Agenda Item
a. Strategic Plan Process, Timeline and Roles of Stakeholders
Summary: By: Insight Education Group
Strategic Plan
Board Work Session #1
December 11, 2023
Welcome!
Dr. Devon Q. Horton
Superintendent of Schools
Session Objectives
• Understand the process and timeline for the development of the
strategic plan.
• Understand the role of the Board, Steering Committee, Cabinet, and
stakeholder groups in the strategic planning process.
• Review the core beliefs and core values for the DeKalb County
School District.
• Refine the vision and mission for the DeKalb County School District.
Agenda
• Welcome & Introductions
• Strategic Plan Process, Timeline, and Roles of Stakeholders
• Core Values/Core Beliefs for DeKalb County School District (H-Pride)
• Vision for DeKalb County School District
• Mission for DeKalb County School District
Welcome & Introductions
Your Name
How long you’ve been a board member in the DeKalb County
School District
One word or phrase to describe how you feel about the district’s
next strategic plan
About Insight Education Group
We are practitioners with school and district experience and a
passion for supporting our partners to shape educational
systems that are truly equitable for all learners.
We are committed to providing a partner-driven process rather
than relying on ”ready-made” programs.
We understand and appreciate the challenges, nuances, and
opportunities of implementing small and large-scale systems and
initiatives.
Facilitator: Aurora Lora
● Worked in education for 23 years
● Elementary school teacher - Houston
● Middle & high school principal - Portland, OR
● Principal supervisor - Seattle
● Assistant superintendent - Dallas
● Associate superintendent - Oklahoma City
● Superintendent - Oklahoma City
District Project Plan
OCT NOV/DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Project Planning
Steering Committee Meetings
Data Analysis
Stakeholder Surveys
District Leadership Drafts Sections for Feedback
Focus Groups
Data Analysis
Draft Shared
Board Work Board Work Board Work Final Plan to
Session Session Session the Board
Steering Committee
30 members selected based on their individual knowledge and skills, as well
as their affiliations to particular stakeholder groups
• district and school staff and leadership;
• students;
• parents;
• community members and leaders; and
• other key partners
Steering Committee
When selecting members, we ask the district to consider if the committee:
• Equitably represents the demographics of the district’s student
population;
• Equitably represents the various areas of the city/county;
• Represents a range of schools and grade levels, as well as positions
and years of experience;
• Has a balance of internal and external stakeholders
Steering Committee’s Role
● Advise on development of the plan
What is the
value of a ● Elevate the voices of stakeholders
● Be ambassadors for the project
steering
● Provide thought leadership on the
committee? implementation of the plan
Steering Committee’s Meetings
Meeting 6
Final Review
Meeting 5
Measuring Progress
and Performance
Meeting 4
Data, Priorities, and
Goals - Pt. 2
Meeting 3
Data, Priorities, and
Goals - Pt. 1
Meeting 2
Portrait of
Graduate, Vision,
Meeting 1 Mission
Sample Plan
Review
Role of the Board
● Decision makers on the core beliefs, vision, and mission for the
district
● Provide feedback on sections of the strategic plan at Board
work sessions (3)
■ December 11 - Core Beliefs / Values, Vision, and Mission
■ February - Finalize Core Beliefs / Values, Vision, and
Mission; Portrait of a Graduate; Review Stakeholder
Survey Results
■ April - Provide feedback on proposed priorities and goals
● Approver for the strategic plan once completed
Role of Superintendent/Cabinet/Executive
Leadership Team
● Provide feedback on sections of the strategic plan
● Draft priorities, goals, and strategies using feedback from the
Steering Committee, Board, and community (surveys and
focus groups)
● Review feedback on the draft priorities, goals, and strategies
and use it to make revisions to the drafts
● Provide input for the graphic design of the final document
Role of Stakeholder Groups / Community
● Provide input on the district priorities through the survey in
January / February
● Provide feedback on sections of the strategic plan through
focus groups in March / April
Main Focus for Today
Core
Beliefs / Vision Mission
Values
What are the elements?
