strategic plan 2023-2028
Dear AVS Community Member,
At 14 years old, Alta Vista School is growing into its own. AVS continues to nurture its culture of collaborative, STEAM-driven inventiveness while building on practices that ensure long-term academic and institutional excellence. The school’s third strategic plan arrives at an apt time for reflection and recommitment to the AVS mission to prepare students to thrive as creative thinkers, innovators, and catalysts for positive change in the world. AVS has emerged from the challenges of the pandemic with new vitality and is preparing to transition to our third head of school. Another key achievement, itself the culmination of a process of deep reflection, is AVS’s seven-year accreditation from the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) earned in the summer of 2023. The 2023-2028 strategic plan is a recommitment to “The AVS Way’’ while serving as an aspirational roadmap for the next five years of the school’s development. It draws inspiration from the CAIS accreditation report, AVS’s two previous strategic plans, and extensive consultation with community stakeholders. In October 2023, the board’s strategic planning working group conducted five community planning sessions for parents, faculty, and staff and gathered input through an online survey. The working group, board, and senior leadership team carefully considered the feedback generated from these sessions, ensuring that the adopted plan reflects the perspectives and ideas of a broad group of constituents who care deeply about AVS, its students, and the future we are building together. Thank you to all of our collaborators for your partnership and commitment. The working group developed a framework that organizes the work ahead into four areas of focus: Whole Child Education is always at the center of everything at AVS, and our Empowered Educators are the essential ingredient in our innovative educational program. Building the Future of AVS depends on effective operations, financial stewardship, governance, and philanthropy in support of the school’s mission. All of this work is enabled by the AVS
Community , a source of dynamism, continuity, flourishing, and belonging that includes and nurtures parents, faculty, and students. The outcome of this process is a comprehensive vision touching on all aspects of the organization and its work. Strategic themes that emerged include connecting our campuses and community, aligning around the AVS approach to inquiry-based learning and STEAM, sharing compelling stories of our impact and outcomes, and enhancing data-informed practices in academics and operations.
Strategic Planning Working Group Thank You
Elizabeth Drew Dr. Sean Hamer Michelle Johnson Lauren Lippman Erica Lively Kate Long Joanna Mroz Mary Szczepanik Karen Whitaker Philip Zeyliger
Below is a high-level overview of key elements of the strategic plan.
In Community,
Contributors
Elizabeth Drew
Dr. Sean Hammer Head of School
President
AVS Board of Trustees
Katie Gibbons Dr. Liz Davis
Abby Miller Gudich Noa Mendelevitch Lucinda Lee Katz Kimi Peters Shivani Garg Patel AVS faculty, staff, and parents CAIS Visiting Team
MISSION
To prepare students to thrive as creative thinkers, innovators, and catalysts for positive change in the world.
VALUES
Curiosity
Joy Experiential Learning Belonging Creativity Scientific Thinking
THE PROCESS 180 active participants
564 comments submitted & analyzed
5 open meetings with parents & faculty
200 + values submitted
WHOLE CHILD EDUCATION
Inquiry-Based Learning Continue to cultivate creative problem
solvers through experiential, hands-on learning. Celebrate iteration, foster a growth mindset, and develop self-advocacy skills while engaging students in productive challenge and deep learning. Clearly articulate and define our academic approach to all stakeholders. STEAM Maintain an interdisciplinary approach to STEAM as a framework for collaboration and awareness of diverse perspectives and multiple paths to problem solving. Shape programs and priorities to foster collaboration and creativity across disciplines, grades, and campuses. Ensure the AVS faculty is extensively trained to implement robust STEAM practices across grade levels. SEL Maintain an inclusive and respectful learning community through teaching SEL skills such as cooperation, personal accountability, and conflict resolution. Provide parent education in SEL tools and skills to bridge school and home in support of student development. Coordinate and formalize service learning and community service opportunities across the school.
EMPOWER OUR EDUCATORS
Recruitment, Onboarding, and Retention
Recruit, support, and retain talented educators from varied backgrounds who share a common passion to engage with students as guides in their progressive, integrated, culturally aware learning journey. Maintain competitive compensation and benefits. Professional Development Support job satisfaction and professional growth through robust professional development focused on STEAM, SEL, and DEIB curriculum design, inquiry-based practices, and support for neurodiverse learners.
EMPOWER OUR EDUCATORS
BUILD OUR FUTURE
Unified Campus
Identify, secure, and develop a site for a permanent home for AVS that supports our mission and fosters connection and collaboration between faculty, students, and the broader community.
Align the efforts of the board, advancement office, and the broad AVS community to secure funding for a unified campus through fundraising and other opportunities.
CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY
Continue to prioritize inclusion and respect for multiple perspectives and experiences in support of fostering a culture of belonging. Examine institutional systems through an equity lens, identify ways to improve, and ensure necessary resources and administrative structures are in place. Create opportunities to connect Lower School and Middle School students, faculty, and parents to foster a unified JK-8 AVS identity and culture. Clarify and communicate the ways that parents can engage with and support AVS in alignment with their interests and the AVS mission.
Culture of Belonging
Community Engagement
Culture of Belonging: AVS is a welcoming and inclusive commu- nity where all members feel they belong and where differences and shared values are celebrated.
Community Engagement: The AVS community has many oppor- tunities for meaningful connection and service to AVS and the broader community.
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