FROM THE INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL

ANDREA SCHOKKER

Reprinted from The Hilltopper Magazine, Spring 2024

 

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If you spend any time perusing our website, you may have recently noticed a new message:

HERE, YOU CAN THRIVE.

For me, this encapsulates the essence of the Hilltopper experience. Each student brings something important and unique to our community, and in turn, our exceptional teachers and staff support them in thriving as learners and individuals. The more a student engages in our community, the more they take advantage of what Marshall offers. As a result, we all thrive as individuals, together, within a healthy community.

We have recently been crafting a new Strategic Plan, developed with the support of the Board of Trustees, to provide a roadmap for continuous growth and elevation in excellence over the coming years. Marshall faculty and staff met in committees to explore several core areas, and developed objectives and action items to guide the use of our resources to effectively support and build on our mission, “Inspiring lifelong learners to embrace challenge and create positive change.” The resulting Strategic Plan covers the following five core areas:

COMMUNITY and CULTURE

Cultivate a safe and vibrant community, nurtured by supportive relationships, that fosters respect and belonging while appreciating the uniqueness and contributions of each member.

THE EXPERIENCE

Provide engaging learning opportunities that facilitate personal growth, promote social responsibility, and offer diverse routes that challenge students to stretch their potential.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION

Engage in a collaborative journey towards greater equity and inclusion that reduces barriers, honors the humanity of each person, and explores diverse backgrounds, cultures, values, and perspectives.

FACILITY and SPACE

Plan and implement facility improvements that enhance safety, promote sustainability, and maximize flexibility.

FINANCIAL HEALTH and GROWTH

Develop strategic revenue growth to support a thriving school community.

Additionally, many of our current families expressed a desire to become more involved and connected with others in the Hilltopper community; we initiated a Parent Ambassador group as a starting point to gather feedback and support on this initiative, and our first kickoff meeting was filled with insightful discussion.

Reflecting on this time I’ve been fortunate enough to spend with Marshall students, faculty, and staff since last fall, my appreciation for the intentional academic and co-curricular experiences that our community fosters only grows.

Few people get to experience a school in the roles of parent, Trustee, and then Interim Head of School. Having that 360º perspective has solidified for me how big of a differentiator the Marshall experience is for our children to prepare them for their next steps. Prioritizing this experience for our son was one of the best decisions we ever made, even if we didn’t fully realize it at the time.

Andrea Schokker