About the
St. Luke's School
Strategic Plan
Our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan will put the “pencil to paper,” setting our plans into motion to make real impact.
Our Mission and Vision are the metal 'ferrule' of the pencil. They hold all of our work together.
Our Mission Serves Children.
We ignite curiosity for the world and for learning.
We instill confidence to advocate for themselves and for others.
We inspire courage to lead in service to our community, world, and future.
Our Vision
Our community offers each member a welcome place to unite knowledge with goodness. We believe that though learning may begin in the classroom, it’s what you do with these lessons that truly changes the world. The foundation of this requires the expansive and continuous work of fostering authentic inclusivity, a cornerstone of St. Luke’s School.
A PLACE AT THE TABLE • A PLACE IN THE CLASSROOM • A PLACE IN THE WORLD
The Strategic Pillars provide the structure that allows our Mission and Vision to be focused effectively.
The Strategic Priorities are the high level goals that sharpen the body/plan into a more distinct usable instrument.
The Tactical Initiatives are the detailed operational steps that allow us to write/live out our Strategic Plan – they are measurable actions.
What
is a Strategic Plan?
A strategic plan is a written document that outlines long-term goals, the strategies the school will use to achieve them, and the actions needed to execute those strategies, essentially serving as a roadmap for the school's future direction over a defined period, usually several years. It includes elements like vision, mission, core values, objectives, and specific action plans to measure success.
Why
create a Strategic Plan?
Schools strategically plan to provide a clear direction for the institution, aligning everyone involved around a shared vision, mission, and goals, enabling them to make informed decisions, effectively allocate resources, and ultimately improve student outcomes by proactively addressing challenges and seizing opportunities within their educational landscape.
What
is a Strategic Plan?
A strategic plan is a written document that outlines long-term goals, the strategies the school will use to achieve them, and the actions needed to execute those strategies, essentially serving as a roadmap for the school's future direction over a defined period, usually several years. It includes elements like vision, mission, core values, objectives, and specific action plans to measure success.
Why
create a Strategic Plan?
Schools strategically plan to provide a clear direction for the institution, aligning everyone involved around a shared vision, mission, and goals, enabling them to make informed decisions, effectively allocate resources, and ultimately improve student outcomes by proactively addressing challenges and seizing opportunities within their educational landscape.
This plan will give us an intentional path forward to achieve our shared vision, mission, and goals. It will foster continued collaboration among stakeholders, strengthen accountability, and position our school for sustained growth, realized opportunities, and excellence in the years ahead.
- Nikki Ferguson-Arnold -
Board Chair
This plan will give us an intentional path forward to achieve our shared vision, mission, and goals. It will foster continued collaboration among stakeholders, strengthen accountability, and position our school for sustained growth, realized opportunities, and excellence in the years ahead.
- Nikki Ferguson-Arnold -
Board Chair
From Leigh Harlan, Strategic Planning Committee Chair, about the Strategic Planning Process:
I am delighted to share the Strategic Plan for 2025–2030 with you. Serving as our roadmap for the next five years, this plan outlines a clear and exciting vision for the future of St. Luke’s School.
The greatest strengths of this plan lie in its mission-driven focus and its balance—it honors St. Luke’s fundamental commitment to academic rigor while ensuring that joy, creativity, belonging, and connection remain at the center of the student experience.
The planning process was itself designed to be grounded in the school’s existing mission and values. First, the process intentionally engaged a broad array of voices to ensure the plan reflects historical, current, and diverse perspectives. The Strategic Planning Committee, composed of 27 individuals, includes current and former parents and trustees as well as professional staff. Committee members’ expertise is varied and deep within their respective subject matters, ranging from educational administration and strategic planning to finance, brand marketing, project management, and professional development.
Second, the plan is a product of thoughtful and rigorous work, informed by a strong foundation of institutional knowledge. The Committee’s work not only built on prior strategic plans, but also on the extensive work completed for our latest New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) accreditation process.
Beginning in August 2024, Committee members reviewed key source documents, including the past three strategic plans, the 2020 St. Luke’s Self-Study (for our 2021 NYSAIS Accreditation), the 2021 NYSAIS Evaluation and Accreditation Report, Head of School Tracy Fedonchik’s 2023 Entry Plan, and various parent and community surveys. This review led to interviews with professional staff and additional document gathering. Throughout the fall and winter of 2024, the resulting information was considered, discussed among the Committee and with the administration, and ultimately distilled into recommendations for strategic priorities.
Following the Board of Trustees’ approval, these priorities were presented to the broader school community in Ms. Fedonchik’s spring 2025 State of the School address.
