Strategic Plan

Dear St. Margaret’s Community,
 
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School has reached extraordinary heights since it opened its doors on Oct. 1, 1979. Propelled forward by visionary leaders like the Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers, a school with portable classrooms and less than a hundred students on its first day progressed into the leading independent school it is today. 
 
Such progress takes a committed community, world-class educators and a consistent pursuit of the mission and core values that guide us to educate the hearts and minds of our students. We are so grateful for those who built the foundation of St. Margaret’s, and we recognize the importance of a school’s success serving as a catalyst for its future growth.  
 
One of the primary responsibilities given to the Board of Trustees is to safeguard the mission of the school, which is fulfilled through the selection of the Head of School, the stewardship of the school’s financial resources, and the periodic review of the school’s Strategic Plan.
 
St. Margaret’s is stronger than ever—academically, financially and operationally. As the Board of Trustees set forth the development of a new Strategic Plan, the healthy state of the school allowed for us to be mission-focused and highly aspirational when envisioning St. Margaret’s future. Our work also reflects a deep awareness of the rapid changes shaping education today and the evolving skills students will need for the future.
 
We recently completed a lengthy review process, and on behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are proud to present the 2025 Strategic Plan for St. Margaret’s.
 
This Strategic Plan is rooted in the school’s mission, core values, vision statement and Episcopal identity. A yearlong process that engaged the entire school community culminated in a focused set of strategic priorities. As implementation of the Strategic Plan begins right away, St. Margaret’s professional community will lead the charge to update and enhance programming and curriculum to achieve these initiatives. Ongoing communication to the community on the school’s progress in implementing this Strategic Plan will be overseen by the Head of School.
 
This process was more than a year in the making, and many members of our community were instrumental in its development, including students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Charting the course for St. Margaret’s future is a collective effort, and we are thankful for everyone who made their voices heard as together we pursue continued excellence in all facets of our school. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Dana Sullivan
President, Board of Trustees
 
Dr. Jeneen Graham
Head of School

Our Mission, Vision, and Philosophy

Mission | What We Do

Our mission at St. Margaret's Episcopal School is to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

Vision Statement

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is a diverse community dedicated to developing the whole child. We nurture spiritual growth, an appreciation for life-long learning, the courage to lead and a responsibility to give to others. Our graduates are independent thinkers of integrity and compassion who reveal their resilience and collaborative nature in the face of challenge and opportunity.

Core Values | Ideas We Live By

List of 5 items.

  • Character

    We emphasize integrity, spirituality, empathy, perseverance and responsibility.

  • Community

    We champion mutual respect, engagement, collaboration, service learning and a commitment to the common good.

  • Balance and Breadth

    We believe personal growth, balance and well-being are fostered through a broad range of academic, artistic, athletic and co-curricular opportunities.

  • Equity and Inclusion

    We embrace and celebrate the identity of every human being, and advocate for equity, inclusion and justice.

  • High Expectations

    We prepare and empower our students to discover and develop their unique gifts and talents to achieve their full potential.

St. Margaret’s Strategic Initiatives

1. Rooted in Wellness and Purpose

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  • Strengthen the school’s holistic approach to student well-being, fostering purpose, resilience, joy, and personal growth.

    Launch the Design to Thrive initiative, integrating wellness, life design coaching, and social-emotional learning across divisions. This includes engagement with alumni, university partnerships, and technology solutions to drive career development, mentorship, and social mobility. 

    • Activate St. Margaret’s Commons as a hub for wellness, connection, mentorship, and purpose-driven programming.
    • Expand counseling and mental health services to meet rising student needs and strengthen student support systems.
    • Build stronger family-school partnerships through wellness programming, parent education, and feedback mechanisms.
    • Formalize partnerships with select universities and career networks to support student exploration, internships, and college/career readiness.
    • Commit to relationship building through restorative practices, community building, and the cultivation of an ethos of respect and dignity.

2. Leading through Learning

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  • Build upon our rich and vigorous curriculum to inspire and empower students through experiential, purpose-driven learning that builds leadership, critical thinking, global and civic engagement.

    Expand experiential learning programs, including interdisciplinary fieldwork, service learning, and capstone projects that foster joy, curiosity, and wonder in the learning process.

