Vision and Goals

In education today, schools develop a vision statement to set the foundation for the development and improvement of educational goals. The entire program should build upon this foundation and remain true to the vision.

At my school, we follow the district vision, as communicated through our strategic plan:

Building on our culturally diverse community, USD#445 will prepare all students for life-long learning by providing resources for a comprehensive quality education in a safe environment that promotes high academic achievement and responsible citizenship in a global society.

The following resource, a company offering training in leadership, suggests that visioning should be the first step in strategic planning:
<http://www.e-volution-training.co.uk/the-importance-of-vision-c55.html>

For some reason, we seem to have a separate focus in my school district: college and career-readiness. This focus is emphasized through our implementation of cross-curricular programs through the technical education department. This, in my mind, seems to fit more with the goals of our school.

The following website discusses the importance of developing a clear mission and vision for any organization and suggests that an organization should focus on a polished vision, reflective of the values of that organization:
<http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_90.htm>

With this in mind, I can see that my district has a clear focus; however, this focus isn’t reflective of the vision we have developed.