A LEGACY FOR CHRIST S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 2 2
W H I T E F I E L D A C A D E M Y, A C H R I S TC E N T E R E D C O L L E G E P R E PA R AT O R Y SCHOOL, EXISTS TO BOLSTER C H R I S T I A N FA M I L I E S I N R E A R I N G YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GO ON TO COLLEGE AND LIFE WITH A PA S S I O N F O R L E A R N I N G , F O R O T H E R S A H E A D O F S E L F, A N D F O R THE LIVING AND ACTIVE JESUS.
FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL & BOARD CHAIR
Dear Whitefield Community and Friends, As we reflect upon the foundation that was built during the first 20 years at Whitefield Academy, we are filled with a deep sense of gratitude. Now, as this strategic plan is launched during our 21st year, we look forward to cementing an incredible legacy for Jesus Christ for generations to come. That legacy begins with the people who are most important in realizing the impact of the Whitefield mission – our students. Whitefield is a place where young people are learning and gaining wisdom, while developing strong character to lead in all areas of life. We see them excel academically, in the humanities and STEM subject areas, while at Whitefield and beyond. They are discovering, developing, and maximizing their gifts in arts and athletics. They demonstrate a strong desire to build others up as they serve others and use their wisdom and gifts to have an impact on other people ahead of themselves, rather than as a means to exalt themselves. In all of these ways, Whitefield students are developing into a group of leaders who display a type and level of leadership that is refreshing and powerful as they pursue purposes beyond themselves. This plan outlines specific, purposeful initiatives to enhance all of these efforts so that our students and alumni provide for a legacy of learning and leadership. Maintaining an outstanding faculty is another key in the legacy. Implementation of this plan will enable us to continue to recruit, retain, and develop top-notch faculty who model servant leadership as they demonstrate excellence in their fields along with a passion for student learning and growth. Finally, this legacy is only possible because of a community of people aiming together toward instilling in students a set of strong values consistent with excellence in Christ-centered education. Other aspects of this plan will further enhance our community by supporting parents, reaching additional families seeking to be part of the mission, and garnering the necessary resources to provide for the campus facilities needed. Thank you to the many staff members, parents, alumni, and board members who participated in surveys, focus groups, and work groups to help craft this plan for the future to help further a legacy for Christ. In service to Him,
Kevin Bracher Jason Bilotti Head of School Board of Trustees Chair
BUILDING ON O U R F O U N D AT I O N Since 1997, Whitefield Academy has built a firm foundation in raising young men and women who think deeply, reason well, follow Christ wholeheartedly, and maximize their God-given potential. Offering top-notch, college-preparatory education built on Christ-centered values and beliefs prepares our students not only for college, but for life. Every day, our teachers engage deeply with our students in the pursuit of knowledge and truth through shared experiences, grace, and accountability. And because our students are known, valued, and loved, they are able to thrive academically and are equipped to face the challenges of the future.
Past strategic planning has facilitated success in the areas of academics, community engagement, student enrichment, and campus growth. The following goals and notable achievements have enabled us to build for the future: Sustain high-quality academics to develop intellectual excellence • Established Retaining the Best endowment for faculty • Increased competitive compensation for faculty • Strengthened and deepened college advisement and academic coaching • Strengthened academic profile by meeting and exceeding targeted AP/SAT achievement, college admissions, and scholarships offered to seniors Engage a community to nurture genuine Christ-centered character • Hired a director of student life to lead efforts in developing Christ-centered character in students • Bolstered parents through activities that provided support in Christ-centered education and cultivated community (i.e. PACK parenting, parent-to-parent, Men’s Fraternity, informative speakers) Offer well-rounded experiences that cultivate an enriched life • Increased number of students participating in arts/athletics and support personnel for programs • Increased seating capacity in the Louise Owens Theater and upgraded equipment in the Lower School Student Activity Center • Completed a new 10-court lighted tennis complex • Significantly increased financial aid Deliver mission-driven, sustainable growth • Developed a campus master plan and acquired land to support future growth • Improved orientation and assimilation for new families • Increased student/family retention • Significantly grew the number of mission-appropriate families • Improved safety and security • Enhanced outreach and engagement with alumni We have lain a strong foundation over the last 20 years as we have carried out this mission, and now we seek to build on that foundation to secure a lasting legacy. Our vision is to see generations of young people educated with their minds, hearts, and actions transformed by Jesus Christ. As these young men and women engage all sectors of the world, they are able to reach people for Him and make the world more consistent with His design. The plan that follows outlines the steps to be taken as we embark on the next leg of the journey to build this lasting legacy for Christ.
