Seek opportunities to reduce expenses and strive to develop a more diverse income stream.

Provide a highly competitive employee total compensation package.

Continue to prioritize the funding of depreciation.

Develop philanthropic strategies to expand current and identify new sources of support.

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Continue to educate the entire RPCS community about the importance and value of philanthropy.

Cultivate opportunities for new funding sources by using creative strategies and ways of giving that speak to all donor groups.

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RPCS gave me the foundation to succeed in every part of my life.

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- Alumna

Strategic Planning Process In the fall of 2013 the Board of Trustees and administrators began a process to reflect upon and update our strategic plan under the oversight of the Board’s Long Range Planning Committee. A consultant and expert on independent school strategic planning, who worked with the School in 1996 and 2002, was retained to facilitate and guide the process.

Listening Groups began in the spring of 2014 with students who were completing Grades 5, 8 and 12 as well as one Alumnae Group. The Listening Groups continued in the fall of 2014 with parents, alumnae, RPCS employees and Upper School student leaders. The Listening Groups’ responses were transcribed and, along with other pertinent School and market information, were provided to the Strategic Planning Committee. The committee was comprised of all of the various constituencies of the School community including trustees, administrators, faculty, alumnae, and parents (past and current). The Strategic Planning Committee participated in a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop held at St. Mary’s Seminary in mid-November that was facilitated and guided by the consultant.

The task of the Strategic Planning Committee was to analyze the collected data, reflect upon the School and its future, and begin to articulate the shared vision and set of priorities. Following the workshop, a Drafting Committee was formed to condense and organize the results of the Strategic Planning Workshop into a cohesive plan.

The timing of the strategic planning process overlapped with the Self Study portion of the School’s AIMS 10 Year Accreditation which began in November 2014. One of the first steps in that process was reviewing the School’s Philosophy. The revised philosophy was enhanced by the discussions held at the Strategic Planning Workshop. The new School Philosophy was approved by the Board of Trustees in January 2015 and was referred to many times by the Strategic Plan Drafting Committee during its deliberations and throughout the drafting process.

Roland Park County School has been a leader in the education of girls and young women for well over a century. The 2015 Strategic Plan provides RPCS the foundation to build upon the School’s successes as well as to propel Roland Park Country School into the future. The plan, however, is not a static document; it must be regularly reviewed and updated to maintain its relevance. We must continue to work together as a community, guided by our School Philosophy and dedicated to teaching and learning, to ensure the strength and leadership of Roland Park Country School in educating girls and young women.

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You have given our daughter the greatest gift a teacher can give a student - the gift of confidence, of believing in herself and expecting her best.

- Past Parent

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Members of the Strategic Planning Committee Dr. Celeste Woodward Applefeld, 1964 Honorary Trustee, former Board of Trustees President, alumna, parent of alumna Sara Hackney Barley* Trustee, parent of alumnae Martha Barss Faculty Dale Bittinger* Trustee, current parent Duncan Booth* Administration, current parent David Brock Faculty Peggy Brooks Faculty Jean Waller Brune, 1960* Head of School, alumna, parent of alumna Erin Buzby Faculty, current parent Darcy Christhilf Carroll, 1988 Trustee, alumna, current parent Beth Casey Administration Katharine Fox Castro, 2004 Trustee, alumna, Alumnae Board President Beverly A. Chaney Trustee, current parent Laura George Cochran, 1990 Trustee, alumna, current parent J. Joseph Credit* Trustee, current parent, parent of alumnae, Board of Trustees Vice President Chair, Long Range Planning Carol Dixon Croxton, 1998 Trustee, alumna, current parent Kathleen Finnerty Curtis, 1984 Administration, alumna, current parent, parent of alumnae Kitty Davis Faculty Sally Diehl Faculty Lisa Diver, 2006 Faculty, alumna Julie Dufresne* Faculty Lucy Neale Duke* Trustee, current parent, parent of alumnae Barry L. Garber Trustee, current parent W. Kyle Gore Trustee, current parent, Chair Development Committee Carol Hatton Administration Maria Hampton Faculty, parent of alumna Maurice L. Haywood Trustee, current parent, Board of Trustees Secretary, Chair, Education Committee Justin Hill Faculty William C. Holly Trustee, parent of alumna Diane Hutchins, 1972 Trustee, alumna Lisa Kopf Faculty, parent of alumna Scott Kurlander Trustee, current parent Jane Lancaster* Faculty Ereni Malfa* Administration, current parent * Members of the Strategic Plan Drafting Committee

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I could not get a better education anywhere.

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-Middle School Student

Members of the Strategic Planning Committee Catherine Passano McDonnell, 1994 Trustee, alumna, current parent, Board of Trustees President John B. McGowan Trustee, current parent, Chair, 2014-2015 Annual Giving Campaign Marlo McNeil Administration, current parent Mary Page Michel Trustee, current parent Janice Moore Faculty Verna Moore Administration Elise D. Morris Trustee, current parent Nancy Mugele* Administration Donald Newman Trustee, parent of alumna Natalie Nichols Trustee, current parent Talbott Noyes Trustee, current parent Tiana Redfern Oguaman, 1999 Faculty, alumna, current parent Carl G. Osterman Trustee, parent of alumnae Bryn Parchman Trustee, parent of alumna Amelia Mix Poggi Trustee, current parent Amy Popp Faculty Douglas S. Ramer Trustee, current parent, parent of alumna Julia Garrett Randolph, 1997 Trustee, alumna Janet Meyer Reynolds, 1990 Trustee, alumna Lee Roebuck Trustee, current parent, Past President of the Parents’ Association Sara Rollfinke* Faculty Ronald O. Schaftel Trustee, parent of alumna Justin Short Faculty, current parent Kelsey Twist Schroeder, 2001 Faculty, alumna, current parent Frances E. Smith Trustee, parent of alumnae, parent of faculty, current grandparent Carla Spawn-van Berkum* Administration, alumna Terence D. Taylor Trustee, parent of alumnae Ashley E. Thayer Trustee, current parent Phyllis Tripp Administration The Hon. Martin P. Welch Trustee, parent of alumnae Rhona W. Wendler Trustee, current parent, Board of Trustees Treasurer Albert H. Williams Trustee, parent of alumna Mary Louise Woolley Trustee, current parent, parent of alumna, Parents’ Association President Evelyn Zink Administration, parent of alumnae, former Trustee

* Members of the Strategic Plan Drafting Committee

5204 Roland Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21210 410.323.5500 rpcs.org