Strategic Planning

Shaping Our Future Together


The Process Is Underway

The Hudson School’s strategic planning process is well underway — and the community response has been remarkable.

While all independent schools regularly engage in strategic thinking, this is a particularly exciting moment for us — to reflect on our school’s identity, affirm what makes our community distinctive, and envision where we want to go as a PreK–Grade 12 school in the years ahead.

This process belongs to all of us. The most effective strategies come from authentic engagement with the people who know us best: our faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni.


Where We Are Now

Strong momentum from day one.

Our first strategic planning session, held on March 23, 2026, drew an extraordinary turnout of THS parents and caregivers. Our consulting partners at Triangle Associates remarked:

“That was the best parent turnout we have seen at any school in years.”

Since then, Marc and Abbi from Triangle Associates have also engaged with:

  • Faculty & Staff
  • Student Focus Groups
  • Department Chairs
  • Senior School Leaders
  • Board of Trustees

What We’re Hearing

Early themes that affirm who we are.

👩‍🏫

Our Teachers

A deep, consistent love for the faculty who define the THS experience.

🌍

International Diversity

A profound appreciation for our internationally diverse community.

🎭

Signature Pillars

Fierce pride in world languages, the arts, and academic rigor.

Knowing who we are is the most important part of knowing where we would like to go.

Our Consultant

A nationally recognized partner for independent school strategy.

Dr. Marc Frankel, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant & Partner, Triangle Associates

A psychologist by training, Dr. Frankel has spent more than 20 years facilitating strategic planning, governance workshops, and leadership development for independent schools across the United States and internationally. He brings a data-rich, community-centered approach uniquely designed to surface what makes each school distinctive — and chart a clear path forward.

Triangle Associates is one of the founders of the School Leadership Program and the Institute for Aspiring Heads at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). They come highly recommended by peer schools in the New York metropolitan region.

How You Can Participate

There are still meaningful ways to contribute.

✉️

Community Survey

Watch your inbox for an important community-wide survey. Participation matters — results are only meaningful when we reach a critical threshold of responses.

💻

Zoom Follow-Up Session

A virtual session is being scheduled for anyone who wanted to attend the March 23 gathering but couldn’t make it.

👥

May Focus Groups

Additional sessions in May for alumni, foundational community members, and more.

📰

Updates on This Page

Check back here regularly — we’ll share survey links, event announcements, and progress updates as the work unfolds.

Although the Board of Trustees holds the ultimate responsibility for developing and approving the strategy, your voice is critical in shaping these efforts.


What Comes Next

From community input to a completed strategic plan.

 
Spring 2026
Community Sessions, Surveys & Focus Groups

Survey, Zoom follow-up, and May focus groups gather broad community input across all constituencies.

 
Summer 2026
Synthesis & Research

Triangle Associates synthesizes community contributions alongside demographic and market research.

 
Early Fall 2026
Strategic Plan Development

Draft plan takes shape, informed by everything we’ve heard and learned.

 
Fall 2026
Plan Completion & Presentation

The completed strategic plan is presented to the Board of Trustees and shared with the THS community.


Why This Moment Matters

The Hudson School has a remarkable story. Since our founding in 1978 on the principles of courage, compassion, and commitment, we have grown into the only independent PreK–Grade 12 school in Hudson County.

The merger with Mustard Seed School in 2024 opened a new chapter. As a fully unified PreK–12 community, we have an extraordinary opportunity to reflect on who we are, build on our strengths, and make intentional choices about where we want to go.

This strategic plan will be our roadmap.

The Hudson School has long been defined by our collective voice. The way we are participating together is our secret to developing the right pathway forward. Thank you for your continued support and for helping us ensure our strong future.
Rebekah Sollitto
Head of School