A Guide for Families · Spring 2026
[Printable Version]
A strategic plan is a shared roadmap, or a clear statement of who we are, what we value, and where we are headed over the next several years. As we begin this work together, we want every family to understand the process, know how their voice will be heard, and feel genuinely invested in what we build.
The Road Ahead
Now – July 2026
Discovery & Preparation
The Head of School and leadership team listen, learn, and prepare the structures and questions that will guide the formal process.
August 2026
Formal Listening Begins
Community-wide listening sessions launch. This includes surveys, focus groups, and open conversations with families, faculty, students, and alumni. This is your primary moment to shape the plan.
Fall 2026
Analysis & Draft Goals
A Strategic Planning Committee — including parent representatives — synthesizes what the community has shared and develops draft priorities and goals.
Winter 2026–27
Community Review
Draft goals are shared with the broader community for feedback before anything is finalized.
Spring 2027
Plan Finalized & Launched
The completed strategic plan is shared with the full community, along with a transparent account of priorities, timelines, and how we’ll measure progress together.
We are not here to hand down a plan — we are here to build one together. The knowledge, hopes, and experience within this community are the most important ingredients we have.
How This Process Works: Built on Iteration
The strategic planning processes that work best are not straight lines. They are iterative — meaning the community listens, reflects, reacts, and refines together across multiple rounds. This is intentional. A single survey or one community meeting cannot capture the full complexity of what a school community values. What works instead is a cycle of conversation that deepens over time.
Round 1 — Open Questions
We start broad. What do you
love about this school? Where do you see opportunity? What are your hopes for
the next five years? No agenda — just listening.
We Reflect Back
Before moving forward, we
share a summary of what we heard — themes, tensions, surprises. You should be
able to recognize your community’s voice in what we report back.
Round 2 — Sharper Questions
Armed with what we learned,
we go deeper. We present emerging themes and ask: Does this resonate? What did
we miss? This round is more focused — and more useful because of it.
React to Drafts
Draft priorities are shared
with the community before anything is final. This is not a rubber stamp — it is
a genuine chance to say “yes, this captures us” or “something
important is missing.”
Why does this matter to you?
An iterative process means you will be engaged more than once — and that each engagement will feel more meaningful than the last. It also means the final plan will genuinely reflect the community, not just the loudest voices in a single room. We believe the extra time this takes is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a strategic plan?
A strategic plan is a document that defines a school’s priorities and direction for the next three to five years. It typically addresses big questions: What should our academic program look like? How do we support student wellbeing? How do we sustain the school financially? It is not a list of every goal or project — it is a focused set of choices about what matters most.
Why are we doing this now?
A leadership transition is one of the best moments to step back, listen broadly, and set a shared direction. Rather than inherit someone else’s roadmap, we have a genuine opportunity to build one together — grounded in this community’s values and informed by fresh eyes.
Will my input actually matter?
Yes — and we take that responsibility seriously. This is not a one-time survey that disappears into a binder. You will be engaged multiple times throughout the process: first in open listening sessions, then in reaction to emerging themes, and again when draft priorities are ready for community review. Each round builds on the last.
How many times will I be asked to participate?
We expect two to three meaningful touchpoints for families over the course of the planning year — not including optional focus groups or committee involvement. We will never ask for your time without telling you exactly how that input will be used and what happened to it afterward.
What kinds of things will we be asked about?
Early conversations will be open-ended: what you value most, where you see opportunity, what you hope for. Later rounds will be more specific — reacting to themes we’ve identified, weighing in on draft priorities. You don’t need to be an education expert. Your experience as a parent in this community is exactly what we need.
How will I know what happened to my feedback?
After each major listening phase, we will share a community summary — what we heard, what themes emerged, and where there were tensions or surprises. You should be able to recognize the community’s voice in what we report back. If you don’t, that is feedback we want to hear.
Does a strategic plan mean things are going to change dramatically?
Not necessarily. A good strategic plan builds on what is already working while identifying areas for intentional growth. One of the first things we will ask is: what makes this school special that we must protect? Preserving what matters is just as important as innovating.
Who is in charge of the process?
The Head of School leads the process in partnership with the Board of Trustees. A Strategic Planning Committee — representing faculty, staff, parents, and board members — will do the core analytical and drafting work. Many schools also engage an outside facilitator to help ensure the process is rigorous and that all community voices are heard equitably.
What happens after the plan is finished?
The iterative spirit does not end when the plan is published. The school will report annually on progress, revisit strategies that are not working, and keep the community informed. A strategic plan is only as good as the accountability structures — and the community engagement — that surround it after launch.
Questions or thoughts? We’d love to hear from you at any stage of this process.
[Bridget Barrett-Parker] · [bbarrett-parker@oakmeadow.org]
