2005-2010
Strategic Plan
Roadmap to the Future...

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Strategic Plan Poster (.pdf)

Our Vision
Walla Walla Public Schools
Centers of learning meeting the needs of all students.

Our Mission
Walla Walla Public Schools, in partnership with the community, is committed to excellence in personalized learning which challenges and supports all students in becoming educated, productive citizens, and life-long learners.

Goal 1
Develop a 21st century learning community that supports continuous learning through relevant and aligned curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development.

1. Create a safe and nurturing environment for all students

2. Ensure a rigorous education program of study which builds a connection between academic content and the “real world”

3. Utilize research based instructional strategies

4. Use data to drive decisions for students, classrooms, schools and the district

5. Establish priorities for professional development

Goal 2
Improve two-way communication with parents, schools, students and the community.

1. Encourage a better understanding of the goals, needs and
accomplishments of the district’s educational program

2. Communicate frequently and effectively to improve student
learning, parent involvement and staff and community relationships

Goal 3
Plan and build state-of-the-art facilities with technology to enhance educational opportunities.

1. Develop quality, welcoming learning environments to support academic achievement, health and safety

2. Establish a facilities and technology research-based improvement process to support construction and installation decisions, aligning the 25-year Facilities Plan and the ongoing, 3- year Technology and Learning Plan with available funding

3. Provide staff development and student learning opportunities to improve instruction and enhance educational opportunities to optimize the use of technology and facilities

We believe...

• Students are the focus of all our efforts.

• Learning is a lifelong process and, all students, recognizing differences, must be given equitable opportunities to reach their potential and to develop a love of learning.

• Family and community partnerships create an environment for successful student learning.

• Effective communication is essential to the partnership for learning.

• Staff best help students to succeed by inspiring, challenging and guiding students to reach their full potential.

• Student mastery of core educational content and skills is essential for success in a rapidly changing world. These skills include the ability to solve problems, think analytically and creatively, attain fluency in all modes of communication, work effectively with others, and apply what has been learned to new situations.

• Each student learns best when there is trust, caring, and mutual respect, and where the learning environment is safe, disciplined, engaging, creative, challenging, and supportive.

• The major role of all members of the educational community is to prepare students to become responsible, ethical, and productive members of society.

• Professional development is critical to maintaining quality of all staff.

Goal 1 - Teaching and Learning
Teaching & Learning: 526-6724
Curriculum: 526-6734

Outcomes

1. A commitment to personalized learning to meet the diversity of student needs results in increased student achievement and meeting No Child Left Behind (NCLB) goals as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

2. Current Preschool to Grade 12 curriculum, instruction and assessment aligns to professional and state standards as evidenced in curriculum documents, resources and evaluations.

3. Criteria of effective instructional practices that guide instruction, coaching and supervision are defined and published.

4. Common assessments that guide instruction and improve student achievement as measured on local, state and federal assessments are designed and implemented.

5. A District comprehensive staff development plan is redesigned and published encouraging new roles of teacher leadership.

Key Actions

1. Nurturing environment; personalized learning

a. Expect staff, students and parents to model district core values of quality, integrity, accountability, respect and courtesy.

b. Evaluate and address substance abuse, bullying and harassment and nutrition/fitness issues annually.

c. Provide diversity training as it relates to culture, poverty, learning, traditions and family involvement annually.

d. Create and implement a Kindergarten to Grade 4 plan to enable fourth grade students enrolled in the State Transitional Bilingual Program to reach No Child Left Behind targets on the WASL by 2006.

2. Rigorous educational program

a. Develop a broad range of programs that include real world applications, connections, and community partnerships that foster student problem solving by 2008.

b. Implement Curriculum Mapping district wide to provide curriculum alignment in buildings and across grade levels and subject areas by 2006.

3. Research-based instructional strategies

a. Focus professional development on the district criteria of effective instructional practices by 2007.

b. Provide collaboration time across Preschool to Grade 12 to examine student outcomes to affect instructional practices by 2005-06.

c. Recruit and train parents, students and community members as partners in WWPS learning community as evidenced by increased participation in building activities.