    • Further evolve the service learning model to more deeply focus on student learning, authentic and sustained partnerships, hands-on community engagement, and global citizenship.
    • Deepen cross-divisional and real-world learning opportunities, including student entrepreneurship, retreats, and leadership programming.
    • Integrate growth-based assessment and reflection practices that promote student agency.
    • Establish community-accessible, student led, spaces to connect academic work with leadership, engagement, mentorship, and networking.

3. A Culture of Dignity and Belonging

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  • Advance institutional commitments to dignity, equitable access, inclusion, and belonging for all members of the St. Margaret’s community.

    Ground the school’s decision-making in its Episcopal identity, centered on the tenets of dignity, equity, and justice. 

    • Expand need-based financial support and enrollment strategies to ensure access for mission-aligned students.
    • Expand student services to ensure that all students who need additional support -academically, social, or emotionally- receive the personalized resources they need to thrive. 
    • Strengthen recruitment, hiring, training, and retention of a diverse professional community through intentional outreach and human resources practices.
    • Deepen the school’s relationship with our local community, anchored in the transformative work of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and our hosted programs Breakthrough SJC and Special Camp.

4. Space to Grow

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  • Ensure all programs have the physical and structural capacity to thrive and grow while supporting innovation, community connection, and environmental responsibility.

    Design and launch the next iteration of the  SMES Facility Master Plan to align with future ready learning environments, long-term vision, innovation, and student wellness.

    • Explore land acquisition opportunities and phased build strategies that ensure sustainability and flexibility for future needs.
    • Align space planning with strategic initiatives, particularly those focused on wellness, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary innovation.
    • Create shared gathering spaces that promote connection, collaboration, and community programming.
    • Prioritize the St. Margaret’s Endowment as the critical fundraising objective to build long-term financial strength, smooth operational impacts of inflation, and provide meaningful ways for donor engagement for all aspects of St. Margaret’s programming and offerings.

5. Empowered for the Digital Age

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  • Prepare students, parents, and educators to lead in a rapidly evolving world through thoughtful, ethical technology integration.

    Implement an integrated PK–12 digital literacy and citizenship framework focused on responsible tech use, digital wellness, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

    • Collaborate across divisions to include emerging technology concepts—such as artificial intelligence, data privacy, and algorithmic bias—starting in age-appropriate ways.
    • Launch student-led initiatives that shape policy and promote healthy, human-centered technology habits.
    • Engage parents and educators in ongoing learning and professional development to support student technology use in the classroom and at home.
    • Partner with industry leaders and alumni to ensure future-readiness in technical fluency, human-centered leadership, and career development.

6. Expanding Our Impact

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  • Position St. Margaret’s for long-term sustainability by expanding influence and generating new mission-aligned revenue streams.

    Launch St. Margaret’s Leadership Institutes to serve regional and global educators through conferences, professional development, and research.
    • Create sustainable funding models, including philanthropy, grants, and tuition revenue, to support long-term growth.
    • Scale summer programs, academic intensives, and auxiliary services that engage new audiences, support institutional goals, and generate alternative revenue streams.
    • Activate community-facing programs (e.g., student-run events, tutoring, wellness retreats) to drive engagement and market the unique offerings found in the St. Margaret’s experience.
    • Identify and prioritize mission-aligned programs that showcase student leadership, academic excellence, and community values.
    • Promote offerings through integrated marketing campaigns that elevate the St. Margaret’s brand in the wider community.

Strategic Plan News

List of 6 news stories.

Strategic Plan Steering Committee
Dana Sullivan Board of Trustees President
Dr. Jeneen Graham Head of School
Patrick Bendzick Assistant Head of School for Health and Wellness
David Beshk Lower School Faculty
Alanna Cajthaml Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Dr. Stephanie Capen Director of Institutional Research
Dallas Clemmons Upper School Faculty
Victor Cota Director of Equity and Inclusion
Lindsay Eres '00 Executive Director of Special Camp, Upper School Dean
Angela Mackenzie Director of Educational Technology
Kylie Middlebrook Middle School Director of Community Life
Alethea Monge Board of Trustees
Dan Pacheco Director of Performing Arts
Hudson Powers '25 Upper School Student
America Reyes-Mendoza '25 Upper School Student
Jay Spenuzza '03 Board of Trustees
Jonathan Tufo Executive Director of Advancement
Jason Weiss Board of Trustees, Bishop’s Representative
Ryan Wood Director of Communications and Marketing
Sonia Yoshizawa Early School Pedagogista

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 La Novia Avenue
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 661-0108
 
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An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

Non-Discrimination Policy
St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.