David Roth,
Headmaster,
Wheaton Academy,
West Chicago, Illinois
In 1989 Principal Jon Keith, Headmaster David Roth, and the Wheaton Academy board of trustees developed a strategic plan that would take the school to its 150th birthday in 2003 and beyond. The plan contains nine components, which include our vision for the future of Wheaton Academy:
- Mission: Everywhere. Every way. We must continue to articulate the Wheaton Academy mission in every way and to deepen its impact. We must make certain all plans have spiritual substance, all programs and plans are consistent with our philosophies, and all decisions are filtered through our mission statement.
- Leadership: Integrating the past, managing the present, envisionng the future. One of our secrets of success has been that we have demonstrated that we can understand the past, manage the present effectively and efficiently, and envision the future—all in the context of God’s will for Wheaton Academy.
- Faculty: A blend of excellence. We are aggressively recruiting “living-curriculum teachers” and are encouraging their personal and professional growth. A veteran Wheaton Academy teacher recently said, “I finally have figured this place out. Every other Christian school has 40 of me, 40 of one kind, 40 clones.” We are not looking for clones; we are looking for diverse, high-impact, living-curriculum teachers!
- Curriculum: Research-based. Over the next 15 years, we can develop a research-based curriculum that is a model for others. We must not merely talk about the integration of faith and learning. We need to integrate the Bible in every class and in every activity. If we have to research God’s Word more intentionally, or fast and pray as a faculty and staff, we will do whatever it takes.
- Enrollment: Good fit. Good mix. Right-sized school. We need to find the ultimate size of a Christian high school, reach that size, and then encourage other schools to do the same. We need to refine our admissions process to ensure that each student and each family create a good fit and a good mix.
- Students: High-impact Christians. Every Wheaton Academy graduate should be a high-impact Christian. We need to strategically plan to nurture and grow a powerful army of student leaders.
- Image/Communication: Consistency. We want people to know exactly what to expect from Wheaton Academy. When children attend Wheaton Academy for four years, we should be able to anticipate what they will be like when they graduate.
- Finances: New sources of income. We must update our five-year plan annually and use biblically based strategies for fund-raising. While keeping tuition affordable for families with a range of incomes, we must pay teachers and staff appropriately. By developing two to three additional sources of income—such as a planned giving program, a summer academy, summer camps, and a leadership summit hosted by our school—we can create additional profits. If we do God’s will, He will provide!
- Property and Facilities: Adaptable. We need a long-term plan that includes a program of care for the existing campus and buildings, and that embodies a view of the school’s future needs. Our facilities need to be adaptable as well as supportive of our program.
When people think of quality education, we want them to envision a school like Wheaton Academy. We want Wheaton Academy to be known as a place where they do education right. I believe we can model Christian education to the world and stay true to our motto, Soli Deo Gloria—Glorify God Alone.
Planning with Vision 5.4