As an employee of LPS and a proud parent of students here I believe in our Mission - stated below.
The District Mission is defined as:
To educate all students for the future by challenging every individual to
continuously learn, achieve, and act with purpose and compassion.
LPS' Information Technology Department's Mission is defined as:
continuously learn, achieve, and act with purpose and compassion.
LPS' Information Technology Department's Mission is defined as:
To define the 21st Century Learning Space, to assure Universal Access to that space, for all learners to master new frontiers in communications, information and literacy.
and IT's vision is:
I believe these missions and visions are in alignment. They are all forward-looking. They have great potential for everyone involved and "on board" with our Mission. These phrases aren't just words, they are a call to action to all staff and students. We are in a time of rapid change. We are embracing that change in a positive way if we execute our mission. It is my belief that everyone needs to be part of this mission or make way for those who are. The time is now!
The three statements are all forward looking as I mentioned earlier. They all have as their end-game a focus on the future. But as we are aware the future is just out of our reach, but it's the 'carrot' that is dangling outin front of us and it moves us forward. All we have is the present to grasp and deal with. We must focus our immediate energies towards in the present. So I ask you staff and students: What are you doing today to make the Mission as success?
How does the district ensure success? Our district leaders must "walk the talk". The mission must be communicated clearly. The district leaders (at all levels) must not just say the words. They must also embrace them in their actions and they must convey a sense of urgency to everyone.
Who are the leaders in a public school district? I answer this question by stating that everyone is a leader at some level.
and IT's vision is:
LPS will support the necessary technology for world-class student learning and professional practice.
I believe these missions and visions are in alignment. They are all forward-looking. They have great potential for everyone involved and "on board" with our Mission. These phrases aren't just words, they are a call to action to all staff and students. We are in a time of rapid change. We are embracing that change in a positive way if we execute our mission. It is my belief that everyone needs to be part of this mission or make way for those who are. The time is now!
The three statements are all forward looking as I mentioned earlier. They all have as their end-game a focus on the future. But as we are aware the future is just out of our reach, but it's the 'carrot' that is dangling outin front of us and it moves us forward. All we have is the present to grasp and deal with. We must focus our immediate energies towards in the present. So I ask you staff and students: What are you doing today to make the Mission as success?
How does the district ensure success? Our district leaders must "walk the talk". The mission must be communicated clearly. The district leaders (at all levels) must not just say the words. They must also embrace them in their actions and they must convey a sense of urgency to everyone.
Who are the leaders in a public school district? I answer this question by stating that everyone is a leader at some level.
- Naturally, we have a superintendent of schools and the school board who are leaders at the highest level.
- We have building principals and the administrative staff that establish school vision and lead the school to success.
- We have teachers who lead their students every day in the classroom.
- And we have students leaders as student-body presidents, classroom leaders and squad leaders on sporting teams.
- Each student must self-lead in their learning - -they are responsible to themselves for their learning too.
I am still trying to wrap my head around how Gary plans to make students across the board leaders. There are some students who are natural leaders, but as you say, everyone can be a leader of some kind. How do we engage the entire population to be leaders? KP
ReplyDeleteGreat observations, Mason! I came across your blog this week at just the perfect time! Actually kind of cosmic! It was right before meeting with the board and superintendent's staff to discuss our vision, values and expectations for the district! I also shared with them your cosmic experience with the rock - very relevant for us as we discussed the district's work plan and how our vision is translated into actions! And you're right, it's critical that our entire community of educators, students, administrators, parents and BOE come together to move the district forward to meet the needs of all of our students!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited to see Euclid's student leadership program unfold next year! At a recent conference, I listened to a speaker who was talking about building healthy communities. She said that one of the aspects of a healthy community is to look for leadership at all levels - that it is a shared responsibility. It's so powerful when our students are allowed the opportunity to help guide their own futures! Another thing the speaker said really hit home for me - "There is nothing more powerful than a community discovering what it values most." This is definitely a conversation that we are having right now in LPS. Mason, you are so right when you point to the mission and value statements as a call to action for all of us - to move the district forward to ensure the success of all our students! Thanks for your dedication and your eloquent thoughts! - Lucie S.