1. To take charge of our future
2. To set direction
3. To improve performance
4. To build community
5. To create a framework for strategic thinking
How was our strategic planning process? It was fantastic! Worcester Academy has been engaged in this process since August, 2007. Faculty, staff, students, parents and trustees met in discussion groups with our strategic planning consultant and facilitator Christina Drouin, before school opened to identify the Academy's core values. The final five values were then turned over to a "Writing Committee" who turned each core value into a statement and also used the input of the group discussions on values to rewrite the Mission Statement. This beginning process was very inclusive and clearly resulted in a product that was consistent, democratic and felt like Worcester Academy. Here are the core value statements:
HONOR: Integrity, honesty, respect, fairness, and responsibility inform our actions and our beliefs. These attributes are the foundations for "Achieving the Honorable" in both our public and private lives.
RESPECT: We believe in the inherent worth of every person, celebrating difference in a community rich with diverse gifts and talents. We seek commonality in our relationships regardless of title, background, or individual abilities and challenges. We also accept responsibility for sustaining the world around us, from the campus to the global environment.
COMMUNITY: The act of learning brings all members of this community together. We share a belief in the importance of serving others through both leadership and generosity. A respectful and compassionate approach to citizenship guides our actions on this campus and in the wider world.
PERSONAL GROWTH: Personal growth may be measured in many ways; the most authentic, however, is when we are true to ourselves. We seek to fulfill our potential by building habits of mind and body that promote growth in knowledge and understanding, ability and confidence, poise and leadership. By doing so, we nurture a desire for life-long learning and a commitment to excellence in all phases of life.
CHALLENGE: Attaining excellence in a changing global environment requires adaptability, creativity, and intellectual courage. We seek relevance in our work, and provide a rigorous yet nurturing environment in which we all may thrive. We value hard work and disciplined application of knowledge and skills in our learning and institutional practices.
By early June we will be going public with the major goals and strategies of our next Strategic Plan, as well as the vision for our future.
- Dexter Morse, Head of School
