Agenda Item
c. Strategic Planning Board Work Session
Summary: By: Ms. Aurora Lora, Insight Education Group / DeKalb Board of Education
Strategic Plan
Board Work Session #2
March 6, 2024
Welcome!
Dr. Devon Q. Horton
Superintendent of Schools
Session Objectives
• Refine the core beliefs, vision, and mission for the DeKalb County
School District
• Review stakeholder survey data
Agenda
● Core Beliefs for DeKalb County School District
● Vision for DeKalb County School District
● Mission for DeKalb County School District
● Stakeholder Survey Data
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.
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.
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
Steering Committee Feedback
● Make them more succinct.
● Remove “we believe”.
● We should consider adding a belief about holding
everyone accountable.
● Accountability should be at the top of our list.
● What does “embracing the cultural diversity” really
mean and look like?
● We should include something about equitable access
and having adequate resources and technology for
schools.
Steering Committee Ideas
● All students deserve a quality education.
● All students can learn.
● All students are capable of greatness.
● Students will thrive in a culturally diverse community.
● Equity and access are essential to student success.
Discussion
Based on your thoughts from the previous session and the
feedback from the Steering Committee, are there any
changes that you’d like to make to the core beliefs?
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.
Current DCSD Vision
To inspire our community of learners to achieve
educational excellence
Board Feedback
● Public education has changed. We want our vision to
incorporate something about preparing students for
college, career, and life. We want them to be ready to
participate in society and democracy.
● We want students to have the skills that will allow them
to do whatever they want to do in their futures.
● We want them to be happy, healthy, and have positive
relationships with others.
Steering Committee Feedback
● Should be aspirational.
● Revise inspire to a more concrete and actionable word like
“prepare” or “equip”.
● Words to consider: grow, thrive, succeed, whole, happy,
healthy, community-minded, opportunities, options, equipped,
accountability, academics, diverse
● Include the human connection by using “healthy”, “productive”,
or “holistic”
Steering Committee Ideas
● Inspiring, empowering, and engaging students through
learning.
● Igniting students to go forward, do something, and be
somebody.
● Delivering excellence without excuses.
● Preparing students for college, career, and life as an engaged
member of the community.
● Graduating students who are prepared for lifelong success.
● Preparing students for lifelong learning beyond the classroom.
● Inspiring students to grow, thrive, succeed, and achieve their
dreams.
Discussion
Based on your thoughts from the previous session and the
feedback from the Steering Committee, are there any
changes that you’d like to make to the vision?
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
Current DCSD Mission
To ensure student success, leading to higher education,
work, and lifelong learning.
Board Feedback
We’d like to build from the current mission, but make it
broader than just higher education, work, and lifelong
learning. Add in something more holistic to say we are
giving them the skills they need to thrive in life, be happy
and fulfilled, and participate in society.
Steering Committee Ideas
● DeKalb County School District embraces, educates, and
empowers every student to thrive in college, career and life. We
are DeKalb! We disrupt for excellence!
● As an increasingly diverse school district, DCSD equips every
scholar with the academic, social, and emotional skill set to
become holistic critical thinkers and lifelong learners.
● DCSD provides students with an excellent education that
prepares every student thrive in life and reach their full
potential.
Discussion
Based on your thoughts from the previous session and the
feedback from the Steering Committee, are there any
changes that you’d like to make to the mission?
Strategic Plan Survey Results
Survey Responses
Group Number of
Respondents
Parent/Guardian 3685
Student 802
Community Member 257
DCSD Employee + 359
Parent
Teacher 2022
School-Based 814
Employee
(Non-Teacher)
District Level 460
Employee
Total 8399
What should DeKalb County prioritize in the next 3-5
years as part of their next Strategic Plan?
