Strategic Plan 2020
Appropriate Resources
Cary Academy will build the professional and learning environments necessary to realize our strategic vision.
Organizational Culture
Identify and implement enhancements to the school’s culture and operations
- Evaluate current staffing and determine the position additions and/or changes that are necessary to create or realign organizational hubs in the areas of innovation, communication, and outreach
- Implement a new school information system to enhance effectiveness, user experience, and integration across divisions
- Review and expand professional development to support these changes
- Develop a compensation philosophy for faculty and staff and conduct a thorough review to ensure our practices are consistent with this philosophy and aligned with the school’s mission and vision
- Promote the strategic vision to all members of the school community, taking the opportunity of the school’s 20th anniversary to review branding and marketing
Space
Identify and implement improvements to the campus
- Engage with outside support to develop a new campus master plan for Cary Academy and identify priorities for improvement
- Assess the long-term facilities maintenance needs of the school and develop a schedule to ensure the campus and its furniture, finishes, and equipment are cyclically upgraded and remain in outstanding condition
- Implement a more methodical process and coordinated technology platform for planning and tracking ongoing maintenance, upgrades and additions to campus facilities, equipment and resources
Investments
Design and implement a funding program
- Assess the community’s willingness to financially support the elements of the strategic and campus master plans
- Develop new methods for funding innovation at Cary Academy, such as a venture capital fund or endowments to support new professional development opportunities such as fellowships or sabbaticals
- Determine the fundraising and communication structures and resources needed to ensure a successful capital campaign; make changes as needed
Progress
Year 4 (2018-2019)
- Opened Center for Math and Science and neared fundraising goal.
- Secured $50K in funding for two- and three-week summer institutes as part of community outreach.
- Developed designs and funding plans for Admin/Library and Upper School renovations.
- Created new team (LTx) to expand voice and training of mid-level leadership.
- Launched new HR system (Ultipro), completed 8-month review of student information system (Veracross) and began transition to new system (Blackbaud) for fall of 2019.
- Installed new security system, with 33 cameras and badge access of doors.
- Conducted review and update of faculty stipend system, as part compensation review process. Began review of staff merit-pay system.
Year 3 (2017-2018)
- Increase faculty in response to new curricular needs and updated benchmarks
- Launch “CA Cornerstones” document outlining school philosophies and beliefs and develop statement on CA culture
- Begin compensation review, using new philosophy statement
- Groundbreaking for new science building
YEAR 2 (2016-2017)
- Began Leadership Phase of The Campaign for Cary Academy to support strategic plan and master facilities plan
- Began implementation of master facilities plan with renovations in Berger Hall (new Design Lab and Discovery Studio) and pilot community spaces in the Upper School
- Designed new STEAM building supporting science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics
- Implemented SchoolDude for facilities and technology support requests
- Developed a compensation philosophy statement to help guide review of salary and benefits, stipend, and merit pay programs
YEAR 1 (2015-2016)
- Implement a new student information system (Veracross)
- Plan for new platform for tracking planned maintenance (SchoolDude)
- Reorganize staff and structure to support innovation superstructure at Cary Academy
- Conduct a feasibility study to support the strategic plan
Related Posts
Year 4 Update
Goal 1: Institutional Flexibility Cary Academy will create institutional flexibility to facilitate innovative and dynamic learning experiences. Continued work on the Master Learning Team to include a definition of personalized learning and professional development in...
Year 3 Update
At the end of the third year of our strategic plan, while we continue to move forward on individual items linked to goal areas, we have begun to use the strategic vision statement as a North Star in giving us programmatic direction. Cary Academy will create learning...
Year 2 Update
Strategic Plan Update We have completed the second year of our Cary Academy 2020 Strategic Plan. Our Vision Cary Academy will create learning opportunities that are flexible, personalized, and relevant. We will cultivate self-directed and bold life-long learners who...