Duke School's 2017-2022 Strategic Plan

INNOVATION
Recognizing that students will require additional skills and habits of the mind to ensure they
can confront the complexity of challenges of the ever evolving global knowledge economy,
Duke School will appropriately grow and augment its project-based learning approach to
prepare our students to become inspired problem solvers of the future.
STRATEGY 1: Students need to understand the best processes for being innovative.
Hence, Duke School will enhance its project-based curriculum so that students explicitly
understand and employ design thinking.
RESOURCES REQUIRED/INPUTS:
• Dedicate programmatic/curricular staffing resources for internal innovation
• Work with teachers to integrate design thinking into project work
• Hire outside design thinking professional development consultants to work with faculty
STRATEGY 2: To be innovative, particularly in the long run, Duke School students and
employees need to be self-aware and be able to take care of themselves. Because students
and adults are bombarded with electronic distractions and temptations, they need a strong
set of self-regulation and technology management skills. Hence, Duke School will implement
a self-care curriculum and employee initiative.
RESOURCES REQUIRED/INPUTS:
• Create a schoolwide self-care curriculum which integrates self-care into the social
curriculum
• Hire a Lower School counselor who, along with the Middle School counselor, will oversee
the self-care curriculum
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES REQUIRED:
Funds to hire a Lower School counselor.
STRATEGY 3: Middle School students need to be able to explore their passions in low
risk environments. Hence, Duke School will extend the Middle School day to 6 PM (with the
3:30-6 PM time being optional) to allow students to explore a variety of activities.
RESOURCES REQUIRED/INPUTS:
• Securing additional program offerings to enhance after school experience
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES REQUIRED:
Hire program experts by fall 2018. Increase tuition or fees to cover additional costs.