Looking Ahead: Hill-Murray’s Next Strategic Plan
One of the great blessings of serving as President of Hill-Murray is holding both our history and our future at the same time. We are shaped by a rich Benedictine tradition, strengthened by generations of faithful families, and renewed each day by the energy and promise of the young people entrusted to us.
As we look ahead, I’m excited to share that we are beginning the development of our next Strategic Plan, and your voice will be an essential part of shaping it.
In the coming weeks, you will receive a brief survey. It will only take a few minutes, and your insights will help us set priorities and direction for the next five years. I hope you’ll take the time to respond thoughtfully. Strategic planning is strongest when it reflects the lived experience, hopes, and wisdom of our entire community.
Building on “Go Boldly”
Over the last five years, our Go Boldly Strategic Plan launched more than two dozen initiatives that touched every corner of Hill-Murray, from curriculum and student life to faculty development, facilities, enrollment, governance, and technology. It was, in many ways, a marathon.
We built a beautiful new student union that has quickly become a hub of connection and community. At the same time, we began planning and fundraising for a dedicated wellness space and upgraded weight room, designed to support the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of our students in even more intentional ways. We launched innovative signature programs, including the Rooted Philanthropic Leadership Institute, the Pioneer Institute for Health and Wellness, and the Institute for Benedictine Spirituality, that reflect both who we are and where we are going.
We expanded opportunities for students through new curricular pathways such as the Health and Medical Sciences Pathway, and we strengthened our learning environment by becoming completely phone-free through the thoughtful implementation of Yondr pouches. We created a new required curriculum for our middle school students called “Pioneer Pathways”. The courses focus on our Portrait of a Graduate, challenging and supporting students during the critical years between 13 and 15. The Nicholas Center continues to be a source of pride, serving students and families in ways other schools can’t match.
Our relationship with the Monastery has deepened through Mutual Blessings, ensuring that our futures are forever bound. At the same time, we enhanced our value proposition for faculty, allowing us to attract and retain exceptional teachers, consistently met our enrollment goals, and distinguished ourselves as one of the first Catholic schools in Minnesota to earn Lumen Accreditation through The Catholic University of America. Together, these milestones tell the story of a school that is both rooted in its mission and boldly moving forward.
Because of that work, we are stronger. Students experience a genuine sense of belonging. Teachers choose to build their careers here. Families and donors invest because they see the positive impact. The sacred work of our Benedictine identity continues, thoughtfully, innovatively, and with deep care for the students who are entrusted to our care.
Looking Toward the Future
As we look ahead to our next strategic plan, my heart is focused on deepening and strengthening the good work already underway. We will continue to measure and refine the initiatives we’ve launched, ensuring their impact is real, meaningful, and firmly aligned with our mission and vision. We will enhance our marketing and communications so that our story, so full of purpose and possibility, reaches the families who most need to hear it. We will thoughtfully explore the future of education, asking what our students truly need to become leaders with a steady true north, grounded in the teachings of Christ. And throughout it all, we will faithfully steward our Benedictine heritage and the sacred legacy entrusted to us, honoring the past while courageously preparing for the future.
Your perspective helps ensure that Hill-Murray continues to be innovative, inspirational, accessible, and faithful to our mission for generations to come. Look for a survey from me in the coming weeks. I will keep you updated as we make progress on the new plan, and you can expect it to be finalized this fall.
As always, I am grateful for your continued support and engagement.
Melissa Dan, Ed.S.
Hill-Murray School President