Strategic Plan

The strategic planning process for Grace Episcopal Day School began in late May 2003, with a series of meetings for parents and for school faculty and staff, led by the Rev. Jonathan Glass, Associate Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools. Participants were asked to share their thoughts about the challenges and opportunities facing Grace, aspects of the school that should be maintained or changed, and how they thought the school should direct its efforts in the future. Members of the Grace community who were not able to attend a meeting were invited to share their ideas in a questionnaire made available at the school. Mr. Glass also conducted a series of individual interviews with church and school leaders in person and over the telephone.

The results of these conversations, along with information from a survey of current sixth grade parents about their experience at Grace and a faculty/staff "climate" survey conducted earlier that spring were subsequently drawn into a background report, which was used as a starting point for a two-day planning retreat for members of the Board of Governors and its Planning Committee in November 2003. At the retreat, also led by Mr. Glass, the Board identified four areas where it felt trustees and administrators should focus their efforts during the next few years in order to best meet the challenges and exploit the opportunities facing the school. These four areas-thriving in a competitive environment, enhancing facilities, optimizing organizational structure, and funding our vision-provide the central themes and organizational framework of the new plan.

I. Thriving in a competitive environment

Goal One: Strengthen the reputation of Grace Episcopal Day School as a premier school for pre-school through sixth grade by enhancing academic and non-academic programs.
Goal Two: Strengthen the Grace identity and nurture a sense of community throughout the school, fostering the ideal that we are one school, two campuses.
Goal Three: Attract and retain an excellent and diverse faculty.

II. Enhancing our facilities

Goal One: Improve the use of existing space at the Silver Spring and Kensington campuses to meet program needs and ensure the safety, security, and accessibility of both locations.
Goal Two: Initiate the process to construct a gymnasium/performing arts facility at the Kensington campus.

III. Optimizing Organizational Structure

Goal One: Ensure the school has an effective and efficient management structure.
Goal Two: Improve communications among school staff, within the school community, and between the church and school.

IV. Funding our vision of Grace Episcopal Day School

Goal One: Increase enrollment to maximum capacity.
Goal Two: Increase fundraising by promoting philanthropy as a core value and as part of our tradition and culture.
Goal Three: Develop a strategic financial plan that provides for excellence in academic and co-curriculular programs, physical plan, and teacher and staff compensation and promotes economic diversity within the school community, in furtherance of our mission.