Mount Saint Joseph Academy Launches Strategic Plan 2026, a Third Pillar for the Mount's Future

FLOURTOWN, Pa. — Mount Saint Joseph Academy today announced the launch of Strategic Plan 2026, a comprehensive strategic planning process that will chart the school's course for the decade ahead. The initiative marks a third pillar in the Mount's current era of transformation, joining the Beyond Pearls Capital Campaign and the Campus Expansion as the three cornerstones of the school's forward strategy.

“The Mount is at a pivotal moment — one where thoughtful strategy can transform today's momentum into lasting distinction,” said Sister Charlene Diorka, SSJ, President of Mount Saint Joseph Academy. “Beyond Pearls has already raised more than any campaign in our history, and our new Athletic Center opens this September. Now is the moment to look further ahead, to align our vision, priorities, and resources for the years to come.”

To lead the effort, the Mount has engaged Schultz & Williams (S&W), a national consulting firm headquartered in Philadelphia with deep experience guiding Catholic and independent schools through strategic planning. The process follows a rigorous search led by a 14-member Strategic Planning Committee representing the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Mount's Board of Directors, faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents.

“The launch of Strategic Plan 2026 is a vital third pillar and an essential element to complement and support the Capital Campaign and the Campus Expansion strategies,” said Jeff Kohler P'04, '05, '08, '12, Chair of the Mount's Board of Directors. “The three are inextricably linked and integral to sustaining our success into the future.”

Dr. Rhea Fernandes (P'26), Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, is leading the process alongside S&W's all-women project team, headed by Executive Vice President Kelly Grattan, PhD, with Senior Consultant Elizabeth Grant, PhD serving as day-to-day lead.

The Mount's engagement with S&W begins this August and continues through the school year, unfolding across four phases:

●      Phase I: Project Launch (August–September)

●      Phase II: Discovery & Assessment (September–December), including stakeholder interviews, surveys, and focus groups with faculty, staff, students, alumnae, parents, and donors

●      Phase III: Retreat & Planning Workshops (January–March), during which Board members and school leadership will define a 10-year vision and 3-5 strategic priorities

●      Phase IV: Plan Development & Presentation (March–May), culminating in a final plan presented to the Board of Directors for adoption

Transparency and collaboration will guide the process, the school said, with opportunities for the broader Mount community — including alumnae, parents, and donors — to contribute through interviews, focus groups, and surveys in the months ahead.

“Your voice, and the voices of all who love the Mount, will be essential in shaping a plan that reflects our shared hopes for the future,” Sister Charlene said.