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Developing a Robust Plan
Developing a Robust Plan
The Portsmouth School Department followed a multi-year journey to develop an authentic, useful strategic plan that represents the needs of the District and its stakeholders. The School Board set this as a goal for itself in 2022 as well as in 2023, underscoring the importance of the process as well as the final product.
There were two distinct phases of the process: The Portrait of a Graduate and The Strategic Plan. Both phases are described below, and the rest of this site tells the story of the process, from its beginning in July 2022, until the present, with artifacts and information to fully illustrate the robust conversations that took place along the way.
Phase I: Portrait of a Graduate
Phase I: Portrait of a Graduate
The Portrait of a Graduate represents Portsmouth's vision for the 21st century skills, character traits, and/or social-emotional competencies that students need to succeed in college, career, and life. In 2023, students, staff, teachers, community leaders, business leaders, and school administrators came together to create the portrait. These stakeholders met multiple times to discuss the responsibilities and goals of our public schools, as well as the traits and skills that students will need the most to be successful in adult life.
Portsmouth's Portrait of a Graduate is meant to complement academics and test scores as measures of preparedness. While it does not replace our focus on academic achievement, it shows the Portsmouth community's commitment to investing in educational experiences that educate the whole child. By focusing deeply on students’ 21st century skills supplement and enhance students’ content mastery, Portsmouth is committed to providing comprehensive educational experiences for all students. This portrait will be incorporated into the district's strategic plan and serve as a public-facing north star.
The Portrait of a Graduate was approved by the Portsmouth School Board in December 2023. Learn more about the process Portsmouth took to develop the Portrait on this dedicated website.
Phase II: Strategic Plan
Phase II: Strategic Plan
The Portsmouth School Department Strategic Plan will be developed using the data collected during the creation of the Portrait of a Graduate. The district has identified three focus areas, outlined below, and will convene committees consisting of members of the School Board and other stakeholders in order to identify action steps for each area, and related steps to carry out the desired work.
Personalized Learning
Safe Learning Environment
Rigorous & Aligned PK-12 Curriculum & Instruction
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