During the 2007-2008, the Atlanta Speech School’s leadership worked through an inclusive strategic planning process that included time spent listening to and considering input from parents, volunteers and staff. With the feedback received from those most closely involved with the work and oversight of the organization, our Board and staff leadership gathered to hone the framework of a new Strategic Plan, officially adopted by our Board of Directors at its September, 2009 meeting. Please see this plan’s key pillars outlined here.
The staff leadership works not only from this summary, but also from a very detailed Action Plan with measurable outcomes and assigned responsible staff, and a timeline. These documents provide a blueprint for the priorities of the Atlanta Speech School during the next few years.
Also, as a result of the strategic planning process, we crafted a new Mission Statement, along with two Primary Values and Core Principles. These guide and reflect our work and aspirations. We believe their words represent the essence of what we do at the Atlanta Speech School.
We would like to thank all those who participated in the Strategic Planning process.
We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress in meeting the Plan’s goals over the
next few years.
Key areas of focus for the Strategic Goals:
• Programs and Services
• Students, parents, and families
• School Staff
• External Communications, and Relationships
• Funding, Finance and Resources
• Plant and Facilities
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Goal and Rationale:
Ensure that each child and adult in every program receives individually-focused services that are research-based and reflect our legacy of excellence.
– Our standard is unequivocal excellence in every program.
– Our success in meeting that standard is measured by the quality of the experience and the depth of impact on each individual we serve through clearly defined expectations and outcomes.
Action Steps:
Establish the Anne & Jim Kenan Preschool as a model language-based preschool
Promote cross-departmental collaboration through information sharing and academic/clinical consultation to maximize the knowledge-base of all our staff for the benefit of children we serve
Enhance services of the Stepping Stones preschool program
Support the continued development of the Rollins Center for Language & Learning
Enhance partnerships with colleges and universities, healthcare providers, and other allied agencies to foster opportunities for applied research, internship training, professional development, and staff recruitment
Evaluate systematically the effectiveness of our work
STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND FAMILIES
Goal and Rationale:
Foster a culture of warmth, connection, and inclusion
- Our commitment is a relationship of highest trust with each child and family we serve.
- Our lifetime connection with each child and family is founded in that relationship and fostered by the School’s continuing sense of responsibility as a resource to support the child’s best interests. “Once a Speech School family always a Speech School family.”
Action Steps:
Educate parents and families about all School programs and departments
Enhance communications with parents
Facilitate positive relationships within the entire Speech School community
Establish an Alumni Association
SCHOOL STAFF
Goal and Rationale:
Be the best environment for exceptional professionals to serve and lead in our fields.
– Our success is dependent upon our recruiting, developing, and supporting an exceptional faculty and staff.
– Our staff must possess extraordinary intellect, heart, and resolve.
Action Steps:
Develop human resources services to recruit, develop, and support an exceptional staff
Strengthen our professional learning community to encourage and support continued development of staff
Improve school-wide communication
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Goal and Rationale:
Communicate the depth and breadth of impact of our services and expertise.
– Our staff’s wealth of collective knowledge is fully available to each of our professionals.
– Our intellectual capacity and experience are shared with other professionals and opinion leaders beyond our School in providing children the best language and literacy foundation.
– Our access and interaction with the leading researchers in the world are integral to our staff’s most effective application of their research.
Action Step:
Create and implement a comprehensive external communications program that utilizes a variety of media and methods to reach all constituents
FUNDING/FINANCE/RESOURCES
Goal and Rationale:
The Atlanta Speech School will fund ongoing operations and the priorities outlined in the strategic plan and position the organization for long-term financial stability.
- Our practice is prudent stewardship of resources and thoughtful planning for future needs and opportunities.
Action Steps:
Ensure the continued viability of the School
Nurture relationships with current donors, broaden the base of support, and increase the School’s financial resources
PLANT/FACILITIES
Goal and Rationale:
The Atlanta Speech School will ensure that our facilities support current services and operations and respond to future needs.
- Our commitment is to provide facilities that promote best outcomes for children and best practices in teaching, therapy, and training.
Action Steps:
Maintain and update facilities considering energy use, environmental issues, and cost effectiveness
Address the impact of current and changing programs on infrastructure