Strategic Plan

Cobb School Strategic Plan 2025-2028

50 Years Forward: A Legacy Renewed, A Journey Continued, Excellence Reimagined

 

In 2024, Cobb School Montessori celebrated its 50th anniversary – a powerful milestone that honored five decades of learning, leadership, and love for the Montessori method. It was a moment to reflect on what we have built together: a vibrant community rooted in respect for the child, a deep commitment to authentic Montessori practice, and an unwavering belief in each child’s potential.

This milestone was more than a celebration of our past – it was a call to look forward. The world our children will inherit is changing rapidly. As educators and families, we must evolve with it, grounded in the values that define us.

In the fall of 2024, the Board of Trustees launched a strategic planning process to shape Cobb’s next chapter. With broad input from parents, staff, trustees, alumni, and students, we gathered insights, explored aspirations, and identified the priorities that will carry our mission forward. Through surveys, focus groups, and a full-day strategic planning summit, four clear priorities emerged to guide our work through 2028:

Authentic, Empowering, and Enduring Program

Thriving Campus

Resilient Operations

Inclusive and Impactful Community

This plan reflects who we are, what we stand for, and where we are going. It affirms our commitment to Montessori excellence while adapting to meet the needs of a changing world. It centers the children in our care and calls on all of us, educators, families, and trustees alike, to move forward with courage, clarity, and purpose.

Cobb's Mission

Cobb School Montessori empowers children to discover their individual and collective potential by fostering independence, academic excellence, compassion, collaboration, and a love for learning. We prepare children to engage thoughtfully and responsibly in an interconnected world through authentic Montessori practices, strong family partnerships, and an inclusive community.

Cobb's Vision

Building a better world through educating the whole child.

Cobb's Motto

Believe ~ Guide ~ Step Aside ~ Let Fly!

Guiding Principles

Respect: We foster respect and compassion for others and the environment.

Responsibility: We fulfill the child’s natural desire to become a responsible, contributing member of the family and community.

Independence: We guide children to become independent, critical thinkers.

Integrity: We provide the foundation to live life with honesty, humility, and integrity.

Strategic Priority 1 - Program

Authentic, Empowering, and Enduring Program

Guide children from curiosity to contribution, through an authentic Montessori journey.

As we look to the future, we draw on the timeless wisdom of Montessori in a rapidly changing world. Today’s children will face increasing global interdependence, climate change, evolving technologies, and social complexities we cannot fully predict. A Montessori education equips children with the skills to navigate this landscape. It goes beyond academic mastery – cultivating character, agency, compassion, and adaptability, and nurturing what makes us fundamentally human – our need for purposeful work and community.

At Cobb, we are grounded in the principles of Montessori and prepare students not only for the next stage of their education but to shape the next era of society. Our program nurtures the whole child in becoming their best self– intellectually, socially, emotionally, and ethically. Across all our program levels, we nurture their growing intellect and natural love of learning. We support the development of independence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Children learn to collaborate, lead, and become responsible members of the community.

Our graduates are grounded in a strong academic foundation and equipped with the self-awareness, global perspective, and moral compass needed to lead and contribute with purpose. They understand the interconnectedness of people and the planet, share a reverence for the natural world, and a deep appreciation for human diversity. They learn to balance their own needs with those of others, adapt to change, and persevere through challenges. They don’t just study the world, they care for it, contribute to it, and have the confidence to shape its future.

Most importantly, we recognize that we depend on our partnership with parents to fulfill our mission. Through shared learning, transparent communication, and community, we will support each child’s unique journey together.

Program Focus Areas

  • Nurture the Whole Child – Deliver an authentic Montessori program that nurtures each child’s potential, fostering joyful learning, independence, resilience, and social-emotional growth.
  • Strong Academic Foundations – Advance academic excellence through the Montessori curriculum, upholding high, developmentally appropriate standards that honor self-direction and the uniqueness of each child.
  • Compassionate Citizenship – Deepen opportunities for leadership, service, community, global citizenship, and experiential learning, empowering students to understand and respond to the needs of others with empathy and purpose.
  • Inclusive Practices – Embed inclusive and culturally responsive practices that honor individual identity and neurodiversity to ensure every child feels known, valued, and supported.
  • Empowered Educators – Invest in our staff as learners, leaders, and community builders committed to Montessori integrity, reflective practice, collaboration, innovation, and agility.
  • Parent Partnership – Partner with families through meaningful and transparent communication, learning opportunities, and engagement in student learning.

