Strategic Plan

Outcome 1: MSR is known as a leader in academic excellence and  globally-focused Montessori education.  

• Goal 1: Develop a clear and impactful articulation of our distinct mission, values, and  program. 
  • Reconsider the mission statement  
  • Articulate MSR’s strengths and differentiators  
  • Create an identity statement, aligned with Montessori philosophy, that identifies  our unique academic and educational culture 
  • Establish the right size and configuration for MSR with a strategic growth plan
  • Consider how the IB program continues to enhance the MSR programming 
     
• Goal 2: Develop strategic marketing plans to clearly and consistently communicate the  updated identity and mission to elevate the School’s reputation and public profile.
  • Develop and implement an internal communications plan to inform the current  faculty, staff, and parent community about any updates to the MSR identity and  mission and support an informed, connected community 
  • Develop and implement an external communications plan to inform the outside  community about updates to the MSR identity and mission 
  • Develop and implement a marketing plan and messaging platform to consistently  promote the MSR identity and mission

Outcome 2: MSR offers a consistently excellent, aligned educational experience guided by  Montessori philosophy, values, and practices. 

• Goal 1: Create and implement a process to align the Montessori philosophy, values, and  practices consistently and with fidelity across the School. 
  • Clearly articulate for all stakeholders the standards and expectations for  implementing Montessori philosophy and practice across the School 
  • Establish a review process for assessing how Montessori philosophy and practices  are experienced across the School with all constituencies
     
• Goal 2: Align the curriculum across divisions. 
  • Develop criteria for evaluating the curriculum for excellence and mission alignment  
  • Establish and regularly implement a curriculum review and alignment process
  • As part of the curriculum review process, assess for diversity, inclusion, and  cultural competency  
     
• Goal 3: Create and implement a process to consider the transitions between grades and  divisions so they are seamless and enhance the student and family experience. 
  • Develop practices to enable students to transition from each grade level and  division with the skills and experiences to be successful at the next level  
  • Enhance and consistently implement the process to educate parents regarding  student and programmatic transitions 
     
• Goal 4: Create and implement a process to align auxiliary program practices with the  Montessori philosophy, values, and practices and support seamless transitions between programs. 
  • Review auxiliary program practices for mission-alignment  
  • Consider transitions from before-school care to school and from school to  after-school programming at all levels for continuity and clarity  

Outcome 3: MSR students, families, faculty, staff, and the wider community are welcomed into  an inclusive and informed community where connections are nurtured. 

• Goal 1: Develop a plan to increase and strengthen internal connections to foster a  welcoming, inclusive,faculty, staff, and parent community. 
  • Clarify and articulate employee expectations for fostering a welcoming, inclusive  community grounded in Montessori values and practices  
  • Provide regular parent education regarding Montessori values and practices as  they relate to a welcoming, inclusive community 
  • Expand and enhance the new family orientation experience so that new families are integrated into the MSR community 
  • Expand social-connection opportunities for the internal MSR community  
     
• Goal 2: Expand external community connections locally, regionally, nationally, and  globally. 
  • Develop or expand local and regional relationships and partnerships for curriculum extension, student connection, faculty development, etc. 

Outcome 4: MSR retains, supports, and attracts highly qualified, mission-aligned employees.

• Goal 1: Develop a staffing plan and organizational structure that meet the current and  future needs of the School. 
  • Benchmark to other independent and Montessori schools’ organizational structures 
  • Consider all levels of staffing from administration to substitute guides  
     
• Goal 2: Design a professional development program that fosters lifelong learning and  faculty leadership, and aligns with the key strategic priorities (including a Montessori  focus and cultural competency). 
  • Refine the professional development plan to align with the MSR mission and  values 
  • Provide ongoing mentoring and leadership opportunities for employees
  • Provide training and professional development specific to cultural competency  and inclusion 
     
• Goal 3: Continue to prioritize competitive employee compensation and benefits.
  • Continue regular review of the employee compensation and benefits plans
  • Continue transparent communication regarding the employee compensation and  benefits plans  
     
• Goal 4: Refine the employee evaluation process to enhance transparency and encourage  innovation and leadership. 
  • Establish desired proficiencies for employees at all stages of employment
  • Refine the faculty evaluation process to better support desired student outcomes
  • Include cultural competency as one criterion in all evaluation processes 
     
• Goal 5: Continue to prioritize a diverse and inclusive employees community.
  • Maintain and continuously improve upon the employee recruitment process that reflects best practices and reaches the widest possible candidate pool  
  • Identify and nurture new referral sources across the Triangle region to connect MSR  with prospective employees from groups currently underrepresented among MSR employees 
  • Create a climate that is supportive and inclusive of all MSR employees 

Outcome 5: MSR’s physical campuses support the School’s vision, mission, and objectives by  providing a safe, secure, and supportive environment for learning. 

• Goal 1: Develop a campus master plan that supports our educational program and identifies needed building updates. 
  • Use current audits and engage in new audits of the physical campuses to clarify needed updates
     
• Goal 2: Clearly communicate the rationale for, and priorities of, the campus master plan to the wider community. 
  • Develop a communication plan to inform community members regarding the  campus master plan 
     
• Goal 3: Implement an annual process to assess and respond to the comprehensive safety and security of the School. 
  • Refine and implement the annual, comprehensive School safety and security  assessment 

Outcome 6: MSR responsibly, proactively, and creatively conducts business and manages  resources to ensure the School’s effectiveness and ability to thrive now, and in the future. 

• Goal 1: Develop and regularly update a five-year financial plan.  
  • Using industry standards, develop a five-year business and financial plan
  • Develop a process to annually revisit and revise the five-year business and financial plan  
     
• Goal 2: The board regularly engages in effective financial practices. 
  • Using industry standards, refine the board processes and practices to effectively  oversee the School’s finances  
  • Using industry standards, the board and the School’s administration refine the  processes and practices to collaboratively manage the School’s finances  
  • Develop practices to provide appropriate, effective communication from the  board to the wider community  
     
• Goal 3: Expand the development and fundraising plans. 
  • Review and revise the School’s development and fundraising plans  
  • Review and revise the board’s development and fundraising plans  
  • Develop or expand local, regional, national, and global connections and  partnerships for development purposes  
  • Develop a strategy for securing grants and other funding