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Portrait of a Graduate

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District 204's Portrait of a Graduate

Resilience
Track athlete mid-jump, pole vault
Overcome obstacles, learn through missteps, adapt in the face of challenges, and persist toward and exceed goals despite setbacks.
Flexibility & Adaptability
Live event technology students running a live event
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
Group of students during an outdoor event, throwing colored powder into the air
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
Eagle scouts carrying flags during an honors ceremony
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
Robotics team members working on their robot before a competition
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
Student jazz performers during a live event
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