4. Data to drive decisions

a. Involve staff, parents and students in developing, participating in and monitoring student learning plans by 2006.

b. Develop and implement data driven transition plans from preschool to kindergarten, elementary to middle school, middle school to high school and from high school and beyond by 2007.

5. Priorities for professional development

a. Recruit and hire highly qualified staff who possess strong teacher leadership characteristics annually.

b. Align supervision and instructional coaching with the district criteria of effective instructional practices by 2008.

c. Utilize research based standards in the redesign of WWPS staff development plan by 2008.

d. Foster professional learning communities districtwide for continuous improvement by 2006.

Goal 2 – Communications
Communications: 526-6716

Outcomes

1. Parents, students, staff and community understand and support the district’s mission, as measured by results of periodic surveys.

2. Student learning improved, parent and community involvement enhanced and relationships strengthened through frequent and effective communication efforts, as measured by assessment results and surveys.

Key Actions

1. Better understanding of district goals, needs, mission
Enhance effective two-way communications plan which supports schools, departments and programs:

a. Provide annual staff/administration training on media relations, customer service and communications.

b. Establish online community resource clearinghouse to support teaching and learning efforts.

c. By 2006, enhance Patron Tour program to engage community in district’s educational program.

d. By 2006, implement district wide school marketing plans (website, publications, service expectations).

e. Publish/communicate safe schools strategies for each school/department, per Crisis Communications Plans.

2. Communicate frequently and effectively
Remove barriers to participation by parents, especially those who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of racial or ethnic minority.

a. By 2006, develop parent partner plans -- involve parents in the development of school improvement plans.

b. Establish parent resources centers at all schools. -- Work with parents to encourage academic reinforcement.

c. Establish registration packets and orientation program for parents new to the district.

d. By 2007, conduct periodic stakeholder surveys at all schools. (examples: online, focus groups, hard copy)

Goal 3 - Facilities and Technology
Technology: 526-6744
Facilities: 526-6718

Outcomes

1. Decisions are based on design, maintenance and technical support standards for facilities and technology as determined by the board approved ongoing 25-year Facilities Plan and the ongoing 3-year Technology and Learning Plan.

2. Technology, media, telecommunications and facilities are integrated into curriculum and instruction, as evidenced by instructional practices, positive surveys and consultant reviews.

3. All members of the learning community (students and staff) are trained to become efficient, productive users of technology and facilities as evidenced by participation in and application of their training.

Key Actions

1. Quality Learning Environments
By 2007, the district will implement Phase One of the 25-year Facilities Plan and the 2004-2007 Technology and Learning Plan.

2. Improvement Process
The following Facilities and Technology Improvement Process will be used to guide decisions to support integration with curriculum and instruction. The district will:

a. Research best practices and create design standards to support student learning.

b. Design facilities and technology in partnership with community, staff and student input.

c. Create state-of-the-art learning environments based on available funding.

d. Maintain facilities and technology with adequate preventative maintenance and technical support staff.

e. Evaluate to determine the effectiveness of the building and technological resources to support student learning.

3. Technology staff development and student learning
By 2008, provide training and resources to staff and students in minimum technology competencies to support skill development in the use of the technology rich facilities and learning environments.

September 2004 - Community Symposium: A group of 100 community members -- including Spanish only speaking -- staff, parents, and students met on the campus of Whitman College for two days to help define what Walla Walla Public Schools graduates will need to be successful in the 21st Century. Numerous ideas, strategies and concepts were discussed and recorded.

October-December 2004 - Strategic Planning Committee: A group of nearly 40 community members, parents, staff and students -- many of whom participated in Community Symposium -- formed a committee to take ideas, strategies and concepts generated from the Symposium and other district strategic planning efforts to develop a five-year Strategic Plan. A draft plan was completed in December.

January-March 2005
Action Teams: Small groups of district leaders, parents and community members were formed to finalize the Strategic Plan. Action teams focused on three theme areas derived from the Symposium and Strategic Planning Committee’s work: Teaching and Learning, Communications, and Facilities and Technology. Each action team finalized goal statements, detailed key actions, and stated desired outcomes from the process.

April 2005
Adoption: Strategic plan approved by School Board. Implementation begins.

Please note: Strategic Plan will be reviewed and updated annually.

Strategic Plan approved by the Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors - April 20, 2005