ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
Background & Purpose
St. Mary’s has served Orange County for more than half a century, the final—and what Father Sillers considered the crown jewel—of the several Episcopal schools he founded. What began as a small parish school has grown into a vibrant Early Preschool – Grade 8 community known for its warm culture, global outlook and commitment to nurturing both the hearts and minds of its students.
In recent years, St. Mary’s has embraced forward-leaning practices—including the IB framework, global competencies and human-centered problem-solving (often associated with design thinking)—positioning the school to model what excellent education can be. With the opening of its new Design Center and continued investment in innovative teaching, St. Mary’s is poised to clarify and strengthen the educational model that sets it apart. This strategic planning process comes at a pivotal moment. Families increasingly seek programs that prepare children for a rapidly changing world, and community input has revealed a desire for greater clarity around identity, academic philosophy and how St. Mary’s will distinguish itself among regional peers while learning from national innovators. The insights in this plan reflect perspectives gathered from faculty and staff, families, students, trustees and the Strategic Planning Committee, supported by regional and national research. Together, these strategic priorities chart a focused path forward—one that unifies the community, elevates program excellence and prepares students not only to understand the world, but to care about it and contribute to it meaningfully.
Situation Summary
Across the country, education sits at a turning point. Global challenges, rapid technological shifts and the accelerated rise of artificial intelligence are transforming what students must know and be able to do. As highlighted in the Situation Analysis, students will need far more than subject mastery— they will need ethical reasoning, crosscultural fluency, creativity, resilience and the ability to work with emerging technology. St. Mary’s is well-positioned for this moment: its emphasis on design thinking, global competencies and human-centered learning aligns precisely with the futureready skills identified by leaders in education and industry.
St. Mary’s operates within a complex and evolving educational marketplace, surrounded by three distinct peer groups: local religious schools, local independent schools and national innovators. Each peer set offers valuable lessons ranging from the power of tradition and community to the importance of academic strength and preparation for secondary school. National exemplars point to the rising demand for
integrated, future-facing approaches offering benchmarks for relevance and aspiration. Within this landscape, St. Mary’s has a unique opportunity: to distinguish itself as the only local school that pairs deep values and faith identity with a globally informed, human-centered, innovation-rich model of learning.
The internal review revealed strong alignment around St. Mary’s promise and potential, as well as clarity about where refinement is needed. Programmatically, the school has areas of excellence alongside inconsistencies, particularly in the Middle School experience. Culturally, the community is navigating the tension between honoring its Episcopal roots and embracing its more globally oriented, design-driven identity. Reputationally, St. Mary’s remains a “hidden gem”—admired by those who know it, but not widely recognized for the innovation it leads. The work ahead involves sharpening the school’s educational narrative, strengthening cohesion across divisions and faculty and elevating visibility, so that perception fully matches reality.
Dear St. Mary’s Community,
It is with great excitement that I share our new strategic plan, one that reflects both who we are and who the world calls us to be.
St. Mary’s stands at an extraordinary moment. With the opening of the Sillers Center, a groundbreaking Design Center built to spark imagination, collaboration and creative problem-solving, we have a campus that fully supports the kind of education today’s world urgently needs.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to developing young people with the capacity to care deeply and think boldly: world-sized hearts and world-class minds. Our students learn to engage rigorously with ideas, act with kindness, explore many perspectives, take responsibility for themselves and others and share their talents generously. These values have always defined St. Mary’s, and they anchor every priority in this plan.
We also know that our students will inherit a world filled with complexity and possibility. This plan empowers them to meet that world with creativity and courage, to define success not only by the meaningful lives they build for themselves, but by the solutions they create for others.
I am deeply grateful to our faculty, staff and families whose dedication and insight make this vision possible. Thank you for your trust in St. Mary’s and for joining us in this next chapter.
With gratitude and anticipation,
Doug Patterson Head of School
Dear St. Mary’s Community,
It has been a privilege to serve as the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. What you’ll find in this plan is a reflection of your ideas, hopes and vision for the future of St. Mary’s.
Over the past months, we listened deeply. Through parent sessions, faculty and staff conversations, student insights and community surveys, one message emerged unmistakably: our community is committed to ensuring St. Mary’s continues to thrive and evolve. Your engagement shaped every priority in this plan and ensured it reflects the values that define our school community.
