STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030
Dear Aquinas family and friends, For 70 years, Aquinas High School has formed young women and men, through Catholic education, to be servant leaders in the light and truth of the Gospel of Jesus. To ensure the values and traditions continue for the next 70 years, we launched a comprehensive Strategic Planning process last March and concluded the work in September 2025. Guided by our Catholic mission, our Strategic Planning Committee (SPC)—comprised of Advisory Board members, alumni, current faculty and staff, parents, students, community members, and friends of Aquinas—engaged in six months of careful listening and analysis. We conducted campus interviews, community surveys, and focus groups; reviewed enrollment and financial trends; and reflected deeply on our Catholic identity and the needs of students and families in San Bernardino and surrounding cities. From this work, three operating focus areas emerged that will shape Aquinas for the years ahead: 1.Enrollment and Admissions 2.Funding 3.Student Experience The SPC is translating these priorities into an internal implementation plan with specific goals, timelines, and clear ownership. The Advisory Boards will monitor progress, and we will report milestones to our community each year. This plan gives Aquinas a renewed foundation to remain a vibrant, co-educational, Catholic high school—fully alive in faith and committed to excellence. We are grateful to everyone who contributed time, insight, and prayer to this process. In the months ahead, we will invite alumni, parents, and friends to join us in advancing these strategic initiatives—through advocacy, expertise, and philanthropic support—so that no student is turned away for financial reasons and every Falcon is known, challenged, and loved. May God bless these efforts and continue to use Aquinas High School to form servant leaders in the classrooms, on our stages, and across our fields of play. With gratitude, Dr. Chris Barrows Executive Director of School Development, Aquinas High School Dr. Amanda Egan Principal, Aquinas High School
STRATEGIC PLAN
MISSION STATEMENT
Aquinas’ mission is to form, through Catholic education, young men and women to be servant leaders in the light and truth of the Gospel of Jesus.
STRATEGIC PLAN
ENROLLMENT & ADMISSIONS CURRENT STATE: Enrollment has grown from 530 to 652 since 2018. Aquinas’ highly qualified admissions director of 12 years will retire in 2026. The school has also gradually increased financial aid, reaching a total of $1.7 million in need-based assistance in 2025.
GOAL #1 - Ensure the hiring of a highly qualified and effective Admissions Director. GOAL #2 - Avoid complacency by developing and executing a strong, datainformed marketing plan.
FUTURE STATE: To sustain its facilities, programs, and personnel, Aquinas must maintain steady enrollment. As of July 1, 2026, the school will welcome a new admissions director. Although Aquinas awarded $1.7 million in need-based aid, the demand for financial support continues to exceed available resources. To meet this growing need and ensure access to a Catholic education for all eligible students, the school’s endowment must expand.
STRATEGIC PLAN
GOAL #3 - Expand financial aid opportunities for students by growing the school’s endowment. GOAL #4 - Gain a clear understanding of the optimal enrollment number to guide strategic planning and resource allocation.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE CURRENT STATE:
Aquinas offers a comprehensive range of student support services. Catholic identity remains vibrant, supported by an active Campus Ministry team of approximately 100 students. In recent years, Aquinas has expanded its campus with new classrooms and has invested in substantial facility upgrades. The school provides a broad array of advanced academic opportunities, including a growing dual enrollment program. Aquinas maintains an established AI usage guide and continues to be a leader in educational technology integration.
FUTURE STATE:
Although Aquinas offers strong support services, a more fully developed MTSS framework will further enhance students’ social, emotional, behavioral, academic, and spiritual growth. Expanded education in artificial intelligence and the development of robust career pathways will also be essential in preparing students for the next five years. As student opportunities continue to grow, Aquinas must further develop its facilities to support and house these emerging programs.
STRATEGIC PLAN
GOAL #1 - Strengthen Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) through a recognized ASCA aligned school counseling program and the retention of a mental health counselor and specialized academic instructor. GOAL #2 - Expand student access to career pathways and college enrichment opportunities by partnering with colleges and industry leaders. GOAL #3 - Enhance Catholic Identity by increasing meaningful, student-led and family-supported faith opportunities throughout campus life, while promoting an inclusive environment for non-Catholic students.
GOAL #4 - Expand campus facilities by adding designated spaces for extracurricular activities and student services. GOAL # 5-Advance academic rigor through strengthened AP/Honors and dual enrollment programs and by developing students’ capacity to engage with AI tools responsibly, ethically, and skillfully in preparation for college, career, and future innovation.
FUNDING CURRENT STATE: Aquinas is fiscally stable and wellpositioned, yet there remain key areas for strategic growth that will significantly strengthen long-term financial health and sustainability.
FUTURE STATE: Aquinas aims to actively engage the entire community to grow endowed funds and secure the resources needed to support future priority projects.
STRATEGIC PLAN
GOAL #1 - Continue growing the endowment with a priority being to expand financial aid and teacher salaries. GOAL #2 - Expanding and further developing the planned giving program.
GOAL #3 - Secure sustainable funding for identified capital improvements and systems-based projects.
VISION STATEMENT Our vision is to be the high school of choice in San Bernardino and surrounding cities including private, public, and charter high schools. We aspire to be fully enrolled while providing a learning environment where every student is known personally. We will support students and their families by ensuring demonstrated financial need is not a barrier to a Catholic education. Students will learn in an innovative facility designed to promote collaboration, where they are formed by highlyskilled faculty and staff. We will cultivate students spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually, creating a transformational student experience. STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC PLANNING CORE PLANNING TEAMS STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE Dr. Chris Barrows Dr. Amanda Egan ‘00 Ms. Amber Lejay Mr. Ron Simmons Mrs. Khiarra Ward ‘11 Mr. Mike Beckley ‘92 Mr. Mike Riddell ‘69 Mrs. Janette Venegas Mr. Daryl Pegram
MARKETING & ADMISSIONS Ms. Rina Dakanay ‘02 Mr. George Anagnostopoulos ‘03 Mr. Jim Herries Mr. Ed Bonadiman ‘91 Mr. Nick Karavedas Ms. Lianna Pasimio ‘25 Dr. Amanda Egan ‘00 Mrs. Belinda Sandoval Zazueta
STUDENT EXPERIENCE Ms. Amber Lejay Mrs. Khiarra Ward ‘11 Mr. Daryl Pegram Mr. Ron Simmons Ms. Anette Carlos ‘14 Mr. Jonathan Keck Mr. Chuck Street ‘69 Mrs. Monica Alejandre ‘91 Ms. Samantha Olaniyan ‘26
FUNDING Mrs. Sue McConnell Mrs. Monica Alejandre ‘91 Mrs. Marie Hellrich ‘92 Mr. Mike Riddell ‘69 Mr. Malachi Jones ‘25 Mr. Mike Beckley ‘92 Dr. Chris Barrows Mrs. Tresha Roches
STRATEGIC PLAN
quinas high school
o t d e t t i m Com
Teaching Excellence
Endowment
Aquinas is committing up to $400,000 in matching funds for any donation to the Committed to Teaching Excellence Endowment. This initiative is designed to ensure our teachers receive salaries competitive with public schools while continuing to provide students with the most supportive and mission-driven Catholic educational environment. Every gift you make will be matched, doubling your impact in honoring our teachers and strengthening the future of Catholic education at Aquinas. Use the QR code below to make your gift today.