• Falmouth Academy
    An independent, college-preparatory day school serving grades 7 through 12.
About

Strategic Planning

A Plan for the Future

Dear Friends of Falmouth Academy,

I am excited to share with you the results of Falmouth Academy’s year-long strategic planning process. Despite the onset of the global pandemic and the intensive effort that was required to pivot in March 2020 to a remote learning environment, the work of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee proceeded without interruption. At the May meeting of the Board of Trustees, Falmouth Academy’s Strategic Vision 2020—representing the collective efforts of so many—was officially and unanimously endorsed.

The process began back in May of 2019, with the selection of our lead facilitator, Ms. Jenn Desjarlais of Cambridge Hill Partners. Together we engaged faculty, former faculty, parents, alumni, community members, and most importantly our students, many of whom participated in a facilitated strategy session of their own. With both patience and persistence, Jenn helped us frame and follow a process that honored our original goals of being thorough, transparent, and inclusive.

Yes, a lot has changed in the last fifteen months! But, against the backdrop of these uncertain times, now is actually the perfect moment for this young institution to celebrate our history, affirm our values, engage our many stakeholders, and together chart a bold path forward. Now is the moment because, simply put, there’s no time to waste.

The strategic vision we share below is deeply rooted in our mission statement, which compels us to “embolden each student to take creative and intellectual risks to engage the challenges of our times.” Herein you will learn more about the four strategic directions we will be pursuing over the years ahead: “Distinctive Place,” “Renewed Curriculum,” “Excellence in Teaching,” and “Future Sustainability.” And you will see that embedded within and integrated across each are three clear charges: to operationalize our stated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, to build on our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and resilience, and to evolve our program so that it is intentionally responsive to the multi-faceted role technology plays in the lives of current and future students.

Let it never be said of Falmouth Academy that we lack ambition! I am grateful for the efforts and wise counsel of all who participated in the process, and invite your wisdom and support as, together we move FA...

...Forward.

Sincerely,

Matt Green
 

FA Forward: Falmouth Academy's Strategic Vision 2020-23

Our facilitator

Ms. Jennifer Desjarlais is an experienced strategic planner. She is familiar with Falmouth Academy through her work in college admissions at Wellesley College, where she served as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid and a member of the senior leadership team.  Jenn’s firm, Cambridge Hill Partners, specializes in strategic planning and organizational change, and counts among its clients notable colleges including MIT, Harvard, Tufts, Williams, Wellesley and Smith, and schools not very different than our own, including Nashoba Brooks, Concord Academy, Beaver Country Day School, and Emma Willard.  
"Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” —African proverb

About the Process & Updates

List of 7 items.

  • June 18, 2020 Update

  • February 18, 2020 Update

  • January 15, 2020 Update

  • November 26, 2019 Update

  • October 8, 2019 Update

  • Why Now?

    This is an exciting time in Falmouth Academy's history. Thanks to the school’s richly deserved reputation for academic excellence delivered within a culture of kindness and support courtesy of our remarkable faculty, the generosity of our many benefactors, and the thoughtful stewardship on the part of the trustees and administration, the school’s position has never been stronger. For example:
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  • The Process

    Last February, the Falmouth Academy Board of Trustees gathered for a weekend retreat, where a trio of experienced strategic planning professionals from different fields shared their insights and best practices.  Among the outcomes of that session were: a) the development of a timeline that began in summer 2019 and will conclude by spring 2020, b) the initial framework of the plan, which will be agile and adaptive and target the next four years, c) the leadership: our process will be guided by a deliberately small representative steering committee and led by an external facilitator.
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Steering Committee

Members of the Steering Committee have worn multiple hats here at school. Among them are four current or former Heads of School, four current parents, seven parents of alumni, six trustees, seven current or former classroom teachers, and one alumnus. Combined, they represent more than 180 years of affiliation with Falmouth Academy!

Members
Joe Valle, Board Chair, Past Parent, Grandparent
Matt Green, Former Head of School
Ben Feldott, Past Parent
Cynthia Feldmann, Board Treasurer, Past Parent
Joan Holden, Board Member, Former Head of School
Monica Hough, Faculty, Past Parent
Mike Jones, Board Member, Past Parent
Andy Kingman, Board Member, Alumnus
Liz Klein, Former Faculty
Ben Parsons, Faculty, Former Head of School, Parent
Laura Shachoy, Board Member, Past Parent
Rob Wells, Faculty, Past Parent, Former Head of School
7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: 508 457 9696
Email: info@falmouthacademy.org
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