This plan charts a clear and bold direction for the years ahead. Bringing it to life will require the dedication, generosity and partnerships that have always been St. Mary’s greatest strengths. I am confident that together—families, faculty, staff, trustees and alumni—we will realize the vision outlined here.
Thank you for your investment in this process and in the bright future of our school.
With gratitude,
Liz Kraninger Board Trustee & Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
With Gratitude To The Steering Committee
Jake Blazona | Alumni
Madlen Brauner | Faculty and Parent
Morgan Brown | Parent
Matt Clifford | Trustee and Parent
Kevin DeAllen | Trustee and Parent
Trent Jones | Staff
Liz Kraninger | Trustee and Parent
Henry Lee | Parent
Kate Levering | Parent
Dustin Mittelsteadt | Staff and Parent
Gordon McNeill | Trustee and Parent
Doug Patterson | Head of School
Ali Santore | Trustee and Parent
Jen Staudenbaur | Staff and Parent
Lauren Sterner | Staff and Parent
Sally Vandermolen | Parent
Heather Wilkins | Staff and Parent
Kelly Garrett Zeigler | Trustee and Parent
Strategic Planning Phases and Timeline 2025—2026
APRIL—MAY
Steering Committee Formation
Work Plan Design
Board Kick-Off
Steering Committee Kick-Off
JUNE—AUGUST Background Research
Steering Committee Workshop
Stakeholder Interviews
Community Survey
Environmental & Competitive Scan
SEPT.—DEC.
Community Ideation (x5)
Steering Committee Workshop
Strategic Plan Framework
Board Update & Input
Staff & Faculty Input
Community Survey
Steering Committee Affirmation
Understanding St. Mary’s in Context
JAN.—MAY
Board Plan Adoption
Community Rollout
Division Goal Setting
Implementation Planning
Accountability Structures Introduce Plan To The Community
To support St. Mary’s next strategic plan and brand strategy, this analysis situates the school within the broader educational landscape—examining the forces shaping learning today, relevant peer schools and the school’s internal strengths and opportunities. Together, these perspectives help St. Mary’s lead confidently, differentiate effectively and maximize its impact on students and the community.
The Bigger Picture: Forces Shaping the Future of Learning
Education is at a turning point. Global forces—from climate change to shifting economies—combined with rapid technological advancement and the rise of AI are reshaping how we live, work and learn. For St. Mary’s, this moment calls for a reaffirmation of its human-centered, future-focused approach. Design thinking and a global perspective are especially critical, preparing students with the adaptability, empathy and cross-cultural understanding that complement technical knowledge and translate across disciplines.
Key implications: Communicate why design thinking and global citizenship matter. Prioritize professional development in creativity, collaboration, ethical reasoning, cultural competence and technological literacy.
The Competitive Landscape: Market Realities and Peer Comparisons
St. Mary’s competes in a dynamic Orange County market where families are choosing among public schools, faith-based schools and college-prep independents. National leaders in design thinking and interdisciplinary learning—while not direct competitors—offer valuable lessons and inspiration. Examining both peer sets reveals where St. Mary’s stands out and how to strengthen its program and identity. Key implications: Leverage national trends to show local families that St. Mary’s delivers an innovative program on par with leading schools nationwide. Use storytelling to make student work tangible— demonstrating impact, not just aspiration. Position St. Mary’s as a local leader with national relevance rooted in Orange County but shaping what others may emulate.
Mission:
World-Sized Hearts. World-Class Minds.
Vision:
We envision a generation of globally-minded leaders who are grounded in purpose and inspired to design solutions for the world.
Values:
Our Values are the essence of our community —the principles upon which we make our daily decisions.
Stay Curious
At St. Mary’s, curiosity is our spark. It’s why we ask big questions, seek deeper understanding and design new possibilities for our shared future.
Be Kind
Compassion guides how we treat one another. By practicing empathy and care, we create a community where every person feels known, valued and respected.
Seek to Understand
Listening with openness helps us see through others’ eyes and recognize how every person’s story, shaped by culture, faith and experience, expands our understanding of the world.
Own Your Actions
We are each responsible for the mark we leave. At St. Mary’s, we care for ourselves and one another, learning from experience and intentionally choosing how we move forward.
Share Your Gifts
Each of us has creativity and purpose to offer. By sharing our ideas and talents generously, we contribute to something greater than ourselves.