As we strive to leave a legacy f o r C h r i s t , W h i t e f i e l d ’s s t r a t e g i c plan will focus on four areas. Learning “with a passion for learning”
Leadership “for others ahead of self”
Community “to bolster Christian families”
Development for generations to come
A LEGACY OF
LEARNING Among our most important aims for students is that they would exhibit a passion for learning so that they become people who are able to learn at high levels on their own. Such passion is cultivated by faculty who teach effectively and implement programs in a way that enables students to reach their learning potential as they are supported and challenged toward intellectual growth and development through a rigorous curriculum.
Curriculum Alignment Initiatives Goal: Articulate with clarity PreK4-12 alignment of curriculum and instruction to biblically integrated high-quality standards of learning. Biblical Integration Increased emphasis on overarching biblical truth integrated into the curriculum more systematically and explicitly. School Benchmarking Develop partnerships with top performing Christian schools, including colleges and universities, throughout the country to benchmark against the highest standards of academic rigor and programmatic excellence while remaining firmly rooted in a Christ-centered mission. Academic Standards Align curriculum to higher-level standards of content and a core set of transferable skills to provide for enhanced quality throughout classrooms on every level. Alumni Success Gather data on the academic success of our graduates to determine if modifications to the program or curriculum are needed to better prepare students for the transition to college.
Student Learning Initiatives Goal: Support all students in their learning through a variety of learning activities, challenges, and support, so each student reaches maximum learning potential. Innovation Lab Make use of an innovation lab, and associated programming, to promote high levels of learning, problem solving, and creativity in areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Technology Integration Expand the use of technology through increased meaningful technology integration into the classroom. Academic Services Increase and enhance academic and library services, staff, and facilities to more effectively assist our full range of students in meeting the challenges of a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum. Academic Offerings Broaden the academic program to include a wider array of electives and academic clubs and provide alternative means to explore areas of interest and earn academic credit. Virtual/Blended Offerings Develop or partner with hybrid and/or virtual educational delivery models to provide additional full-time and part-time course offerings for students. Daily Schedule Explore alternative instructional day scheduling options to provide for more flexibility in learning, opportunities for students to research and discuss concepts in greater depth, and common planning time for faculty. Transition Support Provide a study skills course and support for students who matriculate from other schools and would benefit from assistance as they transition into Whitefield.
A LEGACY OF
LEADERSHIP Another one of our most important aims is that each student would have a “passion for others ahead of self.� That passion is the essence of leadership and is needed as much as ever in our culture today. Students mature in this passion by serving others and by emulating models of leadership that they experience around them.
Service Opportunities Goal: Offer service opportunities that develop Christ-centered student leaders with a selfless passion for others. Student Leadership Develop a voluntary leadership institute for students that provides training in leadership skills so students are equipped to lead others, engage the culture, evangelize, and serve in a local church. Student-Led Service Expand the partnership with Ten Thousand Reasons to offer more student-led events and activities that provide opportunities for the whole school to serve others in the broader community.
Faculty Leadership Goal: Recruit, retain, and develop top-notch faculty members who model servant leadership by demonstrating excellence in their fields and teaching, along with a selfless passion for student achievement. Faculty Development Model Build a systematic and comprehensive training program for faculty that provides for consistent quality throughout every classroom and serves as a model for other schools to follow in advancing excellence in teaching and learning in Christ-centered schools. Faculty Fellows Institute a faculty fellows program to acquire, guide, and train young talented individuals interested in a teaching career. Faculty Advancement & Leadership Provide for career advancement for faculty, including those who remain in the classroom, by restructuring professional development, evaluation, and instructional leadership opportunities with an accompanying compensation banding approach. Faculty Graduate Work Increase financial support for faculty who choose to pursue advanced degrees. Coach Leadership Institute a leadership training program based on biblical principles for all athletic coaches.
