THE WESLEY SCHOOL
STRATEGIC PLAN
BELONGING & BEYOND
Dear Wesley Community,
We are thrilled to share The Wesley School Strategic Plan with you. Strategic planning is critical work of the Board of Trustees and an important practice that independent schools like ours undergo on a regular cycle. It helps clarify our shared aspirations as a community and defines the steps we need to take to achieve them.
This plan represents the culmination of a two-year effort that was led by the Board in collaboration with our Head of School, Greg Armbrister, and included essential voices and substantial input from our faculty and staff, administration, parents, students, donors, and the community-at-large. The comprehensive, multi-touchpoint process incorporated surveys, retreat discussions, market analysis, focus groups, and writing sessions that helped develop a shared understanding of our school today and design a roadmap for our collective future. The result is a fresh, focused new mission statement that was rolled out during the 2023-2024 school year and the creation of five essential ‘Pawprints’ that are detailed in this plan.
Each Wesley ‘Pawprint’ is an evergreen goal with supporting priorities that will guide the school as we write its next chapter, preserving the elements we all hold dear while driving continued innovation and improvement that will benefit our students. The intention of the plan is to ensure that critical assets of the Wesley education, cocurricular offerings, high standards, and Community of Belonging are preserved, while we move forward with program additions that reflect the innovations of today and critical expansions to ensure we deliver on the promise of an exceptional education for our learners tomorrow.
As we move into the implementation phase of the plan, we’d like to extend our deep gratitude to the Strategic Planning Task Force for their work and to everyone across the community who engaged in the process. It’s a great day to be a Wesley Lion!
Sincerely,
David Monahan, Chair, Board of Trustees
Greg Armbrister, Head of School
Lisa Lange, Chair, Strategic Planning Task Force
Our Mission
Within a community of belonging, we nurture joyful, confident learners to think critically, creatively, and compassionately.
THE PAWPRINTS
01 BELONGING
BELONGING
GOAL STATEMENT
Cultivate a vibrant Community of Belonging that engages and inspires all Wesley constituents.
Foster a shared understanding of what it means to be an educational Community of Belonging among Leadership, Faculty, Staff, Trustees, Parents, and Students
Advance a student-centered experience to support each child feeling seen, heard, included, and valued
Develop purposeful partnerships with families, inviting them into and strengthening Wesley’s Community of Belonging
Align practices, policies, and procedures to safeguard belonging and promote equity
02 ACADEMICS AND CURRICULUM
ACADEMICS AND CURRICULUM
GOAL STATEMENT
Refine a Wesley educational philosophy that advances critical thinking, creativity, and compassion.
Create a Portrait of a Wesley Graduate to highlight our academic program and showcase the knowledge and skills students will need for future academic and personal success
Engage in timely and inclusive curriculum review, faculty collaboration, and effective differentiation to maximize student learning
Examine school-wide assessment practices to determine the best evaluation array for our program
Embed age-appropriate Social-Emotional Learning, Character Development, and Social Justice programming across grade levels
03 FACULTY AND STAFF
FACULTY AND STAFF
GOAL STATEMENT
Commit to a professional culture that attracts and supports diverse, mission-aligned faculty and staff, and inspires collaboration and innovation.
Create a Portrait of a Wesley Educator to attract candidates who will connect with our students and provide an exceptional learning experience
Promote mission alignment, unity, and awareness of expectations through effective communication systems
Nurture a culture where faculty and staff find joy in their work and bring their authentic selves to school
Implement meaningful feedback and constructive evaluation processes to better support, motivate, and retain faculty and staff
Empower employee growth and innovation through intentional professional development and leadership opportunities
04 IDENTITY AND REPUTATION
IDENTITY AND REPUTATION
GOAL STATEMENT
Elevate our reputation as a school that nurtures joyful academic engagement, embraces inclusivity, and develops social emotional competency.
Amplify our mission and commitment to academics, creativity, and compassion throughout the broader community
Magnify Wesley as a leader in Social-Emotional Learning and Social Justice programming in the independent school landscape
Educate all community members on the purpose and impact of our approach to whole child development
Partner with mission-aligned organizations to deepen our connections to the community and enhance student learning opportunities
05 FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
GOAL STATEMENT
Create a sustainable financial model that supports accessibility, outstanding faculty and staff, and program growth.
Advance a culture of stewardship that effectively utilizes and sustains our resources
Design a comprehensive mission-aligned plan to prioritize the expansion, development, and maintenance of the Wesley campus
Commit to a competitive faculty and staff compensation structure
Initiate planning for a capital campaign to support the growth and sustainability of The Wesley School
Evaluate and implement fundraising strategies that promote long-term stability and uncover new opportunities
