Draft Graduate Portrait

A Graduate Portrait is an explicit and audacious description of the community’s aspiration on what students should know, be and be able to do in the future. It articulates what the community values and wants to nurture in its students in order to prepare their graduates to thrive in life and career.

While aspirational, our commitment is to help every student reach their full potential and work toward these elements to the best of their abilities. A Graduate Portrait inspires and emboldens the school district and system of schools to adopt innovations and creative redesigns that are stimulated by signals about the future. It enables leaders to align leadership, management, teaching and learning, and resource allocations so that the learning system produces results that will deliver on the promise of the vision. The following Graduate Portrait elements have been developed through a synthesis of iterative inputs from the community.

Inquisitive Critical Thinker

An inquisitive critical thinker possesses the skills to analyze, solve, and interpret complex challenges with logic, creativity, and open-mindedness.

LCMSD graduates are inquisitive critical thinkers and demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, adeptly tackling obstacles with a combination of logical and creative strategies. They analyze diverse information and viewpoints, drawing well-informed conclusions that foster open-mindedness and collaboration. Their curiosity drives a continuous pursuit of knowledge and exploration of new ideas, encouraging lifelong learning. These thinkers possess the ability to interpret nuances, evaluate sources critically, and become analytical consumers of media in a world overflowing with information. With executive decision-making skills, they approach choices thoughtfully, maintaining a clear balance between the details and the broader context to inform next steps. By drawing connections between concepts, they uncover patterns and generate deeper insights, applying this understanding to complex challenges. Importantly, they recognize the limitations of technology, using it as a tool while evaluating its role in learning, problem-solving, and collaboration. This holistic approach equips them to navigate both the big picture and intricate details, ensuring impactful actions and innovative solutions.

Emotionally Intelligent and Socially Aware Leader

Emotionally intelligent leaders navigate interpersonal dynamics with self-awareness, empathy, and resilience.

An emotionally intelligent and socially aware leader begins with self-awareness, understanding their own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, biases, and the impact they have on others. This foundation allows them to practice self-regulation, effectively managing their emotions and behaviors to respond thoughtfully to challenges and interactions. Empathy enables them to connect deeply with others by recognizing and understanding their emotions, fostering meaningful relationships. Such graduates demonstrate resilience, recovering from setbacks with a positive outlook and determination to grow. Guided by compassion, they show care and kindness in their interactions, creating an environment of trust and support.

Their well-honed social skills allow them to navigate interpersonal relationships with sensitivity and insight, whether in-person, virtual, or digital. They excel in conflict resolution, addressing disagreements constructively and maintaining harmony in diverse settings. With a focus on emotional intelligence, they build connections that inspire collaboration, inclusion, and understanding, ensuring their leadership promotes both individual and collective growth.

Effective Communicator and Collaborator

Effective communicators and collaborators foster understanding and inclusivity through purposeful expression and teamwork.

LCMSD graduates are effective communicators who demonstrate strength in written, verbal, and visual presentation skills, articulating their ideas clearly and persuasively across diverse audiences. They are skilled listeners, actively engaging with and understanding different perspectives, which enhances their ability to build meaningful connections. Graduates excel in purposeful collaboration, contributing significantly to group efforts and fostering a sense of shared purpose. Their media literacy allows them to critically evaluate and communicate across various platforms and modalities, ensuring that their message is both ethical and impactful.

They value and respect the opinions of others, cultivating inclusive environments where all voices are heard. With empathy, kindness, and compassion, they build trust and strengthen relationships, bridging differences to achieve common goals. Their adaptability and flexibility enable them to thrive in changing and diverse settings, adjusting their approaches to suit the needs of the moment. Rooted in a focus on human connection, they foster cooperation and cultivate strong teamwork, making their contributions not only effective but also transformative.

Real-World Ready

Being real-world ready entails managing responsibilities, applying knowledge, and demonstrating adaptability for a sustainable future.

