IN SEPTEMBER, CARY ACADEMY WILL LAUNCH A YEAR-LONG PLANNING PROCESS FOR A NEW FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO TAKE EFFECT IN THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR.
Building on the comprehensive efforts of our previous plans, the strategic planning process offers an opportunity to think creatively about how we can continue to best live our mission as a learning community dedicated to discovery, innovation, collaboration, and excellence in ways that address the evolving needs of our students and today’s shifting landscape. For this work, we are excited to partner with the nonprofit firm Leadership + Design.
“We chose Leadership + Design as kindred spirits aligned with Cary Academy’s goals as a forward-thinking institution dedicated to shaping passionate lifelong learners, future changemakers, and globally engaged citizens,” explains Dr. Mike Ehrhardt, Head of School. “Their human-centered design thinking methodologies, deep listening practices, and creative thought leadership in the education space make them a strong partner in this work.”
The strategic planning process will officially begin in September 2024. It will be led in partnership with Leadership + Design by a 24-person Design Team comprised of Board members, Leadership Team members, employees, parents, and alumni.
The year-long process has two distinct phases: an initial phase focused on deep needfinding, followed by a solutions-focused phase.
“Initially, we will focus on developing qualitative data—through empathy interviews, think tanks, and community listening sessions—that allow us to understand Cary Academy’s underlying needs, challenges, and strategic opportunities,” shares Antonio Viva, Partner at Leadership + Design, who will be guiding the process. “We’re listening to discover important themes and insights from a variety of stakeholders throughout the community, and this will form the basis of how we identify potential strategic solutions.”
Once a deep understanding of the terrain, community needs, and emergent themes is established, the process moves into an iterative solution phase that focuses on meeting those needs and questions with strategies and tactics. A final plan will be presented to the Board of Directors in September 2025.
As with everything at Cary Academy, collaboration will be central in all stages of the process. All members of our community will have opportunities to convey feedback, share big ideas, and offer input in the creation of our new plan. We look forward to you joining us.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE DESIGN TEAM:
October 22, 2024
The Design Team will hold three, two-hour “think tanks”—a morning coffee with parents, an after-school meeting with employees, and an early evening meeting with parents—as part of need-finding listening sessions that will help shape the trajectory of the work to come.
February 1, 2025
An intensive six-hour on-campus Community Design Day will allow anyone in the Cary Academy community to join the Design Team for a creative brainstorming session around previously identified areas of inquiry. Work from this session will be instrumental in shaping the solutions and strategies pursued in the solutions-focused phase two.
