plan for success
Designed for school leaders ready to set a clear, strategic path, this cohort covers essential aspects of strategic planning from vision to execution. Through a “future-back” approach, participants will learn how to assess their current state, cast a compelling vision, and create actionable initiatives aligned with long-term mission objectives. You’ll engage with tools like RACI and academic portfolio analysis to identify high-impact priorities, operationalize goals with available resources, and align key stakeholders. Leave equipped with a comprehensive plan to strengthen your institution and lead with purpose. Register today to secure your place in these foundational sessions!
Please Note: Sessions for BPI 2025 are still being finalized. The sessions listed below are examples and may be subject to change, but they provide a preview of the types of learning experiences you can expect.
2025 sessions
Session #1:
The Planning Process and Structure
We will begin the intensive by discussing a proven long-term strategic planning process and the importance of having an inclusive structure that engages key stakeholders at the appropriate times. We will introduce you to and apply tools such as RACI to aid in the process. We will discuss the importance of cascading communication and aligning key stakeholders. Project ground rules that ensure a higher probability of success will be presented.
Presenter
Phil Strzalka
Session #2 :
Defining the Current State
A long-term strategic planning process should begin with a review of the school’s current state and relevant initiatives. Data from surveys and other information should be used to identify trends, opportunities, and risks. Key operational and financial performance metrics should be reviewed and analyzed. We will discuss best practice in the use of this information and key metrics to consider in your planning and decision-making process. We will also demonstrate the benefits of using an academic portfolio analysis.
Presenter
Phil Strzalka
Session #3:
Create a view of the world
The biggest mistake that most institutions make in their long-term strategic planning process is to focus on the current state and then move forward by focusing on improving what they are doing well. A more strategic and successful approach is to use a future-back approach. This requires the leaders to determine where they need to be in the future (5 or 10 years from now) and structure develop their plan to get them to where they will need to be. Understanding where you need to be requires a strong view of the world internally and externally influencing the school. During this session, participants will create a view of the world of Christian education in their region.
Presenter
Phil Strzalka
Session #4:
Managing Change
The implementation of strategic initiatives requires organizational change. No change occurs in isolation. Whether big, small, positive, or negative change, it will be confronted with resistance. We have learned that implementation of any initiative occurs in the context of all the lessons learned from previous changes and a key factor predicting the likelihood of future implementation success is the pattern of implementation result achieved during previous projects. As such, to increase your probability of a successful, you will want to understand what has worked well and what has not in the past. During this session, we will review the elements of an implementation history assessment (i.e., structure, organizational stress, sponsorship, readiness, culture fit, capacity, reinforcement, communication, involvement, and personal belief). Conducting this assessment will allow you to identify specific barriers which must be eliminated or reduced to increase the probability of success.
Presenter
Phil Strzalka
Session #5:
Implementation
During the last session, we will review tools that lead to successful implementation. We will discuss the difference between installation and implementation. Implementation requires an on-going commitment and an annual cycle of designing, aligning, launching, and measuring to reach the long-term goals established in the strategic plan in a sustainable way. We will introduce you to initiative tracking tools, communication tools, key performance, pulse surveys, and evaluation tools.
Presenter
Phil Strzalka
Faculty
Phil Strzalka
Executive Director | Wheaton Academy Institute, West Chicago, IL
🎓 Educational Background
University of Illinois – B.S. in Finance
Chicago Kent College of Law of Illinois Institute of Technology – Juris Doctorate
💼 Professional Experience
Phil Strzalka serves as the Executive Director of the Wheaton Academy Institute, bringing over 25 years of experience as an attorney and management consultant. Throughout his career, he has led hundreds of projects in strategic planning, performance improvement, organizational design, and talent development for educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations nationwide. Phil is recognized as a thought leader, author, and speaker, known for developing people-focused and operational solutions to support impactful leadership in Christian education.
💬 Personal Message
“I strongly believe that Christian educators have never been so well positioned to make an impact. It is my honor to serve as the Institute’s Executive Director. Soli Deo Gloria!”
Dr. Gene Frost
Executive Director | Wheaton Academy Foundation, West Chicago, IL
Dr. Gene Frost is an alumnus of Wheaton College, where he majored in religious studies. Gene received his divinity degree from Northern Seminary and his doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University. He began his career as a youth pastor and Bible teacher in a Christian school, then spent 22 years in the business world. His diverse business experience included being a pit trader on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, a corporate trainer, and a human resources director for a company of 700 employees. His last ten years in business were spent as President and CEO of an educational mentoring and software company. Gene returned to his lifelong passion of Christian schooling by serving as Head of School at Wheaton Academy, West Chicago, Illinois, from 2006-2018. Wheaton Academy is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected evangelical Christian secondary schools. Gene has authored two books entitled, Learning from the Best: Growing Greatness in the Christian School (ACSI, 2007) and Learning from the Best Volume Two: Growing Greatness that Endures in the Christian School (ACSI, 2014).
Gene now serves as the Executive Director of the Wheaton Academy Foundation and as an executive coach for the Wheaton Academy Institute. The Wheaton Academy Institute leverages the experience and success of Wheaton Academy for the benefit of other Christian schools. The Institute sponsors an annual Best Practices Conference for the Christian School™ and an International Student Program conference. Other areas under the umbrella of the Institute are curricula, publishing, and consulting with other Christian schools. Gene continues to speak and consult with Christian schools all across America.
Gene and his wife Barbara have 15 grandchildren aged 13 and under, one granddog and one grandcat. Barb serves as the administrative assistant for the Foundation.