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NORTHSTAR 

          &

POINTING THE

WAY FORWARD

Our Commitment

At Ashbrook Independent School, we believe transparency and accountability are essential to a strong school community. Each year, we share our Annual Report, Northstar, to provide families, supporters, and community members with a clear look at our progress, priorities, financial stewardship, and the impact of our collective efforts.

Our five-year strategic plan, Pointing the Way Forward, provides a shared vision for Ashbrook’s future and helps guide the priorities and goals we pursue each year. By sharing our progress year by year, we invite our community to celebrate where we’ve been, understand where we are, and see where we’re headed together.

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An Overview of Ashbrook Independent School’s Annual Report

NORTHSTAR 2025–2026

The 2025–2026 school year was one of meaningful progress at Ashbrook Independent School. Across our classrooms, campus, and community, we continued to build on the strong foundation that makes an Ashbrook education unique while looking ahead to the opportunities of the future.

Our Annual Report celebrates the students, families, faculty, staff, donors, volunteers, and community partners who helped make this year possible. Together, their support allows Ashbrook to provide an exceptional educational experience where students are encouraged to think deeply, explore confidently, and grow into capable, compassionate individuals.

By the Numbers

This year, the impact of our community could be seen throughout Ashbrook:

  • $106,000+ raised through Celebrate Ashbrook, more than doubling our event goal
  • Accreditation with Merit through 2032 awarded by Cognia
  • Campus improvements supporting engaging, welcoming spaces for students to learn, play, and connect
  • Growing community partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and organizations throughout the Willamette Valley

A Year of Impact & Momentum

Throughout the year, Ashbrook continued to invest in the people, programs, and spaces that support our students. Updated classroom furnishings created flexible and engaging learning environments, while improvements to outdoor spaces expanded opportunities for movement, play, and connection. These projects were made possible through thoughtful planning and the generosity of donors and grant partners who share our commitment to Ashbrook students.

Our commitment to extraordinary education was also recognized through Ashbrook’s Cognia accreditation. Following a comprehensive review, Ashbrook earned Accreditation with Merit through 2032, affirming the strength of our academic program, school community, leadership, and commitment to continuous improvement.

Beyond our campus, Ashbrook continued to strengthen relationships throughout the greater Corvallis community. Partnerships with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, foundations, alumni, families, and friends of the school expanded opportunities for our students while helping Ashbrook remain an active and engaged community partner.

Philanthropy at Ashbrook

Generosity plays an important role in helping Ashbrook provide opportunities that extend beyond what tuition alone can support. Through the Explorers Fund, Celebrate Ashbrook, grants, scholarships, and individual gifts, our community invested in students, faculty, programs, campus improvements, and tuition assistance during the 2025–2026 school year.

Every gift represents a belief in what happens here each day. Whether supporting Ashbrook through an annual gift, attending Celebrate Ashbrook, establishing a scholarship, partnering through a grant, or making a first-time contribution, our donors help ensure that Ashbrook can continue providing an exceptional independent school education for current and future generations of students.

Looking Ahead

Ashbrook enters the next chapter with a clear sense of direction and a strong foundation for the future. Guided by our strategic priorities, we will continue focusing on extraordinary educational opportunities for every student, a thriving and inclusive school community, long-term financial sustainability, thoughtful stewardship of our campus, and meaningful connections with the broader community.

The momentum of this year gives us much to build upon. As Ashbrook continues to grow and evolve, our mission remains at the center of every decision: to challenge and nurture academically capable students. We achieve this by creating an environment where students are known, challenged, supported, and inspired to discover what they are capable of.

Explore the full 2025–2026 Annual Report below to learn more about the people, accomplishments, and generosity that shaped this remarkable year at Ashbrook Independent School.

2025-26 Annual Report

2025-26 Annual Report

2024-25 Annual Report

2024-25 Annual Report

2023-24 Annual Report

2023-24 Annual Report

In 2024, Ashbrook’s Board of Trustees launched our five-year strategic plan, Pointing the Way Forward. Developed through stakeholder meetings, staff collaboration, and parent focus groups, the plan reflects a shared vision for Ashbrook’s future, one that balances ambitious goals with thoughtful, practical steps forward.

As we continue implementing this roadmap, we are committed to keeping our community informed about our progress, celebrating milestones, and sharing what lies ahead. We invite you to follow our journey as we work together to strengthen Ashbrook for current and future generations of students.

