Leading the Change: How EMS is Implementing a Future-Focused Strategic Plan

The Elisabeth Morrow School’s Strategic Plan (2025–2030) is fully in motion, guided by our three core watchwords: Intention, Innovation, and Interconnection. We are excited to share the progress we’ve made, demonstrating a deep commitment to grounding students with essential skills while providing transformative, future-focused experiences.

Academic Programming: Equipping Students for Tomorrow

To ensure every EMS student is fully prepared for a rapidly changing global landscape, we continue to enhance and modernize our core curriculum, ensuring rigor meets relevance.

Mathematics: Expanding the Ceiling of Possibility

We are excited to announce the adoption of Eureka Math for our 3s/4s program. This new, research-based curriculum will significantly enhance the way mathematics is taught in Chilton House, ensuring a cohesive and seamless transition into the kindergarten math program.

Building on this strong foundation, we have intentionally aligned and expanded our math curriculum across all grades, investing deeply in professional development to foster a culture of excellence in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Our students are already achieving on national platforms, competing in forums such as the AMC8 and the Continental Math League, and accessing advanced studies options in Morrow House.

This commitment to personalization means there is no ceiling to math learning at EMS. We celebrate students like Nicholas C. ’27, a seventh grader currently taking high school honors geometry. “I have always loved math because it is complex and interesting, with infinite possibilities,” Nicholas says. “This is my second year taking the advanced math elective option, and I am especially excited about taking geometry this year because it provides practical knowledge and ways to apply math outside of a classroom.”

Beyond the core day, we are personalizing learning after school with our dedicated Little School Math Academy. Led by experienced Little School teachers, this workshop has seen incredible enthusiasm, with over a third of Little School students participating. This highly popular program currently serves students in second through fourth grade, and we are thrilled to launch the offering for first-grade students starting in the winter of 2026.

Head of Lower School and Director of the Arts Amelia Gold says, “It is inspiring to see students want to expand upon their math and problem-solving capabilities after school and be stretched and accelerated at an extremely high level. That really says a lot about how the students experience joy in their learning, and how that is the foundation for their future success.”

Last month, Head of School Marek Beck, Ph.D., led a presentation to Little School families during our Family Visiting Days, outlining the powerful pedagogy used at The Elisabeth Morrow School. The experience was followed by families visiting the classrooms to see the full spectrum of our math program, showcasing student learning and curriculum depth, reinforcing the unique partnership between home and school.

Science: Authentic Inquiry in Our Outdoor Classroom

We are strengthening our commitment to hands-on learning and fostering deep, authentic engagement with scientific inquiry by increasing instructional minutes, adding new science faculty, and conducting a curriculum audit to ensure alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards. By expanding environmental science classes, we are maximizing the potential of our outdoor classrooms and new greenhouse.

“To have students who adore the outdoors and a campus rife with outdoor learning opportunities is a powerful gift,” says Jane Choi, science teacher for our 3s through second grade. “This past fall season, I’ve watched our young scientists come alive in our garden and greenhouse spaces as they’ve observed seasonal changes, exclaimed excitedly over new discoveries, and built new garden beds.”

This immersion in nature serves as a foundation for higher-level inquiry. Soon, our students will move from daily observations to formal applications as they begin participating in competitive science fairs.

AI: Integrating Innovation with Responsibility

EMS is establishing itself as a leader in thoughtfully and responsibly integrating technology into the classroom. Our commitment to digital citizenship starts with our own faculty and staff, who have participated in ongoing training to further develop our AI literacy.

Providing the ethical and policy-driven framework for this literacy is our selection for the Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL) Certification. As part of an elite global cohort, partnering with schools as far away as Dubai, Nigeria, and Vietnam, EMS recently completed an intensive 16-week program to establish institutional policies benchmarked against the highest international standards for AI ethics and safety. This strategic foundation ensures that the innovative classroom practices now emerging across our divisions are grounded in a responsible and disciplined implementation framework.

At the middle school level, English educator Erin Hennessy is leveraging these foundational tools to cultivate essential 21st-century competencies and deliver highly personalized instruction. Students are not merely using the technology, but engaging in deep inquiry through AI-mediated character simulations — conducting interviews with protagonists from “Lord of the Flies” to interrogate perspective and motivation. Furthermore, students are practicing complex textual synthesis by translating Golding’s descriptive prose into precise AI prompts, visually reconstructing the novel’s setting through evidence-based image generation.

Students are already reflecting critically on the power and limitations of these tools. When asked what they learned, their responses demonstrated deep ethical awareness: “AI may not always be correct, but it can help you think of things from a different perspective,” said one student. Another observed, “That you have lots of power and we need to know how to be responsible with it.”

As EMS establishes itself as a regional leader in AI integration, we prioritize collaboration and shared learning. To ensure our approach is grounded in community partnership, Head of School Marek Beck, Ph.D., has established a Parent AI Advisory Group, with almost 40 current families expressing keen interest. In their first meeting in December 2025, school leadership engaged the parents in a dialogue regarding the pedagogical benefits of AI, specifically focusing on its potential to enhance curriculum, prepare students for future career landscapes, and address critical concerns surrounding academic integrity and algorithmic bias. The session moved beyond theory by showcasing current classroom applications and providing parents with hands-on experience via SchoolAI, ensuring that the school’s integration of emerging technology remains a transparent, value-driven partnership between educators and the community.

Solidifying our role as a central hub for regional innovation, we announced in December that we will be hosting New Jersey’s inaugural AI Summer Institute on our campus in June 2026. This high-quality, project-based program is developed and taught by Stanford, MIT, and Ivy League alumni and graduate students.

“The experience will allow students to strengthen their leadership capacities in thinking critically about the ethical implications of technology and apply knowledge for social good,” says Dr. Beck. “This program is a powerful complement to the innovative AI work already underway at The Elisabeth Morrow School.”

