Sacred Heart Greenwich embarked on the strategic planning process in the fall of 2022 to connect with students, parents, alumnae, the Board of Trustees, past parents, and friends to create a path for Pursuing Excellence that will positively impact the school for generations.

Sacred Heart Greenwich partnered with Greenwich Leadership Partners to conduct focus groups and a Strategic Design Survey.  It included a student survey for students in grades 5-12 and an online survey for all adult stakeholder groups. The survey ran from October 7-29, 2022, and included both quantitative and qualitative questions. 

The focus groups and survey focused on:

• The overall experience at Sacred Heart Greenwich
• Effectiveness and experience with Goals and Criteria, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Sacred Heart Greenwich
• Experience with learning, including specific elements of curriculum and program
• Priorities for the future

Pursuing Excellence is the plan that evolved from survey feedback and will serve as a road map that helps Sacred Heart Greenwich strengthen its mission, vision, and commitment to the values instilled through the Goals and Criteria.

Strategic Design Team Co-Chairs

Michael F. Baber, President
Imma De Stefanis, RSCJ, Ph.D., Trustee

Committee

• Kevin Bailey, Director of Academics
• Jenn Bensen, P’10, H’15, Director of Student Leadership, Health & Wellness
• Dreux Dubin Claiden, ’77, P ’13, Former Trustee
• Lisa Burke Fallon, ’89, P ’22, ’25, Former Trustee
• India Knight, ’12, Alumna  
• Cynthia Mansfield, Assistant Early Childhood Education Director
• Ryan Sfreddo, P ’24, ’25 Current Trustee
• Siobhan Toohey, P ’22, ’24, ’25, ’34, Former Parents Association President
• Joseph Valentine, Upper School History Faculty 

In January of 2024, the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee successfully moved into the third phase of our year-one initiatives as detailed below. 

In the spirit of collaboration and inclusivity, the committee formed nine working groups that are focused on different components of the three foundational pillars of our plan Advance, Engage, and Invest. These pillars will guide our progress across the following nine working groups: (i) Academics, (ii) Arts, (iii) Athletics, (iv) Educator Recruitment, Retention, Professional Development and Evaluation, (v) Women of Spirituality & Service, (vi) Student Leadership, (vii) Student Experience, (viii) Student Support, and (ix) Building and Grounds, Capital Improvements, and Investment. These working groups are comprised of passionate faculty members, dedicated staff, trustees, and engaged parents, each bringing a unique perspective to key areas of focus and future investment.  

The collaboration among these diverse stakeholders will ensure a thoughtful exploration to identify opportunities, address challenges, drive innovation, determine campus space requirements (or enhancements), and propose strategies to achieve our goals.

By March 2024, each working group will deliver a comprehensive report outlining their findings and recommendations. These recommendations will be evaluated by the Implementation Committee and serve as a roadmap in guiding the implementation of strategic initiatives that align with our shared mission and vision for Sacred Heart Greenwich.

Next Steps

The Board of Trustees has created a Strategic Planning Committee that is tasked with operationalizing Pursuing Excellence in an effort to establish and prioritize action items specific to the objectives of ADVANCE, ENGAGE, and INVEST.

January 2024: The Strategic Plan Implementation Committee successfully moved into the third phase of our year-one initiatives as detailed above.

March 2024: The Implementation Working Groups will deliver a comprehensive report outlining their findings and recommendations. These recommendations will be evaluated by the Implementation Committee and serve as a roadmap in guiding the implementation of strategic initiatives that align with our shared mission and vision for Sacred Heart Greenwich.