A LEGACY OF
COMMUNITY Parents are of utmost importance in the education of their children, but many parents recognize the need for others to support them in this endeavor. We seek to “bolster Christian families� by providing a community of faculty, staff, families, and others partnering together in striving to be faithful and obedient to Jesus Christ. This Christ-centered community enjoys the fruit of seeing students’ lives being transformed as they are prepared for college and life beyond.
L i f e Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Goal: Provide experiences, relationships, and spiritual formation to transform the lives of students in a profound and positive way. Student Mentors Build on the student-to-student mentoring program to provide more opportunities for older students to lead younger students. Inclusive Community Cultivate even stronger relationships and an inclusive community among the diverse students and families within our school through dialogue and education of our faculty, parents, and students. Global Opportunities Increase the amount of experiences for students through travel and partnerships to offer students additional opportunities to learn from people who live in other cultures. Spiritual Growth Combine efforts of school advisor programs, chapel, and school retreats with parents, churches, and family/student ministries to provide each student opportunities to experience spiritual growth and transformation. Co-curricular Quality Continue to increase student participation and the quality of experience for students in arts and athletics.
Future Preparation Goal: Cultivate a community that equips students for future impact on the world for Christ. Life Experiences and Mentorship Create opportunities for students to shadow, intern, serve, or work, while connecting them with mentors, so they gain a better understanding of their unique giftedness and how they can use their gifts to serve the Lord and others in a calling for the future. Parent Initiatives Increase participation in programs designed to provide parents support, education, and connectedness (PACK parenting, parent-to-parent, StoneWorks, Dad’s Fellowship, Evenings of Fellowship, Parent Prayer Group) as the community of parents seeks to raise children who follow Christ.
A LEGACY FOR
G E N E R AT I O N S Not only do we seek to reach families who are currently at Whitefield, but we seek to reach many more families now and in the future. Recent trends indicate a decreasing number of options for Christian families who desire the kind of support in learning, leadership, and community that is provided at Whitefield. Therefore, we need to continue to find ways to connect those families to our mission and develop the resources necessary to sustain us for generations to come.
Enrollment Growth Goal: Advance the mission of the school by reaching an increasing number of families seeking an authentic Christ-centered college preparatory school. Awareness and Interest Provide targeted communications, marketing, advertisement, and community involvement, as well as the development of deep relationships with key leaders in feeder schools and the business community. Family Engagement Increase engagement among the existing Whitefield community and prospective families through service projects and programs, communications, parent driven outreach through the ambassador program, and promotion of signature programs. Admissions and Enrollment Leverage all awareness, interest, and engagement initiatives to increase applications from diverse families attracted to our mission and deliver a finely tuned admissions-to-enrollment process to increase new student enrollment. Satisfaction and Loyalty Increase satisfaction and loyalty among students, parents, and faculty to maintain or improve upon an already strong retention rate.
Resource Development Goal: Capitalize on resources to further develop the campus as a model of excellence in Christ-centered education. Lower School Design, fund, and construct a building to provide for permanent classroom space in the Lower School. Learning Commons Design and plan funding for a central building to serve as the heart of the campus and provide for the following: improved dining areas to accommodate all students and staff; more flexible and varied learning spaces; enhanced library, research, technology and student support services; innovation lab; digital media lab; additional classroom space; community spaces for meeting and fellowship; campus store; welcome area for visitors and prospective families; and administrative office space. Athletic Facilities Design additional indoor and outdoor spaces for athletic practices and competitions. Donor Development Develop additional opportunities for new and current Whitefield stakeholders to be engaged with the Whitefield community and all aspects of the school, its mission, and providing for its long-term capital needs. Advisory Council Begin an advisory council consisting of people committed to providing their wisdom and resources to support the continued development of Whitefield. Alumni Giving Explore additional opportunities to engage the Alumni Board to increase its capacity to contribute to the Whitefield mission. Campus Stewardship Make continual improvements to the campus, facilities, procedures, security, and technology to ensure the faithful stewardship of a safe, well-maintained and beautiful campus.
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