Core Beliefs General and fundamental assumptions/overarching
truths about the world.
Core Values Set of principles that drive all behaviors and
decision-making for the district.
Vision Describes what the district hopes to achieve or be in
the future.
Mission Articulates what is unique about who the district is,
what the district does, and who the district serves.
Process for Building Action
What do we have to do? How do we know?
the Strategic Plan Strategic Plan
How are we going to progress?
Mission
What do we do? Who do we do it for?
Vision
Where are we going? What do we aspire to achieve?
Core Beliefs & Core Values
What do we stand for?
Core Beliefs and Core Values
Core Beliefs
● General and fundamental assumptions about the
world. They are deep-seated convictions you hold
about yourself, others, and the nature of reality. They
aren’t about specific situations, but about overarching
truths and they often go unquestioned.
Core Values
● Specific and actionable guides for behavior and
decision-making. They are principles that guide your
actions, translating into concrete behaviors. Shared
values create a sense of belonging and guide
collaborative action.
Imagine core values as the
walls and furniture. They’re
what you see and interact
with on a daily basis,
reflecting the foundation in a
tangible way.
Imagine core beliefs as the
foundation of a house. It’s an
unseen, underlying structure
that determines the overall
shape and strength of the
building.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)
Core Beliefs:
● All students can learn.
● Every student deserves a high-quality education.
● Public education is the foundation of a strong democracy.
Core Values:
● Equity - Ensuring that every student has the opportunity to reach their
full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances
● Excellence - Striving for the highest standards of teaching, learning, and
achievement
● Innovation - Embracing new ideas and approaches to education
● Collaboration - Working together as a community to support success
Louden County Public Schools (VA)
Core Beliefs:
● All students are capable of achieving high levels of learning.
● Each student is unique and deserves a personalized learning experience.
● Public education is essential for a thriving democracy.
Core Values:
● Student-centered focus - Putting the needs of every student first
● Equity and inclusion - Creating a welcoming and supportive environment
for all students
● Continuous improvement - Striving for excellence through ongoing
learning and innovation
● Collaboration and community - Building strong partnerships with families,
staff, and the community
Fort Worth Independent School District (TX)
Core Beliefs:
● Every child is capable of greatness.
● Relationships matter.
● Public education is the cornerstone of a strong democracy.
● Equity and access are essential for student success.
● Continuous improvement is vital for organizational excellence.
Core Values:
● Student-centered - We put students first in everything we do.
● Integrity - We are honest, ethical, and accountable.
● Innovation - We embrace new ideas and continuous improvement.
● Teamwork - We work together to achieve common goals.
● Excellence - We strive for the highest quality in all that we do.
Denver Public Schools (CO)
Core Beliefs:
● Every child is capable of greatness.
● Public education is the cornerstone of a just and equitable society.
● Collaboration is essential for student success.
Core Values:
● Equity - Ensuring that all students have access to the resources and
opportunities they need to succeed
● Student-centered learning - Designing instruction that meets the
individual needs of every child
● Innovation - Embracing new ideas and technologies to improve teaching
and learning.
● Accountability - Measuring progress and holding ourselves responsible for
student outcomes.
DeKalb County Public Schools Core Beliefs
We believe
● In making sure every decision supports quality
teaching and learning
● In ensuring we meet every student’s academic,
social, and emotional needs
● In embracing the cultural diversity of our community
as a strength
● In holding everyone accountable for educational
excellence
Discussion
● Should we have core beliefs and core values for DCSD?
Most districts have either core beliefs or core values, but
we saw examples of districts that have both.
● If we have both, should we stick with the current core
beliefs or brainstorm some additional options?
Vision
Vision
Describes what the district hopes to achieve or be in the
future.
Sample Vision Statements
“Making the best possible ice cream, in the nicest possible way.”
