Strategic Plan

PURPOSE

Strategic planning is a critically important endeavor for any institution that has as its main objectives longevity and quality of program. As one of the Triangle’s premier learning institutions and a leader in Montessori and International Baccalaureate education, we are dedicated to fostering a love of learning while actively improving the student experience.

PROCESS

Beginning in fall 2022, The Montessori School of Raleigh (MSR) Board of Trustees and Leadership Team partnered with Acies Strategies Principle Consultant Brooke Carroll to formulate the School's next strategic plan. With input from current parents, students, faculty and staff, grandparents and alumni, the One Vision, Global Horizons strategic plan was created to provide MSR a roadmap for the next five years.

In early spring 2025, the Board approved the new name of Carolina Preparatory Academy (Carolina Prep), the former Brier Creek Campus, housing the Middle and Upper School program. The final Strategic Initiative within this document, “Brier Creek Campus Enrollment Position,” outlines the strategic goals for this rebranded concept.*

ONE VISION, GLOBAL HORIZONS

Organized with seven* core strategic initiatives in mind, MSR & Carolina Prep ("the School") seeks to become a known leader in Montessori and International Baccalaureate education, offering excellent Montessori and International Baccalaureate education to its students, where connections are nurtured within the community, employees are supported and retained, facilities are safe and supportive to Montessori and International Baccalaureate education, and the School has a foundation by which to thrive into the future.

Strategic Initiatives

Shared Identity

Outcome 1: MSR & Carolina Prep is known as a leader in academic excellence and globally-focused Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) education.

Goal 1: Develop a clear and impactful articulation of our distinct mission, values, and program.
- Reconsider the mission statement
- Articulate the School's strengths and differentiators
- Create an identity statement, aligned with Montessori and International Baccalaureate philosophies, that identifies our unique academic and educational culture
- Establish the right size and configuration for the School with a strategic growth plan
- Build a strong bridge from Montessori to IB to support the MSR & Carolina Prep programs
Goal 2: Develop strategic marketing plans to clearly and consistently communicate the updated identity and mission to elevate the School’s reputation and public profile.
- Develop and implement an internal communications plan to inform the current faculty, staff, and parent community about any updates to the MSR & Carolina Prep identity and mission and support an informed, connected community
- Develop and implement an external communications plan to inform the outside community about updates to the MSR & Carolina Prep identity and mission
- Develop and implement a marketing plan and messaging platform to consistently promote the MSR & Carolina Prep identity and mission

Educational Excellence

Outcome 2: MSR & Carolina Prep offers a consistently excellent, aligned educational experience guided by Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophies, values, and practices.

Goal 1: Create and implement a process to align the Montessori and International Baccalaureate philosophies, values, and practices consistently and with fidelity across the School.
- Clearly articulate for all stakeholders the standards and expectations for implementing Montessori and IB philosophies and practice across the School
- Establish a review process for assessing how Montessori and IB philosophies and practices are experienced across the School with all constituencies
Goal 2: Align the curriculum across divisions.
- Develop criteria for evaluating the curriculum for excellence and mission alignment
- Establish and regularly implement a curriculum review and alignment process
- As part of the curriculum review process, assess for diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency
Goal 3: Create and implement a process to consider the transitions between grades and divisions so they are seamless and enhance the student and family experience.
- Develop practices to enable students to transition from each grade level and division with the skills and experiences to be successful at the next level
- Enhance and consistently implement the process to educate parents regarding student and programmatic transitions
Goal 4: Create and implement a process to align auxiliary program practices with the Montessori and IB philosophies, values, and practices and support seamless transitions between programs.
- Review auxiliary program practices for mission-alignment
- Consider transitions from before-school care to school and from school to after-school programming at all levels for continuity and clarity

Community Engagement

Outcome 3: MSR & Carolina Prep students, families, faculty, staff, and the wider community are welcomed into an inclusive and informed community where connections are nurtured.

Goal 1: Develop a plan to increase and strengthen internal connections to foster a welcoming, inclusive,faculty, staff, and parent community.
- Clarify and articulate employee expectations for fostering a welcoming, inclusive community grounded in Montessori and IB values and practices
- Provide regular parent education regarding Montessori and IB values and practices as they relate to a welcoming, inclusive community
- Expand and enhance the new family orientation experience so that new families are integrated into the MSR & Carolina Prep communities
- Expand social-connection opportunities for the internal MSR & Carolina Prep communities
Goal 2: Expand external community connections locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.
- Develop or expand local and regional relationships and partnerships for curriculum extension, student connection, faculty development, etc.

Exceptional Educators

Outcome 4: MSR & Carolina Prep retain, support, and attract highly qualified, mission-aligned employees.

