Head of School

Strategic Planning

Dear parents,
 
The Tower Hill Board of Trustees had its first meeting of the year. We have talented and dedicated trustees, and Board Chair Michelle Shepherd and I are committed to sharing news and relevant topics with you from time to time throughout the year.
 
To this end, we spent a good portion of this first trustee meeting reviewing a summary of the market research conducted last spring. One of Tower Hill’s institutional goals this year is to engage in a thorough and bold strategic planning process, reaffirming our mission, defining bold differentiators for Tower Hill, and positioning the school as the leader in independent schools locally and nationally. A first step in our strategic planning process began last year, when we partnered with Art & Science on this market-informed institutional strategy and positioning study. Thank you for participating in this research through the feedback and input you offered.
 
I would like to invite all Tower Hill parents to hear directly from Art & Science about the summary of findings. This research will provide a foundation for our continued strategic planning work. Please join me, Art & Science Principal David Strauss and members of our Strategic Planning Committee at an upcoming presentation offered at the following times:
 
Thursday, Oct. 6, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Math and Science Center Lecture Hall
Thursday, Oct. 6, 7-8 p.m., Math and Science Center Lecture Hall
 
 
Our trustees, faculty, staff and strategic planning committee will also have the opportunity to hear and discuss these findings. The newly formed strategic planning committee will be led by Chair/Trustee Ben du Pont ‘82 and Co-Chair/THS parent Julia Stone, with the following additional members:
 
Jon Abramczyk, Trustee, P ‘15, ‘18
Arturo Bagley, History Faculty Member  
Madeleine Bayard ‘97, Rodel Foundation of Delaware
Sutton Faller, Quintiles, P ‘20, ‘22
Paul Harrell, Delaware Commission on Early Education and the Economy
Dan Hickey, Ed.D., Head of Upper School/Assistant Head of School, P ‘18, ‘22
Eric Johnson, M.D., Trustee, P ‘16, ‘18
Orin S. Kerr, J.D., George Washington University
Teresa Messmore, Director of Communications and Marketing, P ‘27 and ‘29
Lois Miller, Home and School Association Vice President, P ‘18, ‘22, ‘25
Anthony Pisapia, Chief Innovation and Information Officer, P ‘25, ‘27, ‘31
David P. Roselle, Ph.D., Trustee, GP ‘19, ‘21
Michelle Shepherd, Chair of the Board of Trustees, P ‘20, ‘22
Bessie Speers, Head of School, P ‘19
Leslie Sysko, English Department Chair, P ‘21, ‘24
Tim Weymouth, Science Faculty Member, P ‘27
 
This team of individuals represents our school community through various perspectives as educators, alumni, parents, trustees and administrators; we will provide more detail about these committee members' expertise and experience through TowerNet. We will also enlist guidance from those whom we ultimately serve: our students. I look forward to keeping you apprised of the strategic planning committee’s progress as the year unfolds.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth C. Speers
Head of School
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