Dear Ursuline Community,

St. Angela Merici left us with these wise words: “And if, according to times and circumstances, the need arises to make new rules or do something differently, do it prudently and with good advice.” In keeping with St. Angela’s words and best practices for schools, Ursuline Academy of Dallas will be undertaking a year-long project that will allow us to think deeply about who we are and imagine our school's future.

We are pleased to begin a strategic planning process by partnering with Leadership+Design, a non-profit organization that works with schools to support positive growth. Our goal is to build a strong sense of Ursuline’s future direction — a “compass” backed by a set of strategic priorities and initiatives to work toward, grounded in our Catholic faith, Ursuline mission, and core values inspired by the pioneering spirit of the Ursuline sisters who opened the school in 1874. It will be a creative and interactive process involving many groups in our community and led by a Strategic Planning Design Committee composed of faculty and staff, current and former parents, alumnae, and Trustees.

Throughout the process there will be opportunities for community members to provide input and offer ideas in contribution to our school's future direction. Your voices are invaluable in shaping the educational experience we provide, and we want to ensure that the perspectives of our community are heard and considered. Throughout this mission-aligned process, we will conduct surveys and host facilitated focus groups and open forums to gather insights and perspectives from our stakeholders. As we move forward, we will keep you informed about additional events and ways to engage in the planning process. Together, we will create a dynamic roadmap that not only enhances Ursuline’s strengths but also addresses future opportunities for growth within our beloved school.

This is an important moment for Ursuline, and our final plan will inspire and guide our path forward over the next decade. I am excited for our community to engage in this process as we dream big about Ursuline and our future together. Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and commitment to our community.

I look forward to embarking on this exciting journey with all of you.

Yours in Serviam,

Andrea Shurley, Ed.D.
President