Goal 1: Develop a staffing plan and organizational structure that meet the current and future needs of the School.
- Benchmark to other independent and Montessori and IB schools’ organizational structures
- Consider all levels of staffing for administrative and faculty positions
Goal 2: Design a professional development program that fosters lifelong learning and faculty leadership, and aligns with the key strategic priorities (including a Montessori focus and cultural competency).
- Refine the professional development plan to align with the MSR & Carolina Prep mission and values
- Provide ongoing mentoring and leadership opportunities for employees
- Provide training and professional development specific to cultural competency and inclusion
Goal 3: Continue to prioritize competitive employee compensation and benefits.
- Continue regular review of the employee compensation and benefits plans
- Continue transparent communication regarding the employee compensation and benefits plans
Goal 4: Refine the employee evaluation process to enhance transparency and encourage innovation and leadership.
- Establish desired proficiencies for employees at all stages of employment
- Refine the faculty evaluation process to better support desired student outcomes
- Include cultural competency as one criterion in all evaluation processes
Goal 5: Continue to prioritize a diverse and inclusive employees community.
- Maintain and continuously improve upon the employee recruitment process that reflects best practices and reaches the widest possible candidate pool
- Identify and nurture new referral sources across the Triangle region to connect MSR & Carolina Prep with prospective employees from groups currently underrepresented among MSR & Carolina Prep employees
- Create a climate that is supportive and inclusive of all MSR & Carolina Prep employees

Enhanced Facilities

Outcome 5: MSR's & Carolina Prep's physical campuses support the School’s vision, mission, and objectives by providing a safe, secure, and supportive environment for learning.

Goal 1: Develop a campus master plan that supports our educational program and identifies needed building updates.
- Use current audits and engage in new audits of the physical campuses to clarify needed updates
Goal 2: Clearly communicate the rationale for, and priorities of, the campus master plan to the wider community.
- Develop a communication plan to inform community members regarding the campus master plan
Goal 3: Implement an annual process to assess and respond to the comprehensive safety and security of the School.
- Refine and implement the annual, comprehensive School safety and security assessment

Financial Health

Outcome 6: MSR & Carolina Prep responsibly, proactively, and creatively conducts business and manages resources to ensure the School’s effectiveness and ability to thrive now, and in the future.

Goal 1: Develop and regularly update a five-year financial plan.
- Using industry standards, develop a five-year business and financial plan
- Develop a process to annually revisit and revise the five-year business and financial plan
Goal 2: The board regularly engages in effective financial practices.
- Using industry standards, refine the board processes and practices to effectively oversee the School’s finances
- Using industry standards, the board and the School’s administration refine the processes and practices to collaboratively manage the School’s finances
- Develop practices to provide appropriate, effective communication from the board to the wider community
Goal 3: Expand the development and fundraising plans.
- Review and revise the School’s development and fundraising plans
- Review and revise the board’s development and fundraising plans
- Develop or expand local, regional, national, and global connections and partnerships for development purposes
- Develop a strategy for securing grants and other funding

Brier Creek Campus Enrollment Position

From March - June 2025, members of the Board, Leadership Team, faculty, and parents joined the Brier Creek Task Force to inform strategy on the enrollment position of the Brier Creek Middle and Upper School Campus, and create a menu of goals, strategies, and initiatives from which the Head of School and Board could choose to enhance the enrollment position of the program. Included below are the Strategic Initiatives and Goals outlined by the task force, that was subsequently integrated into the One Vision, Global Horizons Strategic Plan during the 2026-2027 school year.

Goal 1 - Focused Messaging: Implement a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan that utilizes inspiring stories capturing the heart of who we are and what we do at Carolina Prep.
- Rebrand current School model and create foundational messaging for Carolina Prep model
- Recruitment - create a robust, well-rounded campaign plan to attract top talent for IB programs at Carolina Prep
- Retention - create a robust, well–rounded internal events and communications structure to ensure the School retains students/families
Goal 2 - Immediate Investment & Engagement: Generate the financial investment and community engagement to launch the Carolina Prep brand evolution.
- Raise the funds needed to implement initial Carolina Prep rebrand priorities by mid-August 2025
- Establish a PTO (parent association) for Carolina Prep by August 2025
Goal 3 - Rise with Purpose: Align and activate people, spaces, and systems to meet the immediate needs of Carolina Prep.
- Build staffing models that support current programming and prepare for strategic growth
- Maximize the use of current space and prioritize realistic, high-impact upgrades and systems to support student life and safety

Developing and implementing the plan is our declaration of a commitment to our students’ success, to MSR & Carolina Prep as a first-choice learning institution, and to our community’s collective stewardship of this amazing school.

-Monica Rodriguez, Head of School

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