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5000 Clubside Road
Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124-2595
440.423.4446
12465 County Line Road, P.O. Box 8002
Gates Mills, Ohio 44040-8002
440.423.4446
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A Year of Discovery
Hawken recently ended its Year of Discovery that began at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. The Board, faculty, administration and staff spent a considerable amont of time probing deeply into everything that makes Hawken the school it is. It was an attempt to continue to build upon those inveterate Hawken truths and continue to ascend the ranks as one of the nation's preeminent independent schools. Along the way, virtually every member of the Hawken School community – alumni, parents, faculty and staff among them – was invited to participate in the process.
Outlined below are the numerous components of that discovery process.
ISACS Accreditation: Hawken's Year of Discovery coincided with Year One of the Independent Schools Association of Central States (ISACS) accreditation process. The ISACS re-accreditation process is typically required of independent schools every seven years. During Year One, Hawken engaged in a self-study, detailing strengths, weaknesses and plans for the future.
Strategic Planning: Having seen the conclusion of the strategic plan set in place for 2001-2006, Hawken revisited and reaffirmed its mission, core beliefs and curriculum. Key staff members oversaw in-house analyses and evaluations of elements that are crucial to long-standing success.
Program Review: Monique DeVane, Associate Head of School, coordinated a program review. As part of the review, the faculty was divided into cross-divisional groups and asked to consider six guiding questions about Hawken’s offerings through the lens of their particular academic discipline. The review process included faculty recommendations and insights about program alignment and emerging trends for the School to consider.
External Message: A process to develop a strong external message was conducted. Consultant Mark Edwards, whose clients include colleges, universities, and independent schools throughout the U.S., helped develop a fully integrated message and marketing strategy consonant with the goals of the Offices of Development and Admissions.
Expense Analysis: In an effort to streamline and appropriately allocate expenses, Donna Pacchioni, Director of Financial and Administrative Services, oversaw an expense and efficiency review to ensure that Hawken makes the best use of its resources.
Governance: Lastly, Alan Rosskamm, President of our Board of Trustees, began a governance review to support the Board in its work.
Hawken School is poised to achieve new levels of the greatness to which James A. Hawken also commissioned his early staff to aspire. Vision, effort and commitment will be required during Hawken's Year of Discovery, but will lead the School to a deeper sense of purpose, and help Hawken to define it's place in the larger world.
Links
Year of Discovery Letter from Scott Looney to the Hawken Community
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