During the summer of 2025, the Operations Team, with Board oversight and Committee partnership, then formulated distinct, measurable initiatives to accomplish the priorities set by the plan. With the planning process complete, the Committee has now shifted its focus to supporting the plan's rollout and execution. The Board of Trustees will hold the Operations Team accountable for executing on the identified initiatives.
I believe I speak for the entire Committee when I say that, through the planning process, we became even more energized about the future of our school—inspired by its leadership, its dedicated faculty, and the tremendous opportunities ahead. We believe that the resulting plan is exactly what the school needs at this point in its evolution, providing clarity of focus and an overarching strategic framework as St. Luke’s moves purposefully ahead.
Importantly, the plan is both practical and aspirational. Each goal reflects the school's core values and is supported by a clear path to implementation. Yet, the plan also evidences a deep understanding of the evolving educational landscape and a commitment to meeting our students' expanding needs, ultimately preparing them not just for the next educational step, but for success beyond the academic walls.
Effective execution of this plan does, however, rest on all of us, as a community. Our community has always been one of St. Luke’s greatest strengths, and your continued partnership is essential as we bring this strategic plan to life. Specifically, we ask that families support the plan by remaining engaged; please:
- Attend programs that deepen your understanding of our goals and initiatives.
- Share your ideas and feedback.
- Give of your time and resources to help St. Luke’s invest in its faculty, facilities, and programs to expand opportunities for our students.
Together, we will shape a future worthy of our students’ limitless potential.
Warmly,
Leigh Harlan
Strategic Planning Committee Chair
The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan was made possible by many members of our community.
We need the entire community to help us make this strategic plan a reality. This is where St. Luke's particularly shines: all of us working together to bold and audacious goals.
- Holly Fogle -
Former Board Chair
Leadership:
Nikki Ferguson-Arnold, P’25 & P’29, Board Chair
Holly Fogle, P’20 & P’22, former Board Chair
Leigh Harlan, P’29, Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Trustees:
Nakiso Maodza, P’20, P’21, & P’27
Shelli Milks, World Language Teacher
Administrators:
Peggy Chen, P'23, P'27, & P'29, Chief Community Officer
Tracy Fedonchik, Head of School
Ayesha Long, Chief Equity & Belonging Officer
Erica Pettis, P'35, Chief Advancement Officer
Sheila Sheldon, Chief Finance & Operations Officer
Zahara Wignot, Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Faculty:
Courtney Runft, Dance Teacher
David Recht, P'22 & P'27, Grade 2 Teacher
Deepak Swamy, Upper School Science Teacher
Parents:
Sonia Berlin, P’29 & P'31
Clark Bien-Aime, P’29
Eric Cantor, P’30, P'32, & P'35
Allison Chadda, P'27 & P’29
Catherine Corry, P’23
Martin Dolfi, P’28, P'31, & P'34
Jenny Dutton, P’28, P'30, & P'33
Liz Goody, P’31 & P'33
Jasmine Mitchell, P’29 & P'32
Vernel Samuel, P’26 & P'30
Andrew Sia, P’25
Steve Song, P’26
Ray Strong, P’30
Alison Wong, P’29
The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan was made possible by many members of our community.
Leadership:
Nikki Ferguson-Arnold, P’25 & P’29, Board Chair
Holly Fogle, P’20 & P’22, former Board Chair
Leigh Harlan, P’29, Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Trustees:
Nakiso Maodza, P’20, P’21, & P’27
Shelli Milks, World Language Teacher
Administrators:
Peggy Chen, P'23, P'27, & P'29, Chief Community Officer
Tracy Fedonchik, Head of School
Ayesha Long, Chief Equity & Belonging Officer
Erica Pettis, P'35, Chief Advancement Officer
Sheila Sheldon, Chief Finance & Operations Officer
Zahara Wignot, Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Faculty:
Courtney Runft, Dance Teacher
David Recht, P'22 & P'27, Grade 2 Teacher
Deepak Swamy, Upper School Science Teacher
Parents:
Sonia Berlin, P’29 & P'31
Clark Bien-Aime, P’29
Eric Cantor, P’30, P'32, & P'35
Allison Chadda, P'27 & P’29
Catherine Corry, P’23
Martin Dolfi, P’28, P'31, & P'34
Jenny Dutton, P’28, P'30, & P'33
Liz Goody, P’31 & P'33
Jasmine Mitchell, P’29 & P'32
Vernel Samuel, P’26 & P'30
Andrew Sia, P’25
Steve Song, P’26
Ray Strong, P’30
Alison Wong, P’29
We need the entire community to help us make this strategic plan a reality. This is where St. Luke's particularly shines: all of us working together towards bold and audacious goals.
- Holly Fogle -
Former Board Chair
SEE AN OVERVIEW OF THE FULL PLAN
VISIT THE ST. LUKE'S SCHOOL WEBSITE
Built with Shorthand