Strategic Plan

Introduction and Context

Since the creation of the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, Saint Joseph High School has implemented a school culture based on being positive, joyful, welcoming, supportive, and inclusive; persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic; increased diversity in the student body; implemented Indiana Graduation Pathways as new graduation requirements; welcomed the expansion of the Indiana Choice Scholarship; adopted Huskies as the new school nickname; and had much success in athletics and co-curricular activities.  

Through our commitment to spiritual development,  rigorous academics, student support, engaging co-curriculars, and a highly competitive athletics program, Saint Joseph High School remains a leader in Catholic secondary education.  This document, the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, will guide the school as we adapt to meet emerging needs and new challenges while continuing to commit to our mission, strive for excellence, and prepare each student to be intellectually competent, faith-filled, and globally responsible.  

Strategic Planning Process

The 2025-2030 strategic planning process began in winter 2023-2024. A Strategic Planning Committee was formed, engaging members of the school board, administration, faculty, and parents, along with additional stakeholders who contributed through working committee meetings.   

To gather input, the committee surveyed all faculty, staff, current parents, alumni, alumni parents, and 11th and 12th grade students. More than 350 responded. Additionally, a series of town hall meetings provided an opportunity for in-person discussions on the emerging plan. Facilitated by members of the Strategic Planning Committee and school administration, these sessions were promoted through personal outreach, newsletters, and electronic communications. Faculty also contributed ideas through dedicated strategic planning meetings, while students participated in lunchtime and after-school sessions led by school administrators. 

From Spring 2024 through Winter 2025, the Strategic Planning Committee and school board members reviewed feedback, articulated vision statements and strategic priorities, and drafted the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. After circulating the draft for further input, the committee finalized the plan, which consists of three enduring vision statements and fifteen supporting objectives.

Saint Joseph High School strives to be a model Catholic school, one that is:

Vibrantly Catholic, a Place Where All Encounter Christ

Saint Joseph High School is a beacon of Catholic education where faith permeates every aspect of school life. Our vision is to create an environment where the Saint Joe family both deepens their understanding of Catholic teachings and encounters Christ daily. We are a community that practices faith and lives it authentically, preparing our students to be disciples in the modern world.

A Community Where Every Person is Known, Loved, and Belongs 

Saint Joseph High School is a community where every individual feels known, loved, and valued. Our vision is to create an environment that celebrates diversity, fosters meaningful relationships, and nurtures a sense of belonging for all. We build a school culture where everyone feels connected to one another and to the mission of our school, creating a true community in Christ.

Committed to the Growth and Future Success of Each Student 

Saint Joseph High School nurtures the holistic growth of students, empowering each of them to reach their full potential academically, personally, and spiritually. Our vision is to provide a rigorous and personalized educational experience that prepares students not just for college and careers, but for lives of purpose and impact in a rapidly changing world.

Living our Vibrant Catholic Identity 

Objective 1: Spotlight Catholic Identity that is at the foundation of all subject areas and extracurricular activities. 

Objective 2: Deepen faith formation for students, faculty, and staff.

Objective 3: Facilitate a faith experience at Saint Joe, both inside and outside the classroom, that is joyful and personally meaningful for students.  

Building a Community of Belonging

Objective 1: Bolster support for student social-emotional well-being. 

Objective 2: Maintain a school culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion. 

Objective 3: Embrace and deepen school spirit. 

Objective 4: Foster greater staff camaraderie and provide support for employee wellness. 

Objective 5: Strengthen alumni and parent engagement.

Pursuing Academic Excellence

Objective 1: Implement school-wide practices that strengthen student learning.

Objective 2: Foster professional growth through faculty collaboration.

Ensuring Our Legacy 

Objective 1: Elevate philanthropic and financial support of the school. 

Objective 2: Bolster brand recognition and maintain optimal enrollment. 

Objective 3: Attract and retain high quality faculty and staff to meet emerging needs.

Objective 4: Provide long term investment in facilities.

Objective 1:  Spotlight Catholic Identity that is at the foundation of all subject areas and extracurricular activities. 

Action Steps:

1.1  Provide training, support, resources, and collaboration time for faculty to integrate Catholic context and content within each discipline.  

1.2  Support coaches and club moderators in infusing Catholic Identity to a greater degree into their team or club culture.  

1.3  In the hiring process, seek both religious and lay personnel who will be invested in preparing our students to be disciples in the modern world and for citizenship in heaven.  

 

Objective 2:  Deepen faith formation for students, faculty, and staff.

Action Steps:

2.1  Strengthen faculty and staff participation in student retreats. 

2.2  Implement an optional overnight student retreat program. 

2.3  Institute a summer retreat for students in leadership positions. 

2.4  Expand spiritual formation for faculty and staff.  

2.5  Develop an internship program for college students to participate in ministry at Saint Joe.

 

Objective 3:  Facilitate a faith experience at Saint Joe, both inside and outside the classroom, that is joyful and personally meaningful for students.  

Action Steps:

3.1  Implement a school-wide virtue program across academic and extracurricular experiences.

3.2  Support students in connecting the teaching of the Catholic faith with their everyday actions, interactions, and decisions within and outside of school.

3.3  Increase collaboration among faculty, staff, chaplains, parents, and pastoral ministers in shaping the student faith experience. 

3.4  Engage more students in meaningful service. 

Objective 1:  Bolster support for student social-emotional well-being. 

Action Steps: 

1.1 Explore and implement a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) to provide academic, behavioral and social-emotional interventions for students. 