All Respondents Top 10 Priorities
Top 5
1. Mental health / social
emotional wellness
2. Employee
Recruitment and
Retention
3. Age and Maintenance
of school district
facilities
4. School Safety
5. High School
readiness,
graduation, and
post-graduate success
Top 10 Priorities by Group- Parent/Guardian
Priority Count Percentage
Top 5
Mental health/social emotional wellness 2,122 58%
School safety 1,900 52% 1. Mental health / social
High school readiness, graduation, and post-graduate success 1,740 47% emotional wellness
Age and maintenance of school district facilities 1,637 44% 2. School Safety
Educational equity for all students 1,519 41% 3. High School readiness,
Expanding school choice, career programs, and access to advanced 1,460 40% graduation, and
coursework (honors-level, International Baccalaureate, Advanced post-graduate success
Placement)
4. Age and Maintenance of
Employee recruitment and retention 1,438 39%
school district facilities
Accelerating student learning (due to COVID-19) 1,383 38%
5. Educational equity for all
Professional and career development and training for teachers and staff 1,176 32%
students
Investments in technology and associated training 1,085 29%
Top 10 Priorities by Group- Employee
Priority Count Percentage
Mental health/social emotional wellness 563 69%
Top 5
Employee recruitment and retention 513 63%
1. Mental health / social
School safety 416 51% emotional wellness
Age and maintenance of school district facilities 383 47% 2. Employee recruitment
Educational equity for all students 359 44% and retention
Accelerating student learning (due to COVID-19) 299 37% 3. School Safety
Professional and career development and training for teachers and staff 280 34% 4. Age and Maintenance of
school district facilities
High school readiness, graduation, and post-graduate success 269 33%
5. Educational equity for all
Early Childhood Education 194 24%
students
3rd Grade Reading 160 20%
Top 10 Priorities by Group- Employee and Parent/Guardian
Priority Count Percentage
Top 5
Mental health/social emotional wellness 228 64%
Employee recruitment and retention 222 62% 1. Mental health / social
Educational equity for all students 165 46%
emotional wellness
School safety 161 45%
2. Employee recruitment
and retention
Age and maintenance of school district facilities 152 42%
3. Educational equity for all
High school readiness, graduation, and post-graduate success 146 41% students
Professional and career development and training for teachers and staff 120 33% 4. School Safety
Expanding school choice, career programs, and access to advanced 104 29% 5. Age and Maintenance of
coursework (honors-level, International Baccalaureate, Advanced
school district facilities
Placement)
6. High School readiness,
Accelerating student learning (due to COVID-19) 102 28%
graduation, and
Early Childhood Education 88 25% post-graduate success
Top 10 Priorities by Group- Student
Priority Count Percentage
Top 5
School safety 505 63% 1. School Safety
Mental health/social emotional wellness 493 61% 2. Mental health / social
emotional wellness
Expanding school choice, career programs, and access to advanced 479 60%
coursework (honors-level, International Baccalaureate, Advanced 3. Expanding school choice,
Placement) career programs, and
High school readiness, graduation, and post-graduate success 451 56% access to advanced
coursework
Educational equity for all students 327 41%
Accelerating student learning (due to COVID-19) 252 31% 4. High School readiness,
graduation, and
Age and maintenance of school district facilities 246 31% post-graduate success
Investments in technology and associated training 232 29% 1. Educational equity for all
Professional and career development and training for teachers and staff 193 24% students
Early Childhood Education 174 22%
Top 10 Priorities by Group- Community Member
Top 5
Priority Count Percentage
1. Mental health / social
Mental health/social emotional wellness 162 63%
emotional wellness
Educational equity for all students 133 52%
2. Educational equity for all
Age and maintenance of school district facilities 103 40% students
Expanding school choice, career programs, and access to advanced 103 40% 3. Age and Maintenance of
coursework (honors-level, International Baccalaureate, Advanced school district facilities
Placement)
4. Expanding school choice,
High school readiness, graduation, and post-graduate success 97 38%
career programs, and
Employee recruitment and retention 89 35% access to advanced
School safety 86 33% coursework
Investments in technology and associated training 83 32% 5. High School readiness,
graduation, and
Professional and career development and training for teachers and staff 71 28%
post-graduate success
Accelerating student learning (due to COVID-19) 66 26%
Top Priorities - Board Region 1
Top Priorities - Board Region 1
Top Priorities - Board Region 2
Top Priorities - Board Region 2
Top Priorities - Board Region 3
Top Priorities - Board Region 3
Top Priorities - Board Region 4
Top Priorities - Board Region 4
Top Priorities - Board Region 5
Top Priorities - Board Region 5
Top Priorities - Board Region 6
Top Priorities - Board Region 6
Top Priorities - Board Region 7
Top Priorities - Board Region 7
Next Steps
Steering Committee Meeting #4
● March 21, 2024
● Focus
○ Data Review - Part II
○ Goal Areas & Performance
Objectives
Meeting Feedback
I appreciate... I wonder...