Allentown School District
Strategic Planning Process
Strategic Planning Process
At the start of the 2023-2024 school year, the Allentown School District issued a Request for Proposals in order to partner with an outside organization to develop a Strategic Plan. The District selected Insight Education, which was board-approved on October 12, 2023. A Kick-Off event was held in November and the Steering Committee began to meet on a monthly basis starting in December.
The development process prioritized creating a strategic plan that reflected the needs and voices of our entire learning community. Over the course of six months, more than 5,000 individuals completed surveys or participated in various focus groups and advisory committees that collaborated with student and community needs in mind.
The community’s contributions and dedication have been instrumental in the development of this plan, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the comprehensive stakeholder engagement process.
Phase I Learning & Leading
Phase II Strategic Plan
Phase III Implement and Monitor
The focus of Phase I was to learn about bright spots and opportunities for improvement by leading community conversations that empower all of us to learn what we need to do to get better together.
The focus of Phase II was to convene cross-functional planning teams to develop a 5-Year Strategic Plan that will guide the District through a process of developing priorities and goals to bring clear focus to the organization.
The focus of Phase III will be implementing the Strategic Plan with discipline, focus, and accountability while monitoring our progress and making necessary adjustments along the way.
The Strategic Plan process includes three phases: Learning and leading, developing the Strategic Plan, and implementing and monitoring the plan. Phase I evolved in response to the Learning & Leading tour which was Dr. Carol D. Birks’ first order of business upon her arrival to the Allentown School District. The Learning & Leading tour was a fact-finding initiative to canvas, listen to, and learn from the community to understand their collective vision for the Allentown School District. As a result of this comprehensive and exhaustive research, a White Paper Transforming the Central Office in Service to Schools, was produced, leading to a Theory of Action for transforming into a model district.
Stakeholder Engagement
The development process prioritized creating a strategic plan that reflected the needs and voices of our entire learning community. Over the course of six months, more than 5,000 individuals completed surveys or participated in various focus groups and advisory committees that collaborated with student and community needs in mind.
This living document is our roadmap to student success.
Let us embark on this journey together!
Strategic Planning Implementation
We Get Better Together, All of Our Strengths Are Needed!
Leading up to 2030 is our chance to transform our vision into reality. We will build this roadmap together by staying focused, disciplined, and accountable. Here are the keys to our success:
- Empowering Leadership Teams - Passionate teams of educators, caregivers, and community members will champion each strategic area. They will be our guides, ensuring every step brings us closer to our goals.
- Open Communication & Collaboration - Transparency is key to accountability. Regular updates will flow freely to the Board, staff, students, and our entire community. We will foster ongoing dialogue and actively seek your feedback to shape informed decisions.
- Building a Sustainable Future - We will strategically allocate resources – people, funding, and time – to ensure the plan’s viability. Implementation will be phased, allowing for continuous assessment and adjustments.
Our Collaborative Journey (2024-2025 to 2029-2030)
- Planning: We will create detailed blueprints with identified priority leaders and teams, resources, progress metrics, and potential challenges for each strategic action.
- Launch: We will implement the actions, monitor its effectiveness closely, and refine as needed before full-scale implementation.
- Implementation: With robust support in place, we will execute the action across the entire district.
- Sustained Success: This is a continuous process. Constant monitoring and adjustments will ensure the long-term success of each strategy.