Strategic Plan

Dear St. Margaret's Community,
 
One of the primary responsibilities given to the Board of Trustees is to safeguard the mission of the school, which is fulfilled through the selection of the Head of School, the stewardship of the school’s financial resources, and the periodic review of the school’s Strategic Plan. During the 2023-2024 school year, the Board of Trustees determined it was the appropriate time to create a new Strategic Plan for the future of St. Margaret's. 
 
As part of this process, the Board of Trustees and Head of School created a Strategic Plan Steering Committee and engaged Ian Symmonds of Ian Symmonds & Associates to serve as a consultant. During the 2024-2025 school year, the committee will work with Mr. Symmonds and his team to collect qualitative and quantitative input from all of the school’s constituencies, including parents, students, alumni and parents of alumni, professional community, and the Board of Trustees.
 
This page will serve as a comprehensive and transparent resource around this important work, and we encourage you to take some time to learn more the strategic planning process at St. Margaret’s, including the timeline, feedback mechanisms and the makeup of the steering committee. 
 
As this process unfolds, we invite you to take the opportunity to let your voice be heard, as together we chart the course for the next generation of Tartans.
 
Sincerely, 
 
Dana Sullivan
President, Board of Trustees
 
Dr. Jeneen Graham
Head of School
The Board of Trustees and Head of School has engaged Ian Symmonds of Ian Symmonds & Associates to serve as a consultant for the Strategic Planning process.  Ian is an author, speaker, ed-activist, and strategist. His global professional practice as a senior officer, executive director, and dean spanned Pacific University, Culver-Stockton College, Saint Mary’s Hall, and Trinity University. St. Margaret’s has partnered with Ian Symmonds and Associates due to the breadth and depth of their experience doing strategic planning and market research work with hundreds of Independent Schools and Colleges and Universities throughout the world.

Strategic Planning Timeline

List of 5 items.

  • Summer 2024

    • Data files and organizational documents given to consultant for Market Research 
    • work with Head of School, Planning Chair 
    • Selection of steering committee members
    • Communication and confirmation of the committees.

  • Fall 2024

    • Competitive market analysis completed
    • Discovery/Gathering Information from constituents
    • Review of current Identity and Core Guiding Statements 

  • Winter 2025

    • Setting Strategic Goals- distillation of all research, development of a shared direction and preferred future for the school 

  • Spring 2025

    • Formulating the Future- Development of strategic goals and initiatives using design teams

  • Summer 2025

    • Finalizing a Strategic Plan 
    • Communication of plan to community

Feedback Mechanisms

St. Margaret’s launched the process of soliciting feedback with an anonymous survey sent out to the school community in September 2024, the first of many opportunities for each of our constituents to offer feedback and assist in the development of a plan for the future of the school. Through an anonymous survey, parent forums, representation on the Steering Committee and Design Teams, the St. Margaret’s community will be crucial to the development of the strategic plan. 

Steering Committee
The steering committee is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight throughout the planning process. They ensure that the project’s goals align with the school’s mission and vision. They help develop a shared direction and preferred future for the school, they will be the first group to culminate the set of actionable strategic goals. A Strategic Plan Steering Committee comprised of parents, professional community members, Trustees, alumni and students has been formed to work directly with the Symmonds team throughout the process. 

Design Teams
Design teams are smaller, task-oriented groups that focus on specific strategic goals or initiatives identified by the steering committee.Research and Development: These teams conduct detailed research, develop strategies, and create action plans for their assigned areas/goals.They are responsible for further refining and detailing the implementation of strategic goals, including timelines, budgets, and metrics for success.

Strategic Plan News

Strategic Plan Steering Committee
Dana Sullivan Board of Trustees President
Dr. Jeneen Graham Head of School
Patrick Bendzick Assistant Head of School for Health and Wellness
David Beshk Lower School Faculty
Alanna Cajthaml Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Stephanie Capen Director of Institutional Research
Dallas Clemmons Upper School Faculty
Victor Cota Director of Equity and Inclusion
Lindsay Eres '00 Executive Director of Special Camp, Upper School Dean
Angela Mackenzie Director of Educational Technology
Kylie Middlebrook Middle School Director of Community Life
Alethea Monge Board of Trustees
Dan Pacheco Director of Performing Arts
Hudson Powers '25 Upper School Student
America Reyes-Mendoza '25 Upper School Student
Jerrell Rogers Director of Human Resources
Jay Spenuzza '03 Board of Trustees
Jonathan Tufo Executive Director of Advancement
Jason Weiss Board of Trustees, Bishop’s Representative
Ryan Wood Director of Communications and Marketing
Sonia Yoshizawa Early School Pedagogista

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 La Novia Avenue
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 661-0108
 
Translation? ¿Traducción? 翻译?:

An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

Non-Discrimination Policy
St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.