-Ben & Jerry’s
“To organize the world‘s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
-Google
“To make people happy.”
-Disney
“To develop leaders who will one day make a global difference.”
-Harvard
“We will help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.”
-CVS
“To reduce human trauma and economic costs associated with automobile accidents.”
-Progressive
Key Ingredients of a Vision
1 – The output
When you define what you do as an outcome, you start to transform your product or service into a benefit. Vision statements
that talk about benefits are far more inspiring than those that talk about the service or product itself.
2 – The twist
Your vision statement needs a unique selling point. This is a key ingredient in helping you bring focus and inspiration to your
vision.
3 – The quantification
With no possible end in sight (or a totally unrealistic one), the initial inspiration derived from a great vision can turn to
frustration. Give yourself a goal to assess progress against but it doesn’t have to be numeric.
4 – The human connection
Include something that makes people conjure a specific mental image when they read your vision statement.
Sample Vision with Key Ingredients
1 – The output
2 – The twist
3 – The quantification
4 – The human connection
Producing and selling locally sourced cakes and pies that are so
delicious and satisfying that every customer who leaves our store does
so with a smile.
Sample District Vision Statements
Mooresville Graded School District:
● Creating a better community by empowering every individual to grow,
thrive, and succeed.
Maplewood Richmond Heights School District:
● Inspiring and preparing students to be leaders, scholars, stewards, and
citizens who will thrive in a diverse and changing world.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools:
● Our schools exist to provide experiences that empower, inspire, and engage.
Sample District Vision Statements
Durham Public Schools:
● Igniting Limitless Potential
Austin Independent School District:
● We are Austin’s home for inclusive learning: high expectations for all children,
high outcomes for every student.
Los Angeles Unified School District:
● L.A. Unified will be a progressive global leader in education, providing a
dynamic and inspiring learning experience where all students graduate ready
for success.
Current DCSD Vision
To inspire our community of learners to achieve
educational excellence
Discussion
● Should we stay with the current vision for DCSD or make
changes?
● If we make changes, what did you find compelling about
the sample visions?
● How might we weave those ideas into a new vision
statement for the DeKalb County School District?
Mission
Mission
Articulates what is unique about who the district is, what the
district does, and who it serves.
Mission Brainstorm
Describes what is Describes what is Describes what is
unique about unique about unique about
who we are who we serve what we do
Sample District Mission Statements
How well does this mission statement
describe what is unique about:
● Who the district is?
● Who they serve?
● What they do?
Sample District Mission Statements
Jackson Public Schools:
● At Jackson Public Schools, we develop scholars through world-class learning
experiences to attain an exceptional knowledge base, critical and relevant
skill sets, and the necessary dispositions for great success.
Maplewood Richmond Heights School District:
● MRH is an inclusive school district where students, staff, families, and
community members are seen, heard, and valued for their unique
backgrounds, cultures, talents, and beliefs. We support, educate, encourage,
and nurture one another to reach our full potential in order to create a better
community.
Sample District Mission Statements
Durham Public Schools:
● Durham Public Schools embraces, educates, and empowers every student to
innovate, serve, and lead.
Austin Independent School District:
● We prepare every student with the knowledge and skills to thrive in college,
career, and life.
Los Angeles Unified School District:
● Embracing our diversity to educate L.A.’s youth, ensure academic
achievement, and empower tomorrow’s leaders. We are L.A. Unified.
Current DCSD Mission
To ensure student success, leading to higher education,
work, and lifelong learning.
Debrief
● Should we stay with the current mission for DCSD or
make changes?
● If we make changes, what did you find compelling about
the sample missions?
● How might we weave those ideas into a new mission
statement for the DeKalb County School District?
Next Steps
Steering Committee Meeting #2
● January 25, 2024
● Focus
○ Portrait of a Graduate
○ Core Beliefs
○ Vision
○ Mission
Meeting Feedback
I appreciate... I wonder...