1.2  Introduce programs, groups, and/or workshops focusing on social-emotional well-being.

1.3  Implement an annual school climate survey. 

 

Objective 2:  Maintain a school culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion. 

Action Steps: 

2.1  Maintain an annual calendar of activities to celebrate diversity.  

2.2  Provide professional development in cultural proficiency for faculty and staff.  

2.3  Through hiring practices, expand diversity in the faculty and staff.

 

Objective 3:  Embrace and deepen school spirit.

Action Steps: 

3.1  Increase both student attendance and spirit at athletic contests and extracurricular activities.

3.2  Increase student involvement in extracurricular activities with the goal of every student being involved in at least one activity. 

 

Objective 4:  Foster greater staff camaraderie and provide support for employee wellness. 

Action Steps:

4.1  Maintain the social and wellness committee to further build community and foster wellness through a variety of activities and programs throughout the school year.  

4.2  Clarify internal procedures for employees to resolve concerns.  

4.3  Provide more time for departmental and cross-departmental collaboration.

 

Objective 5:  Strengthen alumni and parent engagement. 

Action Steps:

5.1  Institute a parent advisory group for athletics.

5.2  Implement young alumni focused events.

5.3  Provide opportunities for parents and alumni to participate in community building activities.

5.4  Create displays in the building and at athletic venues to increase alumni and parent connection.

Objective 1:  Implement school-wide practices that strengthen student learning.

Actions Steps - Curricular

1.1 Engage in a collaborative process to revise or re-establish the Saint Joseph High School graduate outcomes.  

1.2 Maintain high expectations for students to meet rigorous academic standards within the curriculum.

1.3 Adapt the Saint Joe curriculum to meet the new Indiana graduation requirements while ensuring that students are highly prepared for success in college.  

1.4 Broaden course offerings and community partnerships, expanding opportunity for students to pursue career-related coursework. 

 

Actions Steps - Instructional Practices

1.5 Develop and implement an instructional framework, outlining research-based teaching practices to ensure deep learning in academic content and SJHS graduate outcomes.

1.6 Implement differentiated instructional practices and interventions to meet the diverse needs of students.

1.7 Establish policies and best practices related to the use of Artificial Intelligence in education.  

 

Objective 2: Foster professional growth through faculty collaboration.

Actions Steps:

2.1 Provide engaging, robust, coordinated, professional development opportunities for teachers. 

2.2 Collaboratively explore instructional strategies,  ensure vertical alignment of content and skills, and engage in educational research. 

2.3 Encourage faculty to engage in peer observations with feedback and to implement innovative teaching practices.

Objective 1:  Elevate philanthropic and financial support of the school.

Action Steps: 

1.1 Cultivate stronger connections with parents and alumni to foster greater support for the mission of Saint Joseph High School.  

1.2 Utilize authentic and engaging storytelling and a variety of media to spotlight the long-term impact of a Saint Joe education on graduates and the community.  

1.3 Enact innovative strategies to increase annual giving.

1.4 Expand the corporate sponsor and planned giving programs.   

 

Objective 2:  Bolster brand recognition and maintain optimal enrollment. 

Action Steps: 

2.1 Maintain optimal student enrollment, ensuring a transformative experience for all students.  

2.2 Continue to meet the demonstrated financial need of every admitted student.  

2.3 Expand engagement with Saint Joe partner schools.

2.4 Maintain and support a strategic marketing plan that:

• Builds brand recognition
• Supports student recruitment and enrollment efforts.
• Maintains strong and expansive social media engagement 
• Promotes the success and accomplishments of students and alumni

 

Objective 3:  Attract and retain high quality faculty and staff to meet emerging needs.

Action Steps: 

3.1 Use data and benchmarking to determine the optimal number of SJHS administration, faculty, and staff to support students and mission, and to meet strategic objectives. 

3.2 Bolster standard hiring and onboarding processes.  

 

Objective 4: Provide long term investment in facilities.

Action Steps: 

4.1 Conduct an annual review of school safety practices.

4.2 Develop a long-term financial plan for facility upkeep.   

4.3 Plan and launch a campaign for a capital expansion. 

• Determine visionary programmatic priorities and opportunities; and related facility needs.
• Conduct a feasibility study for a campaign based on the vision and needs.  
• Launch a campaign and capital expansion project.  

The successful realization of our enduring vision statements and strategic objectives requires a collaborative approach to implementation and monitoring.  This section details our approach to turning our vision into reality over the next five years (2025 - 2030).

The Saint Joseph High School School Board, Principal, and Administrative Team will drive the implementation of this Strategic Plan.  They will evaluate progress toward objectives and ensure that action steps are accomplished in a timely manner.  

All stakeholders, including school board, administration, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, friends, and supporters will be expected to be invested in our three enduring vision statements and will be responsible for continually striving to be a model Catholic school that is:

• Vibrantly Catholic, a Place Where All Encounter Christ
• A Community Where Every Person is Known, Loved, and Belongs
• Committed to the Growth and Future Success of Each Student  

The fourteen strategic objectives in this plan are intended to support the enduring vision statements.  The table below lists the school board committees, internal teams, administrators, and key personnel that will assume primary responsibility for the implementation of the objectives and action steps by section.  Those primarily responsible, in conjunction with the School Board and Principal, will develop a timeline and metrics to drive the implementation of the action steps and realization of the objectives.  All faculty and staff will be involved in the execution of the action steps.  Changing circumstances may require modifications to specific action steps to ensure progress toward strategic objectives.