Signature Programs: Cultivating Agency and Impact

EMS has introduced new signature programs specifically designed to ignite passions, cultivate agency, and develop essential 21st-century leadership qualities.

Leadership: Action that Makes a Difference

We are purposefully teaching students what it means to lead with intention and impact. Our Fourth-Grade Leadership Symposium, led by Dr. Beck, our head of school, defines the qualities of a good leader and engages students in projects to hone their skills.

A powerful example of this learning in action is the schoolwide student-led food drive that took place in November. Morrow House’s student council, in partnership with the fourth-grade students, spearheaded this effort, from planning efficient collection strategies to tracking donations to organizing the safe transport of food to Englewood’s Center for Food Action (CFA). Through the Leadership Symposium, our fourth graders rallied the school community to contribute by presenting at the Little School assembly, visiting Chilton House and Little School classrooms, and using Canva to create posters to help spread the word. The response was overwhelming; the community donated so many items that they barely fit in the large EMS truck used to deliver the food to the CFA.

“Good leaders inspire others to do good things,” reflected one fourth-grade student. This powerful experience complements the Leadership Lab curriculum and builds on the leadership opportunities embedded throughout the EMS journey.

Entrepreneurship: The Mindset of Innovations

Our students are learning that the entrepreneurial mindset is the key to success in any field. Taught by Head of School Marek Beck, Ph.D., our middle school entrepreneurship class focuses on essential lessons in risk management, resource allocation, marketing, and resilience.

Students are currently developing their own businesses. One notable business is BeesNeeds, a garden kit distributed to local homes to help increase the greenery in their environment and support the survival of local bee populations. Seventh grader Ari S. was inspired by a common challenge: “It’s hard for people to keep a plant alive,” he observed. “It would be great if we could have a self-sustaining plant and keep something growing.” This vision shows true entrepreneurial thinking: Ari identified a practical challenge (plant maintenance) and designed a clever, environmentally beneficial solution using resilient species that are easy for busy families to maintain.

This high-level work prepares them for serious competition. The culmination of the students’ innovations will see them compete for the “Top Entrepreneur Award,” which is in recognition of leading the class in cumulative achievement and business performance. All students in this class will have the opportunity to make a pitch that, if selected, will qualify them for a national competition. To match this ambition and sustain student drive, EMS officially launched a chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America this year, providing a structured pathway for students to continue honing their business acumen.

Specialty and Electives: Connecting Curiosity to Career

We continue to broaden student choice to align education with individual curiosity and future career paths. Offerings include the Math Academy for Little School (held after the school day ends), a robotics class where students compete in LEGO competitions, and an Ethics Bowl Team that will test their debating skills against other schools at the Middle School Ethics Bowl at Kent Place School in January. Advanced Studies options include AP courses in English, math, science, and history, as well as specialized electives in business, child development, world languages, computer programming, app development, veterinary science, and sports and entertainment marketing.

The Buddy Program: Fostering Compassion and Connection

A central pillar of our strategic plan is the expansion of the Buddy Program — a signature initiative that pairs students across grade levels to foster compassion, build meaningful relationships, and encourage mentorship. To bring this vision to life, a dedicated committee is developing a universal model to ensure all students participate, creating a consistent opportunity to deepen their sense of connection and community.

We currently offer a Buddy Program elective, in which sixth- through eighth-grade students are paired with younger students in Chilton House during aftercare. Together, they play games, draw, and connect through conversation. This cross-divisional connection is now expanding to core school hours. Morrow House students can sign up to serve as buddies during Little School lunch and recess. This popular option sends about a half dozen students down to the Little School cafeteria and playground every Monday and Tuesday, further cementing the bonds between the divisions.

The impact of this mentorship is often personal and powerful. “I remember being in Chilton House and the older students spending time with us during Buddy Days — it was really meaningful for me,” says Sienna V. ’26. Eleanor S. ’28 adds, “I love being around kids and want to be a positive influence in their lives.” She recalls connecting with a new aftercare student whose first language is Mandarin: “I speak Mandarin, so I was able to talk to her [in her native language] and play games with her. It helped her open up because she was shy.”

The vision for the Buddy Program extends to our families as well. We are currently exploring a model that pairs EMS families, fostering a network of support that mirrors the relationships built between the students. Our hope is that this will strengthen the bonds of the entire school and help ensure that every member of the EMS family feels a sense of belonging.

Community Engagement: Extending Our Reach

Our campus is a vital hub for service, learning, and connection, extending far beyond the traditional classroom walls. Our students are actively engaged in service through partnerships with organizations like the Community Chest, Center for Food Action, Bergen Family Center, and Tenafly Nature Center. Looking ahead, we are strengthening connections through enhanced alumni programming, Parents’ Association initiatives, and expanded on-campus academic exhibitions and events.

Sustainable Growth: Investing in Enduring Excellence

To ensure enduring excellence for future generations of EMS students, we are focused on strategic investment and long-term stability. With an expected increase in enrollment for next year, it is now more important than ever to strategically invest in our infrastructure and future. We are working diligently to close the gap between the cost of education and tuition, upholding the highest levels of excellence and ensuring we can continually invest in our programs. The community can directly support this strategic effort by contributing to the Apple Tree Fund, which helps provide transformative student experiences and supports the work of our dedicated faculty.

Moving Forward Together

The momentum behind The Elisabeth Morrow School’s Strategic Plan is strong, and we are excited about the progress ahead. Every initiative, from curriculum enhancement to community partnerships, is guided by our commitment to Intention, Innovation, and Interconnection. As we continue this journey, we are grateful for the partnership of our families and community, and we look forward to sharing further updates and milestones throughout the year as we continue to deliver a transformative education for our students.