Strategic Plan 2017–2026
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the plan

transform education

expand diversity

advance our campus

inspire generosity

reimagine finance

At Marin Academy, we believe that educational excellence should push the boundaries of what is known today in order to prepare students for a world we can’t even imagine tomorrow.

Every day, MA teachers and students work side-by-side immersing themselves deeply in their subjects while honing the ability to think critically and creatively.

And because many voices are welcomed and encouraged at MA, our students cultivate the tools they need to live their lives fully—and the inspiration to contribute as compassionate citizens to our world.

transform education

Beyond a siloed approach

Today’s complex, global, and interconnected world demands educated people to be able to think beyond traditional academic disciplines. MA students are writers and scientists and mathematicians and artists. They are intellectual and creative.

We have always pushed the boundaries. With this plan, we are going beyond them, working toward a non-siloed curriculum independent of academic departments that centers on authentic and relevant issues that affect individuals and society.

Our students will be empowered to make connections across and between disciplines to solve challenging dilemmas with no easy answers.

What’s Next?

  • Articulate MA’s unique educational approach
  • Develop pilot initiatives for a breakthrough education model
  • Embrace a leadership role in progressive education

expand diversity

Break down the barriers

In order for MA to be educational leaders, we must continue to define and redefine what it means to be a diverse and equitable community.

By encouraging and inspiring critical thinking, creativity, and empathy, diversity empowers students to learn and lead in a globally interconnected world. And the kind of compassion that comes from experiencing diverse perspectives is essential for developing tomorrow’s highly effective leaders.

We will confront the complex barriers related to race, socioeconomic status, geography, and gender to create an inclusive education with equity, access, and cultural fluency at its core.

What’s Next?

  • Clearly define MA’s specific vision of equity and inclusion
  • Create institutionally supported diversity initiatives to support our vision
  • Immediately begin implementing and cultivating new community norms that nurture diversity and inclusion

advance our campus

More than just buildings

Providing the best education to prepare our students for the world requires continuously growing and improving our campus. In doing so, we ensure our facilities nurture all dimensions of the student experience—academics, arts, athletics, and personal growth.

From our professional-level Performing Arts Center to our cutting edge LEED Platinum Certified Science + Innovation Center to our plans for a new competition sized pool, we must build to maintain our campus, we must accept no less than exceptional facilities.

Improving our campus helps ensure that we continue to attract and welcome students with varied interests who can enrich and benefit from the MA experience. We will invest in campus facilities that are as cutting edge as our education model.

What’s Next?

  • Define our goals, develop a timeline, and explore locations for a new competition-sized pool
  • Evaluate one-time costs (including land acquisition and construction) and ongoing operational costs with the Board of Trustees committees
  • Hire an architectural firm to review and update Vision 2030: Marin Academy’s Campus Master Plan

inspire generosity

Above and beyond donations

Everyone in the diverse and talented MA community has something to contribute.

We need the knowledge and expertise of our supporters. We need our families to contribute their time and energy as active members of our community. We need our alumni to be mentors and allies to the next generation of MA students. And financial contributions of any size do more than just affect our bottom line. This kind of giving inspires our young changemakers and nurtures a culture of generosity that allows us to reach all our goals as a community.

We don’t know what the future will bring. What we do know is that our ability to respond is in part determined by our community’s generosity of spirit.

We will strengthen our culture where every single member of our community understands that being the best requires their support.

What’s Next?

  • Articulate and define MA’s Strategic Plan to all members of our community
  • Develop plans to inspire all members of our community to contribute
  • Continue to prioritize developing alumni engagement opportunities for alumni
  • Create a compelling narrative around the Strategic Plan’s priorities and a financial plan to support them

reimagine finance

Past the traditional model

The Bay Area is expensive. It’s challenging for us to hire and retain the best faculty and staff. And paying full tuition is tough, even for families with seemingly strong finances.

If we want to continue to attract the best educators and admit the best students for MA—regardless of their ability to pay—we must think beyond the traditional financial models for independent schools.

We will reimagine our financial plan to diversify the ways we generate revenue, compensate our employees, and support our student body.

