Agenda Item
1. Superintendent's Report ~ Strategic Plan Presentation
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent
Mr. Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Division
Strategic Plan
Board Meeting Update
June 10, 2024
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Today’s Focus
● Overview of the Strategic Planning Process
● Proposed Core Beliefs, Vision, and Mission
● Proposed Portrait of a Graduate
● Proposed Goal Areas and Performance Objectives
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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
33 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
Survey Responses
Group Number of
Respondents
Parent/Guardian 4026
Student 1976
Community Member 346
DCSD Employee + 403
Parent
Teacher 2262
School-Based 916
Employee (Non-
Teacher)
District Level 508
Employee
Total 10,437
Focus Groups by the Numbers
70 54
Total Focus Group Meetings Staff Groups
42 in person 28 in person
28 virtual 26 Virtual
1200+ 11
Participants Parent/Community Groups
Admin, Instructional Staff, Central Office Staff, Satellite 7 in person
Staff, Support Staff, HS Students, Parents, Community/ 4 virtual
Business, Transportation, Nutritional Services
14 7
In-Person Sites
10 groups/day over 4 days; 2 groups on day 5 HS Student Groups
Chamblee, Cross Keys, Dunwoody, Briar Vista, 7 in person
Columbia, Tucker, McNair, Oak Grove,
Southwest DeKalb, Stone Mountain, Fairington,
Clarkston, Rowland, Central Office
Core Beliefs
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Proposed Core Belief Statements
We believe in:
● Meeting each student’s academic, social, and emotional needs
● Supporting quality teaching and learning
● Creating equitable educational opportunities for all students
● Embracing cultural diversity
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Vision
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Proposed Vision Statement
To prepare students for success as lifelong learners and
responsible global citizens
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Mission
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Proposed Mission Statement
To promote the academic, social, and emotional growth of each
student by fostering a safe, supportive, and engaging learning
environment
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Portrait of a Graduate
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Proposed Portrait of a Graduate
● Reflective & Resilient Learner
● Globally Engaged Citizen
● Creative & Dynamic Learner
● Effective Collaborator
● Effective Communicator
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Proposed Portrait of a Graduate
Reflective & Resilient Learner
● I can demonstrate knowledge of content skills and standards.
● I can evaluate potential outcomes of my actions by reflecting on successes,
challenges, and make the appropriate shifts to accomplish personal and
academic goals.
● I can hold myself accountable by utilizing organization and project
management to achieve growth.
● I can persevere through productive failures and challenges to improve.
● I can demonstrate readiness through active civic engagement, enrollment,
employment, entrepreneurship, or enlistment
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Proposed Portrait of a Graduate
Globally Engaged Citizen
● I can respect different cultures, perspectives, and beliefs.
● I can exercise compassion and empathy towards others.
● I can explore community and global issues from the perspectives of those most impacted and
develop plausible solutions.
● I can employ a neutral and democratic process to arrive at decisions.
Creative & Dynamic Learner
● I can demonstrate curiosity, originality, inventiveness, and innovative problem- solving
to create new things.
● I can dive deeply into an issue and consider multiple perspectives when addressing problems
and developing new processes.
● I can take the appropriate risks and make adjustments based on lessons learned.
● I can evaluate information and challenge both my peers’ thinking and my own.
● I can generate questions and elaborate on ideas to identify new solutions.
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Proposed Portrait of a Graduate
Effective Collaborator
● I can work with a diverse group to accomplish a common goal.
● I can give and receive meaningful feedback
● I can own personal responsibility for team outcomes.
● I can value and appreciate varying opinions and viewpoints of others
Effective Communicator
● I can articulate and share ideas clearly with respect.
● I can utilize different platforms to express ideas and thoughts.
● I can use technology effectively and responsibly.
● I can actively listen with an open mind and respect other ideas.
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Goal Areas and Performance Objectives
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Goal Areas
● Student Academic Success with Equity and Access
● School, Family, and Community Engagement
● Recruit, Develop, and Retain Talent
● Culture and Climate
● Mental Health and Wellness
● Organizational Excellence
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Goal Area 1: Student Academic Success with Equity and
Access
Performance Objectives:
1.1 Increase proficiency rates in literacy on district and state assessments for all students.
1.2 Increase proficiency rates in numeracy on district and state assessments for all students.
1.3 Increase the 4- and 5-year cohort graduation rates.
1.4 Ensure all students have equitable access to and support for academic programs and career
pathways.
1.5 Improve student academic growth as measured by the College and Career Readiness
Performance Index (CCRPI).
1.6 Enhance student proficiency in digital literacy skills using innovative technology.
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Goal Area 2: School, Family, and Community Engagement
Performance Objectives:
2.1 Strengthen family, school, and community engagement to establish clear, accessible,
and relevant communication tailored to meet stakeholders’ preferences.
2.2 Create opportunities for collaboration between the district, families, community
partners, and businesses to foster partnerships to support district-wide initiatives.
2.3 Improve communication processes for stakeholders to ensure the flow of clear, timely,
and relevant information.
2.4 Establish clear communication channels to effectively engage with multilingual families
and provide equitable access to district and school information.
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Goal Area 3: Recruit, Develop, and Retain Talent
Performance Objectives:
3.1 Recruit and hire a diverse and highly qualified workforce that reflects a world-class,
innovative talent pool.
3.2 Develop high performing staff to ensure quality teaching and learning outcomes, an
innovative workforce, and visionary leaders.
3.3 Retain highly effective staff in critical needs positions to ensure the sustainability and
efficiency of integral district programs and services.
3.4 Develop employee pipelines for key staff positions to ensure the long-term viability of
essential programs and services.
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Goal Area 4: Culture and Climate
Performance Objectives:
4.1 Ensure all schools provide a safe, orderly, and supportive learning environment for
all students and staff.
4.2 Implement restorative practice structures in all schools and increase the number of
schools using Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programs each
year.
4.3 Improve student attendance by creating a positive and engaging school experience.
4.4 Ensure all schools have staff trained in de-escalation techniques and Crisis
Prevention Intervention (CPI) strategies.
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Goal Area 5: Mental Health and Wellness
Performance Objectives:
5.1 Create safe and supportive environments that promote positive mental health
and wellness.
5.2 Increase awareness of factors that can impact mental health to foster well-
managed learning environments.
5.3 Increase mental health support staff to improve classroom behavior and peer
relationships.
5.4 Expand staff participation in mental health professional learning opportunities.
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Goal Area 6: Organizational Excellence
Performance Objectives:
6.1 Provide clean, safe, and efficient school facilities for all students.
6.2 Deliver safe and efficient transportation services to all students.
6.3 Deliver efficient school nutrition services and healthy meals to all students.
6.4 Improve and maintain a secure, accessible, and equitable digital learning
environment for all students.
6.5 Ensure excellent financial management of district resources.
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