STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030

Sustain comprehensive and competitive college-preparatory educational programming while responding to students’ needs and current advancements.

Objectives:

• Foster a culture which maintains curriculum quality, and coordination across subject areas, with sensitivity to SSND charism and varied population needs.
• Build opportunities for students to receive guaranteed college admissions and maximum higher education scholarship opportunities.
• Match curriculum goals with classroom and faculty space and support.

Establish a plan to annually increase unrestricted and restricted support. Institutionalize a major/capital campaign focus of prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation to meet the near and longer-term philanthropic needs of AHA. Investigate and apply for grants to enhance fundraising.

Objectives:

• Implement all elements of a comprehensive advancement program, particularly with regard to an increased focus on major/capital gifts.

• Articulate and quantify elements of an institutional case statement to include endowment, scholarship support, and capital needs elements.

• Grow individual personalized relationships with donors.

• Increase the size and acumen of the Board’s advancement committee to support advancement program activities and assist in identifying and connecting with individuals whose insights and background are reflective of AHA’s student population.
• Conduct periodic education and training for the Board’s advancement committee as well as the entire Board.
• Implement alumnae programs, outreach, and special events with a focus on increasing event participation, annual giving, and cultivating volunteer and donor prospects.
• Evaluate the current school parent events calendar with an eye towards events (new or existing) that will maximize intended results.

Build and sustain a full student enrollment for the high school and middle school by raising awareness of AHA, creating and implementing an enrollment-focused marketing plan, and maintaining strong retention, with a focus on the transition from middle to high school.

Objectives: 

• Expand enrollment through an increasing number of students at each stage of the admissions funnel (inquiries, applicants, enrollment).

• Create and implement initiatives for outreach to Catholic communities (other than and in addition to Catholic schools), including parishes and organizations (e.g., Knights of Columbus).

• Promote AHA’s athletic program as a recruitment tool.

• Measure results from the implementations and plan in an ongoing manner, making adjustments during the admissions cycle to positively impact outcomes. Concurrently, conduct research regarding prospective student markets and other factors (growth opportunities, student transportation) to inform the following class plan.

• Maintain strong retention to maximize enrollment at all levels, with a special focus on the transition from middle school to high school.

To continue the improvements and maintenance required to the AHA campus for safety, functionality, appearance, program effectiveness, and technology; to provide the best educational & extracurricular environment.

Objectives: 

• Identify required campus updates to the entire campus over the next 20 years.  These consist of both one-time improvements & recurring projects. 

• Prioritize & schedule required campus updates based on need & available funds. 

• Identify new capital projects.

Support the academy’s ability to navigate the future by developing a 5-year financial plan that includes the implementation of comprehensive initiatives that maintain a stable and growing financial position.

Objectives:

• Employ an updated strategy for enrollment utilizing ongoing assessment and results.

• Determine the future SSND’s commitment and support of AHA.

• Establish fiscal policies and procedures for financial operations.

• Manage AHA’s maintenance/capital needs to provide for ongoing improvement and enhancements of its facilities.

Build leadership capacity and performance of the Board, in conjunction with the AHA’s administration, in order to ensure institutional strength and resilience for the school.

Objectives:

• Expand and diversify Board membership by developing a strategic Board recruitment plan.

• Articulate and enact the Board leadership succession plan to ensure seamless fulfillment of roles. A key priority is filling the position of vice chair of the Board, as well as committee chairs.

• Adopt best practices to support board performance of new and returning members through orientation, ongoing education, and self-assessment.

• Develop procedures for identifying and evaluating Board candidates to accumulate professional credentials to serve AHA best.

• Reevaluate existing Board committees and make recommendations for additional or different committees, ensuring that Board committees are fully populated, meet regularly, and are focused on committee goals and outcomes.

• Develop a succession plan for Board & School Administration.

• Effectively engage with the SSND Sponsorship Council. This includes developing an understanding of the role of the SSND Sponsorship Council and its appointed AHA liaison in order to develop an effective relationship beneficial to AHA.

Commit to AHA’s mission and spirit of social justice within the framework of the SSND’s Call of the 25th General Chapter to commit to actions that deepen our relationships of communion with one another.

Objectives:

• Complete a revision of the scope and sequence of the religious studies curriculum to meet the needs of all current students.

• Expand the employee orientation component and the ongoing employee process, which addresses the formation of faculty and staff in the charism, spirit, and mission of the SSNDs.

• Collaborate with Administration and Board leadership to support the initial and ongoing formation of trustees in the SSND charism.

Empower students to become dignified leaders by ensuring a welcome, respectful and safe environment, providing for individual interests, and fostering a strong sense of belonging.

Objectives:

• Use the Student Council Advisory Committee to articulate strengths and identify needs in the AHA community.

• Sustain and grow focus on student health and well-being, particularly with regard to mental health.

• Affirm campus ministry and community service in view of AHA’s identity and values as a global community.