Strategic VisionAchieve

IntroductionFive years ago, St. Luke’s School adopted its first-ever strategic plan. That plan hasbeen an important milepost in guiding the efforts of trustees, faculty, andadministration since 2005. Over this period, St. Luke’s has proudly achievedsustained levels of improvement in facilities, faculty compensation, richness and breadth of programs, financial soundness, diversity, operational quality and,most important of all, student outcomes and the preparation of our graduates forrich and rewarding lives beyond the Hilltop.

With a blend of humility and satisfaction, we open the book on our new Strategic Vision.Our central goal is for St. Luke’s to maintain a strong upward trajectory that will enhance our ability to deliver on our mission: To prepare students for a lifelongcommitment to learning and social responsibility.

In the following pages you will find a brief overview of the Strategic Vision.* Thoughpresented in sections, please note, these are not separate efforts—each overlaps andenhances the others. These concepts will be the basis for annual strategic planning andthe markers against which we measure success:

St. Luke’s Core Values: The foundation underpinning all our efforts

Continuous Improvement: The organizing principle behind the Strategic Vision

The Center for Leadership: The launch of St. Luke’s leadership platform

Collaboration & Innovation: Maximizing faculty talent and student performance

Transformational Technology: Tools for great teaching and enhanced learning

Financial Soundness: A strong, secure financial profile

* To review the complete, unedited Strategic Vision, as drafted by the Strategic Planning Committee and approved bythe Board of Trustees, please visit www.stlukesct.org/strategicvision.

Core ValuesCentral to the Strategic Vision, and to everything we do, are St. Luke’s Core Values.

Imbued with a LOVE OF LEARNING and a deep understanding of what it means tohave GOOD CHARACTER, to PURSUE EXCELLENCE, and to embrace COMMUNITY,,St. Luke’s students learn how to make meaning of their lives and a difference in thelives of others.

The core values are directly responsible for what is, without question, the mostcompelling attribute of St. Luke’s: Our unique culture. It is a culture that placeschildren and student outcomes at the center of all that we do. It engenders awarm and caring environment, creates mutual respect, and encouragesour students to reach their personal best. For these reasons, St. Luke’s Core Values and culture will never be compromised.

Continuous ImprovementContinuous improvement is the organizing principle behindthe Strategic Vision. The passion to learn and excel has longbeen a hallmark of the School and has led to the strengtheningof its programs and reputation in the last decade.

Continuous improvement also means that while the StrategicVision is forward facing and includes several new initiatives, we remain committed to past objectives and the need forcontinued progress.

Implementation Focus:

Extend implementation of Diversity Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees

Maintain a focus on improving faculty compensation, benefits, and professional development

Commence execution of Facilities Master Plan approved by Board of Trustees;continue work to create distinct Upper and Middle Schools

Apply environmentally-conscious strategies to building initiatives and operations

More closely track the performance of St. Luke’s graduates for relevant, long-term measurement of student outcomes

Charge the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees with an annual review of strategic objectives and performance

Ensure that marketing clearly articulates the strengths and successes of St. Luke’s to key communities

“A great school creates a vibrant learningcommunity, led by wise, caring teachers, that fosters students' intellectual and moralgrowth, prepares them to thrive in college,and gives them the tools for leadership and service in the world.”Mark Davis, Head of School

St. Luke’s School Center for LeadershipA central focus of the Strategic Vision is the inauguration of the St. Luke’s Center for Leadership. The center will be a staffed andresourced organizational unit within the School that will supportexisting leadership programs—including global and charactereducation—and emphasize leadership skills such as public speaking, the ethical use of technology and media, team-building, collaboration,and advocacy for oneself and for others.

The launch of St. Luke’s Center for Leadership will be a point ofdistinction for the School. The center will dramatically raise awareness of St. Luke’s—within our community and beyond—as a school wherechildren learn the essential skills for leadership, self-actualization, and meaningful service to others.

The inspiration for the Center for Leadership developed from consistentfeedback received during the strategic planning process. First, we heardthat the St. Luke’s community wants our students to be confident, skilledcommunicators. Second, the community expressed a strong desire toexpand our global education initiatives, enhance our service learningopportunities, and continue developing innovative and distinctivesignature programs. The Center for Leadership will be a key vehicle inallowing us to accomplish these objectives.

Approval for the Center for Leadership was received in Spring 2010 and the planning process for the center will continue throughout the2010-2011 school year. Plans include a physical space for the centerfeaturing a global classroom equipped to connect entire St. Luke’sclasses with partner schools across the globe. This can be in place assoon as 2011-2012 and will give a visible presence to the elevatedposition of leadership at St. Luke’s.

We look forward to bringing you more news about the Center forLeadership and encourage you to continue sharing feedback and ideas.

