Promoting the Vision & Mission of the School Governing Board Online Training Module

The Definition The vision statement should describe what the ultimate goal or final result of the school will be. The mission statement should describe what the school does on a daily basis to accomplish the ultimate goal.

The Purpose Define the school’s unique design Character Values Priorities Educational program Target population Goals Guide daily decisions and future direction Guide the school community toward common goals Inform the community and potential students about the experience, knowledge, and skills gained at the school

The Structure Vision statement What kind of school do you want the school to be? In what direction do you want the school to go? Where do you see the school in five to ten years? Mission statement What distinctive programs and curricula will the school offer? What is the educational philosophy? What is the target population? What are our values?

The Vision Statement Describes where the school is headed and the anticipated results Describes the niche that is served Guides the writing of the charter application Guides the implementation of the school program Clarifies expectations of the school community

Example of a Vision Statement Utah Charter School will be a highly sought after school providing a rigorous educational program within a culture that values strong character and discipline. Students leaving our school will be college and career ready with a strong work ethic and a superior educational foundation.

The Mission Statement Describes the school’s purpose and provides direction Succinct and easy to remember, without education “jargon” Should be inspiring and motivating Contains five elements Values Educational approach (instructional method) Curriculum approach Population served by the school Outcomes and goals

Example of a Mission Statement Utah Charter School will achieve its vision through implementing the Core Knowledge Curriculum utilizing project based instruction in an environment that supports strong character. In serving at-risk K - 8 students, we will provide support to students through peer counseling and mediation, one-on-one tutoring, and strong accountability requirements to keep students engaged and invested in their own education.

Creating the statements School founders Work collaboratively Discuss and list values Discuss what is important and unique Share statements to ensure clarity and accuracy Do the vision and mission paint a clear picture?

Communicating the statements Should appear in all publications and governing board documents Should be read aloud at governing board meetings Governing board should be articulate in how the vision and mission are implemented Monitor progress toward accomplishment Establish feedback loops Provide updates to all stakeholders on progress Should appear on the school website Should be reflected in policies

Promoting the statements in the school Should be visible in the school building Involve staff by encouraging the design of the instructional program around the vision and mission Involve parents by encouraging their engagement in school improvement planning that is guided by the vision and mission Should instruct administration and faculty on how to translate the vision / mission into specific behaviors Should permeate all trainings, faculty meetings, and board meetings Should serve as a reference when evaluating the school administrator Should drive the strategic plan

Promoting the statements in the community Should be printed in all documents used in the external community Should appear in all marketing and promotional material Should appear on the school’s website Should serve as a reference in recruiting and hiring

Guiding day-to-day decisions Should guide day-to-day business decisions Prioritizing resource allocations Gathering meaningful data Provide values and guide goals for day-to-day conduct Instructional methods Behavioral expectations Curricular content

Guiding long term decisions Should guide decision-making at every board meeting Should provide clarity for difficult decisions Should be the guiding force behind the strategic plan Should align with goals for improvement Should aid in big picture thinking

Evaluating the statements Institute a systematic process for revisiting the vision and mission Engage the community to elicit ownership Consider revisions for clarity Ensure accuracy Regularly review decisions for alignment with the vision and mission School goals for improvement Policies and practices Strategic plans Always maintain the original intent

Summary Foundation for decisions, plans, and goals Must be upheld, communicated, and celebrated Clear values and priorities for your particular school Guide decision-making for the governing board Revisit and evaluate for clarity and accuracy Always maintain the original intent