School Vision Presentation for EDUC 6234

1. Mercersburg Academy
Established 1893
Quentin McDowell
GWID: 35555244
EDUC 6234: Site Based Leadership: K-12
Sustained Internship #2 – Vision PowerPoint

2. School Mission
Mercersburg Academy prepares young men and
women from diverse backgrounds for college and for
life in a global community. Students at Mercersburg
pursue a rigorous and dynamic curriculum while
learning to live together harmoniously in a
supportive residential environment.
Mercersburg’s talented faculty instills in students the
value of hard work and the importance of character
community. These talented instructors teach
students to think for themselves, to approach life
thoughtfully and creatively, to thrive physically, to
act morally, to value the spiritual dimension of
human existence, and to serve others.

3. School Vision
Core Elements
1. Authenticity
 The school must always conduct itself in a fashion that is
true to its personality, spirit and character.
2. Relevance
 The school will strive to ensure all endeavors have social,
cultural or intellectual relevance.
3. Distinction
 The school will set itself apart from peer institutions by
providing a unique, supportive and challenging learning
environment.
4. Student Centered
 The school will always take a student-centered approach .

4. School Vision
Strategic Statements
Mercersburg believes1…
1. it is important to “meet students where they are” when
they arrive to most effectively and efficiently help them
develop skills they have and acquire skills they need.
2. all planning and implementation of programs should
take into deliberate consideration the developmental
stages of adolescence.
3. in a dynamic curriculum that responds intelligently and
creatively to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
4. in the inherent educational value of an interdisciplinary
project-based experience.
5. technology skills should be integrated throughout the
curriculum to foster student-centered learning and
enhance
communication, collaboration, organization, and
production in all classes.
6. in field study and experiential opportunities that
include integrated local, regional, national and
international experiences.
7. adequate time in the schedule for faculty to
plan, collaborate, and reflect.
8. in the importance of inspiring students, faculty and staff
to be involved and invested in the school community.
9. that a relationship with parents that maximizes and
emphasizes a sense of partnership with the school.

5. School Vision
Diversity
• A continued focus on diversity is one way the school can
remain relevant, authentic and distinguish itself.
– Diversity of Origins
– Approx. 430 students each year
» 22% international students
» 30 states and 34 countries represented
– Diversity of Race/Ethnicity/Gender
– 18% students of color
– 50% female/50% male (approx.)
– Diversity of Interests
– 167 course offerings
– 24 varsity level sports
– 4 vocal ensembles
– 3 instrumental groups
– Theatre company
– Dance company
– Outdoor Education

8. School Vision
Academics
• Academics must remain and
the forefront of the school
and must be distinct and
relevant.
– 167 academic courses
– 40+ AP and Advanced level
courses
• Student to faculty ratio of 5:1
• Average class size of 12
students
• 71% of 101 faculty hold
advanced degrees

9. Unique Academic Offerings
• Robotics I, II & III
• Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Introduction to Film Studies
• Introduction to Journalism
• History of the Modern Middle East
• Buddhism
• The History of Music
• Evolution of Vertebrates
• Physics of Theater
• Astronomy
• The Nature and Meaning of the Universe
• Digital Video Art
• Sculpture
• Mandarin Chinese

13. School Vision
Extracurricular Activities
“To provide the student body with a
balanced program and activities for
relaxation, age and high school appropriate
entertainment, and education. That needs
to include intellectually, spiritually,
artistically, athletically stimulating
activities and performances. The main
objective should be to add and provide
balance to our rigorous and challenging
academic curriculum and residential life.2”

14. School Vision
Extracurricular – Fine Arts
• Fine arts (performance and visual) have broad benefits to students and
students at Mercersburg should be provided with ample opportunities to
explore the arts.
• Fine arts should be required for a minimum of 2 terms in the 9th and 10th grades
• Course offerings currently include drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, computer
graphics, digital video, acting, speech, etc.
• Performance groups must be widely varied in nature and opportunity
• Currently there are 7 musical performance groups (instrumental and choral), dance
and the Stony Batter Troupe (est. 1894)
• Opportunities must exist for students to share and observe peer work
• Annual Student Film Festival
• Student Art Exhibits
• Modern Dance and Ballet Performances
• The school needs to arrange for private music instruction for students that
request it

16. School Vision
Extracurricular – Athletics
Students at Mercersburg should
engage in some form of athletic
endeavor during their tenure at
the school. Athletics can offer
students a physical outlet
(allowing for positive releases of
energy), they provide
opportunities for socialization
and they promote a healthy
mind, body and spirit. In
addition, athletics can teach
students the value of hard work,
preparation, commitment,
dedication, integrity, success and
failure.

19. School Vision
Residential Life
Residential life is an
essential component of
boarding school life.
At Mercersburg, students
will…
1. board for at least one year.
2. have advisors that work in
their residence hall.
3. live with students of a
similar age, grade and
developmental level.
4. learn to take on leadership
roles.
5. acquire life skills in formal
and informal settings.
6. learn to live in community
with others.
7. Discover appropriate an
inappropriate social
interaction.
8. Learn to make healthy
decisions.

23. School Vision
International Programs
• Students at Mercersburg will be required to travel
internationally at least once while at Mercersburg.
• Students will…
• Receive guidance in the importance of inter-cultural competence.
• Prepare appropriately, journal during and debrief following any
international experience.
• Mercersburg will…
• Continue to offer a diverse slate of programs for faculty and
students to attend.
• Be provided with the financial support necessary to attend one of
many language or culture based programs.

24. School Vision
Finance & Operations
Mercersburg Academy currently has a $193 million endowment. This
endowment, along with substantial giving (approx. $7.5 million for
the 2010-2011 year) allow for great stability for the school. In order
to maintain that stability, Mercersburg will…
1. Continue to make efforts to grow the endowment and increase the
annual fund giving through active cultivation of relationships with
an alumni base of nearly 9,000 worldwide.
2. Make cautious, yet proactive decisions regarding
investments, construction and programming.
3. Recruit and retain highly talented faculty, or staff, in the Business
Office, Alumni & Development, the Admission Office and other key
positions (e.g. Head of School).

25. School Vision
Campus
Mercersburg will continue to maintain and improve its campus in
order to provide students with state of the art physical spaces for
students and teachers to learn/live in.
• Over 300 acre campus
• $26 million Burgin Center for the Arts, $9 million renovations to Nolde Gymnasium
• 50,000 volume Lenfest Library
• 47 classrooms and labs
• 30 school buildings and 10 playing fields

28. School Vision
Faculty
Mercersburg understands that the key to a successful school is
through the work of competent, skilled and inspiring faculty.
With this in mind, Mercersburg will…
1. Encourage and support (through time and money) opportunities for
professional development.
2. Develop a yearly schedule that affords faculty time for
planning, preparation and collaboration.
3. Provide opportunities for internal development through
workshops, guest speakers, observations, etc.
4. Compensate faculty well and continue to provide housing, tuition
remission for faculty children, adequate benefits and compensation
for graduate degree expenses.
5. Make time at the beginning, end and during the year, for faculty
training in technology, curriculum, teaching methodologies, etc.

29. www.mercersburg.edu