To provide, sustain, and grow this unique and rich learning environment, we will invest in nurturing and empowering our staff with a commitment to:

Montessori Integrity

Remaining grounded in the authentic Montessori practices and continuing Cobb’s legacy of Montessori excellence and leadership.

Reflective Practice

Engaging in continuous learning, self-reflection, and the examination of our biases to foster inclusive, culturally responsive environments.

Innovation and Agility

Responding thoughtfully to new research, technologies, the evolving needs of children and families, and preparing children for life beyond Cobb.

Collaboration

Sharing knowledge and learning from one another to strengthen our work and our collective impact.

Strategic Priority 2 - Campus

Thriving Campus

Invest in a safe, beautiful, sustainable, and fully utilized campus that inspires learning.

At Cobb, the environment is not just where learning happens – it is an essential part of the Montessori experience. True to our pedagogy, we believe that children thrive in spaces that are orderly, beautiful, and purposefully designed to invite exploration. Over the last 50 years, our classrooms and outdoor spaces have been carefully prepared to support joyful exploration, independence, and a deep connection to the natural world.

Our responsibility is to ensure that the physical campus – indoors and outdoors – remains a living embodiment of our values: safe, beautiful, sustainable, and fully supportive of the needs of every child and adult in our community.

This strategic priority focuses on the stewardship and thoughtful development of our campus. Our goals aim to preserve the legacy of our learning environment while preparing it for the future. As Cobb continues to grow and evolve, these efforts ensure that our campus remains a sanctuary for joyful learning and meaningful connection.

Campus Focus Areas

  • Campus Safety – Maintain a safe, welcoming campus that supports the well-being of our entire community.
  • Inspiring Spaces – Create beautiful, inspiring indoor and outdoor learning environments that reflect Montessori principles.
  • Sustainable Infrastructure – Ensure a strong operational infrastructure through facility maintenance, climate resilience, green practices, and technology that serve current and future needs.
  • Effective Utilization – Develop a campus master plan that ensures our facilities are fully aligned with our programming needs and aspirations.

Strategic Priority 3 - Operations

Resilient Operations

Strengthen stewardship and strategy to sustain our mission.

Cobb School’s commitment to Montessori excellence depends not only on the strength of our pedagogy but also on the resilience of our operations. In an evolving educational and economic landscape, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our school requires thoughtful stewardship of resources, strategic planning, and a deep understanding of our families’ needs.

We will continue to build on our operational sustainability, allowing us to remain mission-driven and future-focused. We are committed to preserving the quality of our programs while expanding access and maintaining a thriving, diverse community.

By maintaining strong enrollment, enhancing affordability, investing in staff, and fostering a culture of philanthropy, we can continue to deliver an exceptional education while building resilience for the future. A proactive, mission-driven Board and school leadership will guide this work with clarity and care.

Operations Focus Areas

  • Strategic Leadership – Foster strong, strategic leadership from the Board of Trustees and Head of School to serve our mission.
  • Financial Stewardship – Ensure that sound financial policies and planning provide sustained support for capital improvements and program growth, promoting long-term resilience.
  • Sustainable Enrollment & Access – Strengthen enrollment and increase accessibility through thoughtful tuition and aid strategies.
  • Strong Family Retention – Improve retention by highlighting the value and impact of a Cobb education.
  • Purposeful Philanthropy – Enhance advancement strategies to provide stable, mission-aligned funding for operations, accessibility, and campus improvements.

Strategic Priority 4 - Community

Inclusive and Impactful Community

Cultivate an inclusive, engaged community with lasting impact.

We believe a thriving learning environment for children begins with a strong, inclusive, and engaged community. At Cobb, we believe that inclusion is not just a goal; it is a practice rooted in dignity, trust, and shared responsibility.

We are committed to cultivating a culture of belonging, where diverse voices are welcomed and all families, staff, and students have opportunities to contribute and grow. We will continue to deepen our impact through meaningful communication, collaborative partnerships, and storytelling that celebrates the richness of our community.

As we move forward, this priority calls us to live our values fully, not only within our classrooms, but in every interaction, every message, and every opportunity to come together.

Community Focus Areas

  • Inclusive Leadership – Cultivate a diverse and engaged Board with a deep commitment to inclusive practices in its governance.
  • Culture of Belonging – Nurture a culture of belonging where all community members feel seen, valued, and engaged through continued learning, dialogue, and inclusive practices.
  • Extend Our Impact – Expand our reach and impact through community outreach, partnerships, and thought leadership.
  • Elevated Visibility – Elevate Cobb’s visibility through storytelling that reflects our values and inspires others.