Dear Friends,

We are delighted to share with you this update of the 1999-2005 Strategic Plan. The original plan was put together five years ago with a huge effort on the part of faculty, administration, trustees, parents, and 13 different consultants who helped us examine every area of this School. Many of the goals outlined in that Plan have been accomplished and most of the strategic changes have been so successfully incorporated into the operations of the School that they are now a regular part of the day-to-day functioning of the School.

Over the course of this past year, a committee of trustees and administrators with assistance from faculty has updated that Plan and created a new action plan from it. The committee started with what remained relevant but was not yet completed from the original Plan. It also reviewed current trends in education. The committee further examined the School’s position with respect to its boarding school peers, including student demographics, academic metrics, college admission data; inspected our competitive situation with regard to faculty, salaries, technology, and facilities; and evaluated our financial health, governance, and systems. Members of the faculty, parents, and student body offered their ideas and insight; we thank all who contributed to the formation of this Plan.

This Strategic Plan Update will help us keep the Thacher education vibrant and unique, underscoring our strengths and preparing us for the needs and changes ahead. It also presumes those things that form the core of the Thacher experience—a close community that is rooted in Western tradition and values and is committed to academic excellence. We encourage you to read these plans for the School’s future, and we invite your participation in this exciting new phase of growth.

Sincerely,

Justin M. Faggioli
President, Board of Trustees

Michael K. Mulligan
Head of School