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Portrait of a Graduate

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District 204's Portrait of a Graduate

Resilience
A female athlete is mid-jump, clearing a high jump bar in a sports stadium with spectators visible in the background.
Overcome obstacles, learn through missteps, adapt in the face of challenges, and persist toward and exceed goals despite setbacks.
Flexibility & Adaptability
The image shows three young people, likely teenagers, sitting at a computer desk in a dimly lit room, with various items and decorations visible in the background.
Adjust to new conditions, different roles, unpredictable situations, and shifting contexts. Manage ambiguity and adjust to changing priorities. Recognize there are often several paths to a desired outcome.
Communication
A large group of people gathered in a grassy field, surrounded by vibrant clouds of colored powder, creating a lively and colorful scene.
Express thoughts and ideas collaboratively using oral, written and non-verbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts. Listen with empathy to make meaning and build understanding. Communicate effectively in diverse environments.
Citizenship
Two young individuals in Scout uniforms, one with a curly hairstyle, are standing in a room with flags and other decorative elements in the background.
Understand and be informed of civic processes and obligations to be of service to others at a local, state, national, and global level. Use empathy when collaborating with others to guide civic participation.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
A crowded retail store with customers browsing and examining various products on the shelves.
Collect, assess, and analyze relevant and reliable information to reason effectively. Collaborate with others to consider different perspectives, test ideas, and evaluate solutions.
Creativity & Innovation
A group of musicians, including a woman and several men, are performing on stage with various musical instruments such as saxophones and trumpets, against a backdrop of a dimly lit room with decorative lighting.
Use idea creation techniques to improve, analyze, and evaluate ways to grow creative efforts. Empathize with others to gain new perspectives. Recognize that originality may challenge constraints. Understand that creation in a collaborative process requires risktaking and learning from mistakes.

Overview

The district asked a diverse group of stakeholders to come together to identify the community’s aspirations for all students. The stakeholders included parents, teachers, students, business leaders, representatives from higher education, and area non-profits. Through a series of meetings, this group affirmed the value of rigorous academics, but also discussed the idea that today’s educational experience must be intentional about fostering the skills young people need to thrive in a complex, rapidly changing world. 

The group identified six core competencies needed to succeed, no matter what path a student takes after graduation. The competencies include creativity and innovation, communication, critical thinking and problem solving, citizenship, flexibility and adaptability, and resilience. Once the core competencies were identified, a survey was done to gather feedback from the larger community. Ninety-one percent of survey respondents agreed with the core competencies. 

The competencies were used to create District 204’s Portrait of a Graduate that serves as a visual to represent the work. Moving forward, the Portrait of a Graduate serves as a guide for the district to align its work with the community’s aspirations for all students.   

Resources