A website on the history of IHM sisters calls Mother Theresa Maxis, the foundress of the IHM order, a “great-souled visionary who struggled to turn dreams into possibilities.”  I think she would be proud of the many folks here at SJE who have been working together to create a strategic plan for the future of St John the Evangelist school.  (Reference: http://ihmnew.marywood.edu/)

The process that has led to this strategic plan began over a year and a half ago.  It was time for our school to apply for reaccredidation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).  This non-governmental, peer-review organization was established in 1887, and is one of six regional organizations that serve schools in US and around world.  St John’s has been accredited by MSA since 1987, and its membership was up for renewal.  There are various routes or “protocols” that can be followed for renewal, and at a faculty meeting in the spring of 2005, Sr. Kathleen asked the faculty to think and pray about which route was right for SJE at this time… and the strategic planning protocol was chosen. (Reference: http://www.middlestates.org/).

The mandate of the MSA strategic planning process was compelling.  We needed to identify goals that were long range, which required a high level of involvement, that were concrete and measurable, and that once fully attained, would result in a significant and dramatic change in how things are done.  Perhaps the most exciting part of this process is that the Strategic Planning Committee has been established, and they will work along with the School Advisory Board and the administration to monitor our progress toward our goals. 

Strategic Planning itself can be tedious: there is the data collection part (we surveyed the parents, faculty, students and parishioners in the fall and winter of 2007), then the data analysis part (done by a Strategic Planning Committee and the faculty in the winter of 2007), then the action planning part (done over the summer of 2007 by 5 action teams)… But all this effort pays off.  In our case, we have identified three goals for the next 5-7 years that will enable our school to grow, to evolve, and to meet the challenges we face while becoming an even better SJE.  These goals are:

• Goal 1: Catholic Identity:
• Incorporate the charism of the IHM foundress, the Gospel teachings of St. John the Evangelist and increased evidence of Catholicism by developing a curriculum for the entire school.
  
  
•  Goal 2: Math Computation:
• Students will achieve at proficient and advanced levels in math computation as measured by the Terra Nova Standardized Achievement Test.
  
  
• Goal 3: Marketing:
• To grow and sustain a stable enrollment through the development of an effective marketing program that features the school’s welcoming and caring educational environment and affordable tuition.

So now comes the FUN part!  We all get to roll up our sleeves and work to bring these plans to life.  The first two goals are, for the most part, being undertaken by the faculty.  The third goal, Marketing, is the goal that will require the most participation and effort by the parents and parishioners of St John the Evangelist.  To make this goal come to life, four committees are being formed:

• Fundraising
• Enrollment & Open House
• Communication & Marketing Materials
• Facilities

The work of these committees over the next few months will be challenging, yet rewarding.  Challenging, because our strategic plan provides deadlines and outcomes to be met; yet rewarding because these committees will see their efforts come to fruition.  There is a lot of positive energy already for this focused effort to bring SJE into the future.  Want to join in?  Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work!  Let’s turn our “dreams into possibilities.”

For more information about any of these committees, please contact Denise Culkin (denise@culkinschool.com) or Sr Kathleen (srkathleen@sjte.org).