What’s Next?

  • Clarify the compensation needs and transportation barriers for our faculty and staff
  • Develop a 3-year expense plan and 3-year unified revenue plan that supports our goals
  • Explore alternative sources of revenue to supplement our tuition-based operations

transform education

Beyond a siloed approach

Today’s complex, global, and interconnected world demands educated people to be able to think beyond traditional academic disciplines. MA students are writers and scientists and mathematicians and artists. They are intellectual and creative.

We have always pushed the boundaries. With this plan, we are going beyond them, working toward a non-siloed curriculum independent of academic departments that centers on authentic and relevant issues that affect individuals and society.

Our students will be empowered to make connections across and between disciplines to solve challenging dilemmas with no easy answers.

What’s Next?

  • Articulate MA’s unique educational approach
  • Develop pilot initiatives for a breakthrough education model
  • Embrace a leadership role in progressive education

expand diversity

Break down the barriers

In order for MA to be educational leaders, we must continue to define and redefine what it means to be a diverse and equitable community.

By encouraging and inspiring critical thinking, creativity, and empathy, diversity empowers students to learn and lead in a globally interconnected world. And the kind of compassion that comes from experiencing diverse perspectives is essential for developing tomorrow’s highly effective leaders.

We will confront the complex barriers related to race, socioeconomic status, geography, and gender to create an inclusive education with equity, access, and cultural fluency at its core.

What’s Next?

  • Clearly define MA’s specific vision of equity and inclusion
  • Create institutionally supported diversity initiatives to support our vision
  • Immediately begin implementing and cultivating new community norms that nurture diversity and inclusion

advance our campus

More than just buildings

Providing the best education to prepare our students for the world requires continuously growing and improving our campus. In doing so, we ensure our facilities nurture all dimensions of the student experience—academics, arts, athletics, and personal growth.

From our professional-level Performing Arts Center to our cutting edge LEED Platinum Certified Science + Innovation Center to our plans for a new competition sized pool, we must build to maintain our campus, we must accept no less than exceptional facilities.

Improving our campus helps ensure that we continue to attract and welcome students with varied interests who can enrich and benefit from the MA experience. We will invest in campus facilities that are as cutting edge as our education model.

What’s Next?

  • Define our goals, develop a timeline, and explore locations for a new competition-sized pool
  • Evaluate one-time costs (including land acquisition and construction) and ongoing operational costs with the Board of Trustees committees
  • Hire an architectural firm to review and update Vision 2030: Marin Academy’s Campus Master Plan

inspire generosity

Above and beyond donations

Everyone in the diverse and talented MA community has something to contribute.

We need the knowledge and expertise of our supporters. We need our families to contribute their time and energy as active members of our community. We need our alumni to be mentors and allies to the next generation of MA students. And financial contributions of any size do more than just affect our bottom line. This kind of giving inspires our young changemakers and nurtures a culture of generosity that allows us to reach all our goals as a community.

We don’t know what the future will bring. What we do know is that our ability to respond is in part determined by our community’s generosity of spirit.

We will strengthen our culture where every single member of our community understands that being the best requires their support.

What’s Next?

  • Articulate and define MA’s Strategic Plan to all members of our community
  • Develop plans to inspire all members of our community to contribute
  • Continue to prioritize developing alumni engagement opportunities for alumni
  • Create a compelling narrative around the Strategic Plan’s priorities and a financial plan to support them

reimagine finance

Past the traditional model

The Bay Area is expensive. It’s challenging for us to hire and retain the best faculty and staff. And paying full tuition is tough, even for families with seemingly strong finances.

If we want to continue to attract the best educators and admit the best students for MA—regardless of their ability to pay—we must think beyond the traditional financial models for independent schools.

We will reimagine our financial plan to diversify the ways we generate revenue, compensate our employees, and support our student body.

What’s Next?

  • Clarify the compensation needs and transportation barriers for our faculty and staff
  • Develop a 3-year expense plan and 3-year unified revenue plan that supports our goals
  • Explore alternative sources of revenue to supplement our tuition-based operations