Strategic Plan

Constituents throughout the Valwood community were engaged in a strategic planning process in order to determine a long-range view of future priorities. This process gave us an opportunity to take a closer look at who we are as a school and what we aspire to be. We used the SAIS constituent survey to determine the congruence between what is valued by the community and the extent to which Valwood is able to execute those components. It was determined that the process would encompass data that included focus group responses, taskforce work, surveys and performance data.

To obtain a general sense of parental perspective on the overall “state of the School” the School administered a comprehensive survey. The survey results, which largely indicated very positive parental perception concerning the School, provided the foundational data to determine areas in which we would delve deeper. Further parental input was received through individual parent/teacher conferences conducted several times over the past year and a half by pre-k through grade twelve staff. 

 

Faculty and Staff

Series of meetings were conducted throughout the planning process with targeted subjects, planning, and tasks for each department. These planning sessions consisted of a variety of staff groupings, including general staff, Lower, Middle, and Upper School personnel, as well as various departmental meetings that permitted cross division communication. We believe that this methodology allowed us to focus on a broad spectrum of areas rather than on limited topics and levels, resulting in a greater diversity of input. 

 

Students and Alumni

Our students are bright young people, and we enjoy engaging them in the conversation about the school and how to “make it better.” With current students, we administered an engagement survey and compiled the data to ascertain areas of strength and areas in which they thought we can improve. In addition, the Head of School and Director of Admissions met with families and students who left the school in order to determine the cause of the departure and to receive constructive feedback on our programs. Finally, the alumni association developed a survey to gather information related to student success after their time at Valwood. This information has helped to shape our programs and informs decisions on the best ways to keep our alumni involved in the life of the school.

 

Board of Trustees

The Governing Board has been engaged with a continuous improvement process, primarily through its strategic dialogue with the Head of School, along with its more informal dialogue with parents, faculty and staff. 

As Valwood School underwent the process of a self-study and thorough reflection, it was determined that the following areas would be focused on for strategic planning: 

  • Portrait of a Graduate
  • Math Initiative
  • Safety & Security
  • Professional Development of Faculty & Staff
  • Perception & Reputation