Our Annual Report, Northstar, highlights the accomplishments, impact, and financial stewardship of the past fiscal year. More importantly, it celebrates the collective difference our community has made. Every tuition dollar invested, volunteer hour given, and philanthropic gift contributed has helped advance the Ashbrook mission and create meaningful opportunities for our students. We hope you’ll enjoy reflecting on the momentum we’ve built together and the bright future that lies ahead.

1. Academic Excellence & Student Experience

Ashbrook will deliver a joyful educational experience where students cultivate a lifelong love of learning and develop essential character traits, critical thinking skills, and knowledge.

  • Curriculum maps updated and accessible under the Academics tab based on grade level.
  • Critical Thinking curriculum maps added.
  • Website updated to include a more detailed description of how Ashbrook incorporates critical thinking into everyday curriculum.
  • Articles written by the Head of School, Doc, about the importance of Critical Thinking in the Age of AI.
  • Safety Audit conducted and a perimeter fence, including gates, have been fully installed.
  • Expanded Student Council Representatives to include 3rd and 4th Graders (previously, students had to be 5th grade or above to run in the election).
  • Parent speakers program will now be every other year vs. every year.
  • Character “steps” installed as of 2024.

2. Financial Sustainability

Ashbrook will develop a robust financial model that ensures accessibility while sustainably investing in staff, facilities, and programs to further our mission.

      • Board Investment Policy ratified.
      • Finance Committee created.
      • Advancement Committee created. 
      • Facilities Committee created. 
      • Investment Advisor engaged.
      • Director of Development hired and development plan deployed, including institutional fundraising calendar to coordinate all asks.
      • Two full audits completed by third party accountants.
      • Standard operating procedures and best practice accounting model adopted.
      • Efforts to cultivate a culture of philanthropy through education and awareness of the partnership between tuition and philanthropy.
      • Alumni database and communications is ongoing.
      • Summer Programs enhanced and rebranded to “Summer Camp” to promote greater interest (Summer 2025 our largest program to date). Continuing to seek grant funders to support Summer Camp scholarships for families in need of childcare resources during the summer. 
      • Increased and more Deliberate/targeted marketing Plan.
      • “Percent of Giving” stressed in 2025 year: 95% of the community gave to the Explorer Fund (annual fund). Continuing to communicate and educate the community about the powerful impact of giving to support the school mission. 
      • Admissions Associate added to available stipend positions. 5th grade teacher, Amanda Kelly, has taken on this role.  
      • Expand marketing plan to include targeted Facebook ads.
      • Board of Trustees to solidify a facilities Master Plan that includes long-term sustainability, institutional advancement, and revenue considerations.
      • Since August 2025, Ashbrook has hosted over 6,300 event rental guests, keeping us on pace to meet or exceed our 2025–26 financial goal.

3. Faculty & Staff

Ashbrook will invest in recruiting, growing, and retaining the most highly qualified and diverse faculty and staff by making Ashbrook the preeminent grade school employer in the market.

More on our accreditation and professional memberships here. 

      • Ongoing conversation about broad-banding and merit pay.

      • Ongoing professional development to ensure staff are knowledgeable, responsive, and well-equipped to address current and emerging issues.

      • Family AI reading groups established and ongoing. 

      • Refine and finalize Emergency Preparedness Plan.

4. Community Engagement

Ashbrook will build stronger relationships with families, alums, and the local community to create a more engaged and supportive educational ecosystem.

      • 1,803 hours volunteer hours logged by currently enrolled families. This marks a significant increase from prior years!
      • Reinstated School Status as a primary communication tool for currently enrolled families.
      • Hosted the Great Pumpkin Run fundraiser through Home Life Inc. 
      • Hosted our first annual Community Appreciation Event in August 2025. 
  • Active members of the Corvallis Chamber.
  • Implementing strategic updates to the Ashbrook website to improve user experience, simplify navigation, and strengthen SEO.
  • Head of School to increase monthly education articles to weekly blog posts.
  • Partner with local nonprofits to increase support for impactful initiatives and causes.
  • Head of School is the Education Expert author for Mom Magazine as of 2025.
  • Offer alumni  gatherings.
  • Host a TEDx Talk in the Fall of 2026 (License officially received in January 2026).

5. Facilities & Grounds

Ashbrook will sustainably invest in our campus and facilities to create learning spaces and communal areas that inspire, engage, and provide a safe and comfortable environment for our community.

      • New rental agent hired.
      • Enhanced marketing initiative to rent facilities.
      • $1.6 Million in capital repairs completed thanks to a generous donor.
  • Aging HVAC systems continue being updated.
  • Provision for Plant Replacement, Renewal and Special Maintenance (PPRRSM) discussions continue.
  • More intentional promotion of events hosted at Ashbrook.