Strategic Plan Update

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Artist rendering of the Center for the Performing Arts, breaking ground in the 2022-23 school year

Since it launched in 2019, Crossroads’ 15-point strategic plan has been a driving force behind the School’s evolution and growth. Each goal is overseen by a committee to steward its completion. Of course, many of the goals— such as Student Wellness and Belonging and Inclusion—will always remain ongoing School priorities. Once the committees complete their work, they will make their recommendations to the senior leadership team for implementation and continual assessment.

While the ongoing logistical challenges posed by the pandemic somewhat limited our ability to progress on certain goals, much important work was accomplished. Below is an overview of some of the goals the School addressed during the 2021-22 academic year.

Belonging and Inclusion Led by then-Director of Secondary Admission Amy Walia-Fazio, the committee conducted extensive research and surveyed the Crossroads community. Its two major recommendations have been adopted to help the School develop a more robust and intentional system of integration and inclusion for our various constituencies. The first was for Crossroads to join the Inclusion Dashboard Consortium, empowering the School to systematically measure inclusion on an institutional level and compare that data with the other schools in the consortium. The second was moving from a division- based diversity, equity and inclusion program to a more robust K-12 DEI Office. To read more about diversity, equity and inclusion at Crossroads, please turn to page 14.

Enhance Our Performing Arts Program The School continues to fundraise for a new Center for the Performing Arts on the 21st Street Campus. This facility will offer state-of-the-art teaching, performance and rehearsal spaces, bolstering our exceptional dance, drama, music and filmmaking programs and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. The first phase of this project will include the 650-seat Stern Family Theater and a 100-seat recital hall named in honor of Mary Ann Cummins, as well as 16,000 square feet of parking. The facility will also house a dedicated seminar room for the School’s Equity & Justice Institute. The Santa Monica Planning Commission has approved the construction of the Mainstage Theater Building, designed by Zoltan E. Pali of SPF:a, which will break ground during the upcoming school year.

Center for the Performing Arts Crossroads has raised $49 million toward our $54 million goal to build the first phase of our stateof-the-art Center for the Performing Arts. If you are interested in making a gift to help make this transformative project a reality, please contact Director of Development Carly House at chouse@xrds.org.

Fortify Our Equity & Justice Program For the last two summers, the Equity & Justice Institute has hosted the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® program, offering six weeks of literacy instruction and cultural enrichment for students of color and their families from the Pico neighborhood. (Learn more on page 24.) The 2021-22 Younes and Soraya Nazarian Equity & Justice Distinguished Lecture Series invited speakers from across the political spectrum— including political strategist/ talk show host Ana Navarro, United States Ambassador Jeff Flake and Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings—to discuss ways we can address the

Middle and Upper Schoolers in the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American affinity groups celebrated the Lunar New Year in February, one of many events throughout the year that promoted belonging and inclusion. seemingly intractable divides in our nation today. These virtual events prompted inspiring conversations in both Middle and Upper School classrooms.

Cultivate a Consistent Culture of Learning and Continuous Improvement In her role as associate head of school, Mariama Richards spearheaded the first K-12 disciplinary review, focused on language instruction. Esteemed linguist and Crossroads grandparent Stephen Krashen, Ph.D., served as a consultant in the initial stages of the process, advising on pedagogical practices for language acquisition. Mariama researched language programs offered at peer schools across the country, including the scope and sequence of classes, and gathered feedback from every K-12 language faculty member. After assessing these findings, Mariama will work with the senior leadership team and K-12 language teachers to determine next steps and make recommendations. Cultivate a New Professional Human Resources Paradigm Mariama and a team of six K-12 faculty members developed a Faculty Evaluation and Growth Program, which will launch during the 2022-23 school year. Meeting periodically, the committee measured employee well-being and engagement using data-driven tools such as a CultureAmp survey to reevaluate retention methods. Over 85% of employees participated; feedback was used to enhance employee satisfaction through health classes, well-being events and other morale-boosting initiatives. In addition, the committee is working with Mariama and Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Stephanie Carrillo to redesign the recruiting program to ensure that Crossroads attracts

Students in the 2021 Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® site at Crossroads, hosted by the Equity & Justice Institute

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

candidates whose values align with our philosophy.

Update Our School Philosophy and Core Commitments Coinciding with the School’s 50th anniversary, Bob Riddle and then-Director of Enrollment Management Eric Barber held focus groups with employees, the Parent Association leadership team and students in grades five to 12 to carefully review the School’s founding philosophy and core commitments. While the overall sense was that the school philosophy remains relevant, the community identified opportunities to update or add language to more accurately reflect the School’s mission. The Board will review the feedback at its fall retreat and ultimately decide which updates may be warranted. Plan Our Strategic Enrollment Management Eric Barber led the committee to develop a more purposeful enrollment model for the School, working with a consultant to consider the optimal sizes for each grade level. Ultimately, they determined that while the overall K-12 enrollment of the School (roughly 1,200 students) remains ideal, adjustments should be made in various grades to add more spaces in seventh and ninth grades to accommodate interest. Plans are underway to make these changes over the next few years.

Reimagine Our Use of Time Upper School English Teacher David Olds, Upper School Technology Coordinator Paul Way, Middle School Technology Assistant JJ Hsu and Upper and Middle School Visual Arts teacher Jesse Robinson spent much of this year designing iterations of the Middle and Upper School daily schedules. Based on current course sections and student requests, they coded Python simulations to test the feasibility of the finalist scenarios. This spring, the committee settled on the outline of our new school schedule and will spend the fall of 2022 refining it. The new schedule will be shared with the community during the 2022-23 school year, with the goal of a 2024-25 launch.

Beginning in the fall, Upper School students will start their school day at 8:30 a.m. to accommodate the change in sleep patterns for adolescents. The school day will continue to end at 3 p.m., and families will receive detailed information about the new schedule. The Elementary School administration is assessing whether the current schedule aligns with best teaching and learning practices, and will inform families of any modifications.

Enhance Student Wellness In order to identify the main challenges students face regarding mental health and overall wellness, Middle and Upper School Counselor Jasmin McCloud and Elementary School Learning Specialist Jayme Pohl are collecting data through surveys of students and faculty members. Based on initial results, the committee determined that anxiety, sleep and stress management are among the top areas of concern. The committee has been researching best practices and solutions implemented at other schools and investigating innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of our student body. After tapping into the expertise of the internal wellness team— which includes K-12 learning specialists and counselors— the committee is working to increase accessibility and aligning K-12 resources to best serve students and their families throughout their time at Crossroads.

Elementary Schoolers unwound with a dance party during Stress Less Week in March.