This is one of a series of articles for school and district leaders about strategic planning, organizational change, and how AI can be leveraged to operationalize a school district's mission, vision, and core values.
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, it is crucial for districts to not only define their mission, vision, and core values but also to clearly articulate the characteristics and skills that their graduates should embody. This is where the concept of a "Portrait of a Graduate" (POG) comes into play—a forward-thinking guide that ensures students are prepared for life beyond high school.
A POG outlines the academic, social, emotional, and civic competencies necessary for success in postsecondary education, careers, personal lives, and communities. It reflects a holistic view of student success, encompassing not just academic skills but also durable skills and civic traits.
The Importance of a Portrait of a Graduate
A well-crafted POG creates a shared vision that aligns educational efforts across sectors and industries, ensuring that all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, students, and community leaders, are working towards common goals. This alignment fosters buy-in and support from the entire community, making the educational process more cohesive and effective.
Moreover, by defining the competencies that are most in demand by postsecondary institutions and employers, a POG ensures that students are well-prepared for the challenges of the future. It supports a more personalized and relevant education, emphasizing social and emotional growth alongside academic achievement. A POG also helps in creating a focused and unified approach to education, ensuring that all initiatives and efforts within the district are aligned with the ultimate goal of preparing students for life beyond school.
Connecting to Strategic Planning
In my first article, "Is it Time to Revisit Your Mission and Vision?,” I discussed the importance of regularly revisiting and refining your mission and vision to ensure they remain relevant and inspiring. Establishing a clear mission and vision is the foundational step in strategic planning for educational institutions. They provide the overarching purpose and direction for your district.
In my second article, "The Power of Core Values in Educational Leadership,” I emphasized the need for core values that guide behaviors, decision-making, and culture within educational institutions. Core values are the principles that support your mission and vision, ensuring consistency and integrity in all actions and decisions.
Building upon these foundational elements, the next logical step in the strategic planning process is to develop a POG. This ensures that the mission, vision, and values are translated into specific, actionable goals that prepare students for future success. A POG provides a clear framework for what graduates should know and be able to do, making it easier to align curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices with these desired outcomes.
Learning from Experience
Reflecting on my experience in Paramount Unified School District as an Assistant Superintendent, we chose not to create a POG for our Strategic Plan, believing our focus areas, goals, objectives, and actions outlined in would suffice. While our strategic plan yielded significant results, I felt that a complementary POG would have been a crucial element in transforming the district's teaching and learning model and providing additional support for students. The absence of a POG was a missed opportunity to further align and enhance our educational strategies.
In contrast, during my tenure as Superintendent at Monrovia Unified School District, we worked with the Learner Centered Collaborative to develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan that included a POG, something we chose to call a ‘Learner Profile.’ A large group of stakeholders, including parents, teachers, students, and community members, collaborated closely with a facilitator to identify and define the elements of the POG in a meaningful way. The ‘guiding coalition’ ultimately identified five key competencies: Create & Analytical, Resilient & Adaptable, Responsible & Globally Minded, Collaborative and Empathetic.
The Guiding Coalition also identified learner outcomes to go along with each of these competencies:
Creative & Analytical: Graduates are flexible, critical thinkers who master core knowledge, evaluate solutions, and demonstrate curiosity and lifelong learning. They are capable of defining goals and problems, using relevant resources, recognizing biases, and understanding complex systems.
Resilient & Adaptable: Graduates are equipped to persist through challenges, adapt to changes, and employ strategies for personal wellness and growth. They persevere through difficult tasks, maintain personal wellness, and adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Responsible & Globally Minded: Graduates are mindful of their actions, engaged in local and global communities, and act with integrity and respect. They work purposefully towards goals, are aware of current events, and responsibly engage with their communities.
Collaborative: Graduates are effective communicators who work respectfully with others, seek diverse perspectives, and build consensus. They communicate ideas clearly, welcome constructive feedback, and share responsibility in collaborative settings.
Empathetic: Graduates are respectful individuals who understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, advocate for inclusivity, and foster positive relationships. They treat others with respect and kindness, listen with an open mind, and form positive relationships with those from different backgrounds.
Basically, as a graduate crosses the stage during the ceremony and is handed a diploma, these are the qualities that every graduate should represent.
Exemplary POGs from Across the Country
Many school districts across the country have developed exemplary POGs that serve as models for how to articulate the skills and competencies graduates should possess. These POGs vary in focus but consistently emphasize a balanced approach to academic, social, and emotional development. I have included some that stood out below:
Additionally, numerous states are also developing POGs to create a unified vision for student success at the state level. Here are a few examples:
Closing Thoughts
Incorporating a POG into your district’s strategic plan is a powerful step towards ensuring that students are equipped with the skills and attributes needed for future success. It complements the mission, vision, and core values, providing a comprehensive framework that guides students' holistic development. As you continue to refine your strategic plan, consider the vital next steps: identifying focus areas, developing goals and objectives, determining actions, and progress monitoring. I will review each of these elements in future articles, helping you build a robust and effective strategic plan.
Reflect on your district’s current strategic framework. Are your students being prepared for the future with the necessary skills and mindsets? If not, it might be time to develop a ‘Portrait of a Graduate’ to complement and enhance your mission, vision, and values.
Dr. Ryan Smith, with 20 years of leadership experience in public education, is dedicated to ensuring every student receives an outstanding education and reaches their highest potential. Through his service as Superintendent of the Monrovia Unified School District and in other key leadership roles, his commitment to putting students first has driven success and positive change across various schools and districts. Learn more about Dr. Smith at his website, on LinkedIn, or X.
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