Strategic Plan
The American Community School Beirut has a long and proud history of educating children from Lebanon, the United States and many other countries. Currently, we educate children from 64 different countries and every religious and ethnic group represented in Lebanon. We work hard to have our children learn from each other and we teach them to think critically. As our mission statement suggests, “ACS empowers students to solve problems with creativity and integrity, to lead well-balanced lives, and to serve Lebanon and the world community with understanding and compassion.” We take our charge seriously. Our students are fully challenged in their classes, they contribute thousands of hours of service to their community, and at ACS they become literate life-long learners and involved and interested citizens.
This year we determined to undertake the development of a strategic plan to guide our decision making for the next five years. We did not begin this process with an eye towards restructuring everything that defines ACS. We are a very good school already. Most of what we do works well and has led to our excellent reputation in this region. However, we can always be better.
Our goal was to develop a short list of meaningful strategies that; if executed, will make us a stronger school. We ended up with three strategies with accompanying steps to achieve them. This plan follows from the new ACS mission that was adopted last year. Together these documents and faithful attention to them will lead ACS to even greater heights. We are grateful to all who contributed to shaping our new mission and strategic plan, and look forward with excitement to the coming years.
Mission Statement
ACS empowers students to solve problems with creativity and integrity, to lead well-balanced lives, and to serve Lebanon and the world community with understanding and compassion.
Mission Outcome
As members of the global community, by 2020:
Every ACS student will take initiative and demonstrate integrity, understanding and compassion in identifying problems and actively engaging in creating solutions.
Strategy One
We will align, communicate and implement our N-12 curriculum, professional learning and resources to achieve our mission and mission outcome.
Result One
A common philosophy of teaching and learning is evident throughout the N-12 programs.
Result Two
A process by which problem solving, creativity and compassion are explicitly embedded into the N-12 curriculum across all subject areas is being implemented.
Result Three
A process for designing and assessing the implementation of an aligned, guaranteed, viable, and sustainable curriculum has been established and is being implemented.
Result Four
A process for designing and assessing Professional Learning is continually used to support ACS’s vision, curriculum, and instruction.
Strategy Two
We will attract, develop and retain exceptional teachers and staff to assure we achieve our mission and mission outcome.
Result One
A process is designed to define quality teachers and assess potential candidates.
Result Two
A comprehensive process for assessing quality performance including academic and social/emotional student progress is used to evaluate employees annually.
Result Three
A process that improves working conditions, social/emotional wellbeing, and professional satisfaction is adopted and reviewed annually.
Result Four
A competitive package is designed and then reviewed every other year to attract and retain exceptional locally hired teachers.
Result Five
A competitive package is designed and then reviewed every other year to attract and retain exceptional overseas hired teachers.
Result Six
A competitive package is designed and then reviewed every other year to attract and retain exceptional staff.
Strategy Three
We will ensure that our diverse community of all stakeholders including parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and friends will understand, commit, support and contribute to the fulfillment of our mission and mission outcome.
Result One
A process for involving stakeholders in regularly scheduled events that allow the sharing of ideas and expertise is being used to connect the community and enhance life-long learning.
Result Two
Our students regularly connect and collaborate with outside organizations fostering character development and global citizenship.
Result Three
An articulated outreach program is being used to raise the level of understanding and commitment of all stakeholders to the school mission.
Result Four
Teachers are empowered to practice their role creatively to facilitate the holistic growth of the student.