LCMSD graduates are real-world ready, they demonstrate strong time management skills, effectively balancing personal, academic, and professional responsibilities to achieve their goals. They possess financial literacy and planning abilities, empowering them to manage resources wisely and build long-term stability. Independence is a hallmark of their character, as they adapt to and learn from varied environments, gaining the skills necessary to thrive in any setting. Their ability to apply knowledge to practical, real-world scenarios enables them to address both everyday challenges and complex problems with confidence and creativity.

These individuals are environmentally conscious, showing a commitment to sustainability and actively contributing to a healthier planet. They demonstrate social responsibility, prioritizing actions that benefit communities while maintaining a focus on the well-being of future generations. Proficiency with hardware and software tools equips them to navigate an increasingly technology-driven world, ensuring that they remain adaptable and capable in diverse situations. A real-world ready graduate combines practical skills with a forward-thinking mindset, making them capable of creating meaningful impact in their personal and professional lives.

Ethical & Responsible Contributor to Society

Ethical and responsible contributors act with integrity, fostering inclusivity and positive societal impact.

LCMSD graduates are ethical and responsible contributors who are guided by a strong moral compass, making decisions rooted in a clear sense of right and wrong. Integrity shapes their actions, as they consistently act with honesty, transparency, and trustworthiness in every endeavor. They embrace accountability, taking ownership of their decisions and actions while demonstrating a deep sense of responsibility toward others. These individuals lead by example, modeling ethical behavior that embodies fairness, respect, and empathy in all interactions.

They actively cultivate a diverse worldview, fostering curiosity and respect for the perspectives of others, both locally and globally. This broad understanding drives their commitment to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and respected. Their ethical use of technology reflects a thoughtful approach to navigating the digital world with awareness and responsibility. Dedicated to positively contributing to society, they focus on actions that build stronger, more equitable communities. By championing integrity, accountability, and inclusivity, they inspire change and leave a lasting impact on the world.

Adaptable Lifelong Learner

Graduates possess a genuine passion for acquiring knowledge and developing new skills, which fuels ongoing personal and academic growth.

An adaptable lifelong learner embodies resilience, learning from setbacks and persevering through adversity with determination and optimism. They approach challenges with a growth mindset, seeing each obstacle as an opportunity to learn, improve, and innovate. These individuals are flexible, readily adapting to new and shifting technologies, circumstances, and environments. They remain open to expansive thinking, new methods, and creative approaches to learning, enabling them to thrive in a world of constant change.

Their proactive engagement and innate curiosity drive them to explore new ideas and seek knowledge beyond immediate needs, fueling their passion for lifelong learning. A love of learning is central to their identity, as they take joy in acquiring new skills and expanding their understanding, which supports ongoing personal and academic growth. Graduates exhibit confidence in their ability to ask questions, embrace mistakes, and use these experiences as stepping stones for improvement. Adaptable lifelong learners embody a mindset of continuous curiosity and innovation, equipping them to navigate and contribute meaningfully to a dynamic and evolving world.

Equity & Inclusion Leader

Equity leaders champion diversity, disrupt inequities, and advocate for inclusive and just communities.

LCMSD graduates are equity and inclusion leaders dedicated to recognizing and disrupting inequities, actively working to create a society grounded in fairness, social justice, and anti-racism. They advocate for diversity, inclusion, and belonging, fostering environments where all voices are valued and uplifted. These leaders possess a deep understanding of the histories and ongoing impacts of systemic oppression, such as the challenges faced by historically underserved communities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse populations. This knowledge empowers them to dismantle harmful structures and policies that perpetuate inequities and to challenge dominant narratives that exclude marginalized perspectives.

With strong agency and advocacy skills, equity leaders ensure fairness, integrity, and justice in their interactions and decisions. Graduates celebrate and respect diverse cultures and histories, cultivating a broader and more inclusive worldview. Their critical thinking and transformative efforts aim to build balanced, equitable systems that empower all individuals to thrive. By championing equity and inclusion, they drive meaningful change, shaping communities that are not only diverse but also deeply committed to justice and belonging.

Report abuse