Implementation Focus:Create and staff the St. Luke’s Center for Leadership

Within the Center for Leadership, expand global education and servicelearning programs and opportunities

Explore additional leadership skills programs (e.g. public speaking andcommunications, speaker series, internship opportunities, summerprograms, enrichment terms)

Use the Center for Leadership staff and resources to support faculty andstaff in developing and implementing innovations in the curriculum

• Strive to reach their personal best and inspire othersto do the same

• Communicate effectively and motivate others toachieve common goals

• Are ethical citizens, making positive differences athome and in the world

• Are collaborative team members who are respectful,kind, and effective

St. Luke’s Leaders …

…Enter to Learn,Go Forth to Serve

Collaboration & InnovationContinuing St. Luke’s positive momentum—continuing toimprove—requires that we formally develop a culture ofcollaboration and innovation. This focus is based on thebelief that skills such as working in teams, risk-taking, andintellectual exploration will serve our students well and be critical to achievement throughout life.

Engendering a culture of collaboration and innovationextends beyond students to teachers and offers powerfulbenefits of curricular integration and inspiration. Success inthis endeavor will maximize the talents and passion of theSt. Luke’s faculty and thereby improve student performance.

Implementation Focus:Explore and pursue new signature programs (such as enrichment term, capstone projects, disciplineconcentrations)

Re-examine the use of student/teacher time, on a dailyand yearly basis, to identify opportunities to collaborate,innovate and integrate curriculum, encourage studentexploration/risk-taking, reduce unneeded stress withoutsacrificing educational objectives

Rethink the teacher-student dynamic to increaseclassroom collaboration through professionaldevelopment and classroom redesign. Create assessmentsto measure success of these initiatives

Integrate public speaking and other leadership skills intothe Middle School and Upper School curricula (see Centerfor Leadership)

Transformational TechnologyTechnology use and resources are pervasive at St. Luke’s. Skilled teachers employ cutting-edge hardware and software to enhance collaboration and deepen student learning. Ourstrength and reputation as a “technology –forward” school are a result of implementing the technology building block of the Strategic Plan 2005-2010.

Technology continues to hold a prominent place in St. Luke’splanning. In the Strategic Vision, the School commits itself to acomplete technology approach. This holistic philosophy stressesthe value of technology as a powerful tool—for teaching,learning, and future success—while also embracing the wisdomof thoughtful, purposeful application that ensures enhancedstudent learning.

Implementation Focus:Enhance faculty training and development in the use oftechnology to achieve educational and curricular objectivesand support Community Goals for Learning

Execute St. Luke’s Information and Media Literacy Standards

Establish a standing technology committee to guide andsupport achievement of technology objectives

Continue to develop events and workshops to bridge thegap between parent and student understanding of, andproficiency in, technology

Financial SoundnessOver the past five years, St. Luke’s has developed a long-term, strategic approach to its financial management anddecision-making. Our priorities have been to provide the financialstrength to fuel advances while ensuring adequate financialsafety. This approach has allowed us to sustain a strong financialprofile and the School’s forward momentum in difficult economiccircumstances—including maintaining faculty salaries at the topquartile of Fairchester schools and holding gains in the financialaid budget as a percent of revenues.

Our ongoing strategic objectives strongly reflect the goal of continuous improvement. While substantial progress has been made in strengthening the financial position of St. Luke’s, further growth in endowment remains a strong priorityto realize our aspirations for the School and to secure long-termstability. It is also important that our philanthropic base ofsupport continues to expand across the annual fund,endowments, and capital campaigns.

Implementation Focus:Grow endowment to safeguard St. Luke’s financial positionand enable aspirational programs

Increase endowment per student

Continue utilization of long-term financial models forplanning and decision-making

Charge appropriate Committees of the Board of Trustees(such as Financial Affairs, Governance) with periodic review of financial policies

Pursue opportunities for revenue sources not related totuition or philanthropy

Support marketing to further burnish the reputation of, anddemand for, a St. Luke’s education in our target communities

AcknowledgementsThis plan represents a complete team effort on the part of our entire community.Through meetings, surveys, workshops, committees, and focus groups, we receivedtremendous input and ideas from all constituencies (parents, faculty, staff, students,alumni, and prospective families). We have worked hard to ensure that the StrategicVision faithfully represents the views of our community regarding the strengths of St. Luke’s and what we can do better. At the same time, it allows for the very broad,collaborative development of ideas that will serve to improve our school and hence our ability to deliver on our mission to prepare students for a lifelong commitment tolearning and social responsibility.

Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve

This has been an overview of the St. Luke’s School Strategic Vision. To read thecomplete, unedited Strategic Vision, please visit: www.stlukesct.org/strategicvision.

Photography by Desirée SmockDesigned by Peapod Design, New Canaan CTPublished 2010