Olathe hires TrustCentric and Guild Collective to lead an editable strategic‑plan process

Consultants from TrustCentric and Guild Collective presented a proposed process to update Olathe Public Schools’ strategic plan and to pair that planning with clearer messaging. Corey Shearer of TrustCentric and Justin Rickliff of Guild Collective told the board they will run a discovery and stakeholder engagement process, produce vision priorities and create actionable strategic objectives with monitoring checkpoints. Shearer described a four‑phase plan: initiation and alignment, stakeholder listening sessions, strategy development and activation with monitoring. “We want this to be a living document,” he said, emphasizing editability and periodic audits six and 12 months after launch. The team proposed about 15 in‑person focus groups (three per vision priority) and a timeline that places discovery through April 2026, with development and goal setting over the late spring and summer. Rickliff explained Guild Collective’s role to translate the strategy into concise messaging aimed at distinct audiences—parents, staff, prospective employees and the broader community—so the plan can be communicated clearly without overwhelming stakeholders. He and Shearer said the plan will connect previous work, including the district’s portrait of a graduate and the existing four pillars, and then transform pillar language into prioritized vision statements with five to seven measurable objectives each. Board members asked about measurables and edits. Miss Steele said she appreciated the consultative approach and simple, measurable outcomes. Dr. Yeager (district leadership) said he favored a flexible plan that can absorb state mandates or emerging needs, and he suggested the district might eventually rebrand the plan to emphasize growth rather than the static‑sounding term “strategic plan.” Consultants said they will provide an overview video and tools to help the district gather input and that they will help with activation recommendations and a monitoring process to keep the plan responsive to evolving needs. The board did not adopt a plan tonight; the consultants’ presentation outlined a process the district will start implementing this school year.