What Kind of School District Do do We Want To Be?
Healthy organizations are frequently characterized as possessing a clear purpose and shared goals. In spring 2019, West Clermont began the journey of developing a plan to identify our purpose as well as update our shared vision, mission, values, and goals.
In order to accomplish this, we started by asking the question, “What kind of school district do we want to be?” The process of uncovering the answer to this question involved:
- ThoughtExchange surveying to better define what characteristics, skills, and knowledge a successful West Clermont graduate possesses
- Development of a strategic planning team, which included district, parent, and community representatives
- Stakeholder listening and feedback sessions
- Brainstorming sessions
As we move into a new decade, we are 20 years into the 21st century and realize now more than ever that students have unique needs and the way we have always done “school” is not going to yield the results our students need to compete in our local community—let alone the global world. Our students crave hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to discover what sparks their interests, and they require our support to best learn how to use their skills, talents, and passions to make a difference in the world.
This is why West Clermont School District has developed a bold strategic plan that articulates our commitment to excellence with every learner, every day, every way! We believe each and every child can learn, and we will establish high standards for learning that we expect ALL students to achieve.
The learning experience is changing from a teacher-centered approach to a learner-centered approach which means we are focused on meeting our student’s individual needs. We want to explore new and innovative ways to educate our students academically and socially-emotionally to help them connect their learning to life.
Our vision is “Together as one community, we LEARN. LEAD. SUCCEED.” and every component of that vision statement is critical. A classroom is no longer defined solely as a room with four walls, one teacher, and rows of quiet students in desks. With access to technology, our students are able to tap into many “teachers” and experts, see parts of the world they’ve only dreamed about visiting, collaborate in real-time, and explore learning in a multitude of ways simultaneously. Because of the involvement of our dedicated business partners, our students are able to engage with mentors, experience today’s workplace, and learn skills and technical competencies they can use whether their journey takes them to post-secondary education, the military, or directly to the workplace. With access to both academic and social-emotional learning opportunities, our students are given the tools to learn in new ways through goal setting, developing personal leadership skills, and applying their skills and abilities in real-world settings. And through parent-teacher interactions, our Parent Education Series, and increased communication, we strive to partner effectively with our parents to help students achieve success.
Together, as one community, we all play a part in student success.
Our students’ needs are too great for us to make a difference without the support of the community.
As we move into 2020, we want to continue our positive momentum as a school district. Driven by purpose, we are a courageous culture on the R.I.S.E. because we value Relationships, Innovation, a Student-Centered Approach, and Excellence. We commit to raising academic standards, improving educator effectiveness, and increasing equity of opportunity for all students.
I look forward to partnering with our students, teachers, parents, and community in the new year to continue work on our strategic vision and goals!
