Strategic Plan 2020

Institutional Flexibility

Cary Academy will create institutional flexibility to facilitate innovative and dynamic learning experiences.

Innovation

Create institutional mechanisms to strengthen and sustain a robust culture of innovation

  • Develop structures like an innovation lab or research & development team, to study, evaluate, and share new and promising practices
  • Use tools such as design thinking, align language, processes, and structures within the school culture to foster innovations

Time

Create collaborative time for students and faculty to engage in nontraditional, bold learning opportunities within and across divisions

  • Modify academic and professional calendars to encourage interdisciplinary teaching and to maximize learning opportunities throughout the year
  • Review and modify daily schedule to allow for more student and faculty flexibility as well as more intra- and cross-divisional collaboration
  • Expand methods that allow for more flexible and holistic learning, such as blended and/or experiential offerings

Programs

Review and revise our academic programming to reflect our commitment to student-centered learning

  • Implement a regular and robust cross-divisional curriculum review cycle
  • Evaluate and adjust graduation requirements to provide for student choice and flexibility as well as the high organizational standards expected from universities
  • Complete the ongoing development of a school-wide assessment philosophy to include the role of effort grades, the evaluation of standards-based grading, and the use of pass/fail systems — all to encourage more risk taking and mastery learning
  • Examine the impact of external measurements such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs in the college matriculation process and their role as formal or informal capstones for higher level courses
  • Review and implement a core learning management system that provides for a comprehensive, flexible, and easy-to-understand system for coordinating the academic experience at Cary Academy

Progress

Year 4 (2018-2019)

  • Continued work on the Master Learning Team to include a definition of personalized learning and professional development in alternative assessment. Offered faculty “Innovative Curriculum Grants” to spur curriculum development.
  • Developed new 11th and 12th grade trimester pathways for English and world languages. As a result of curriculum review cycle, new electives offered in PE and arts. Expanded MS minors rotations.

Year 3 (2017-2018)

  • Launch new MS/US daily schedule
  • Expand curricular reviews to include world languages, arts, and PE
  • Launch updated curriculum for US science, PE, and arts
  • Review role of “computational thinking” at Cary Academy
  • Launch “mastery learning” R&D project
  • Launch collaboration with NC State on visualization and digital measurement of learning

YEAR 2 (2016-2017)

  • Expanded Design Thinking into curriculum and organizational operations
  • Developed and prototype updated MS/US daily schedule
  • Expanded curricular reviews to include English and social studies, plan for science/math updates next year
  • Offered summer for-credit course options for upper school

YEAR 1 (2015-2016)

  • Defined organizational structures for supporting innovation at Cary Academy
  • Introduced Design Thinking as common language to focus innovation
  • Initiated cross-divisional curricular review cycle, starting with science, mathematics, and health
  • Launched research and development team

Related Posts

Skip to toolbar