Date

4-15-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Lucas DeWitt, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Lucas DeWitt, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

From Problem to Strategy: Developing a Strategic Plan to Improve Institutional

Outcomes in a Private 6-12 School. Maria Martinez, 2026: Strategic Research Project,

Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of

Criminal Justice. Keywords: strategic planning, college advising, counseling, school

counseling capacity, private school, private school leadership, Quantitative Strategic

Planning Matrix (QSPM), Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE), External Factor Evaluation

(EFE), SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), SWOT analysis,

professional development, counseling specialization, counselor specialization, data-

informed decision making, data-driven, continuous improvement, stakeholders,

stakeholder engagement, mission alignment.

This Strategic Research Project was designed to provide a strategic plan to improve

institutional outcomes in a private 6-12 school by strengthening the college-going culture

and addressing organizational priorities that impact postsecondary readiness of students.

As a college preparatory institution, the Private School is committed to positioning all

students for successful transitions to postsecondary education and careers. However, the

Private School faces persistent challenges, including highly competitive selective

admissions outcomes, variable placement outcomes at state universities for families with

financial need, and the capacity to sustain individualized college advising at scale, and

competition from other schools.

This Strategic Research Project specifically describes the problem, as well as strategies

that address solutions, and includes an Action Plan and steps to implement the chosen

strategy to resolve the identified problem. The Strategic Research Project also addresses

how the implemented strategy and results will be evaluated. Additionally, the Strategic

Research Project identifies potential obstacles that can hinder implementation of the

strategy.

Phased hiring and capacity building and targeted professional development and

specialization were the two strategies examined. The first alternative allows the

expansion of the school’s operational capacity by adding personnel and improving role

capacity. The second alternative allows creation of specialized expertise and role clarity

including advanced college counseling. Using a Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix,

targeted professional development and specialization was the strategy chosen. The

findings from the literature reviewed for this strategic research project provided a strong

basis to support and recommend the adoption of the strategy for targeted professional

development and specialization at the Private School. Five action steps take it from the

planning stage to implementation. The fifth and final step requires determining impact,

codifying successful practices, and embedding routines into annual operations for

sustainment. Several recommendations were suggested, including that the private school

introduce the selected solution as a well-structured, annual capacity-building initiative

rather than a one-time activity, and the establishment of a dedicated implementation

team.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Organizational Leadership

Language

English

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