Learning for All Ages, at All Stages
District teams have spent the better part of three years collecting input from our stakeholders – parents/community, staff, and students – through community roundtables, surveys, listening sessions, and interpersonal communication. Initially, we developed the Foundation For Excellence (FFE) plan, which helped us identify, study, and implement 22 focus items; we’ve got seven additional areas lined up to study and/or implement in the coming year, and another five awaiting the study process. The FFE plan helped us learn many things about our students, staff, and district as a whole. This learning and stakeholder feedback process has helped us shape the new Johnston Portrait of a Learner model.
Most parents can agree: school is definitely not the same as it was when they went through it. Many can recall days spent trying to memorize content in areas like science, English, math, and social studies. The demands of the 21st Century and global workforce call upon students to have a deep understanding of the integration between content mastery, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and global mindedness. Our classrooms must reflect the rapidly changing, diverse nature of the workforce and we believe our Portrait of Learner focuses on key areas for learners of all ages to grow and embrace.