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Miami‑Dade board reviews draft 'Portrait of a Graduate' built from 70,000+ responses
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Summary
Miami‑Dade County Public Schools and consultant Attune presented a draft 'Portrait of a Graduate' — five student competencies informed by roughly 70,000 local survey responses and 34 focus groups — and the board urged embedding the portrait in classrooms and policies to ensure implementation with fidelity.
Miami‑Dade County Public Schools presented a draft “Portrait of a Graduate” on Feb. 17, 2026, developed from extensive community engagement including more than 70,000 survey responses and 34 focus groups. District staff and consultant Attune Educational Partners recommended five concise competencies — Collaborator, Problem Solver, Resilient Learner, Community Champion and Adaptive Graduate — intended to serve as both a “North Star” and an “anchor” for future decisions.
Rachel Skerritt of Attune told the board the portrait is meant to be research‑informed and actionable, asking members to keep two terms in mind: “North Star” and “anchor.” The presentation emphasized keeping the portrait limited and memorable so students and educators can apply it across grades and settings.
District staff said the portrait was derived from a multi‑stage process that combined a broad survey (available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole), focus groups and a Canvas Miami work group. Mahathi Tonk summarized the local effort, saying the survey reached stakeholders across all nine board districts and that Attune’s AI‑enabled analysis helped identify recurring themes.
Board members praised the breadth of input and the portrait’s concise design. Mari Blanco said the team “captured most of the things that we talk about” and welcomed the portrait’s emphasis on critical thinking and collaborative skills. Dr. Gallon commended the process and urged codifying the work, noting the importance of making it a board policy rather than a poster on a wall.
Multiple members pressed staff to make the portrait practical at the school level: translate language for younger grades, display it visibly in classrooms, and link it to measurable indicators and professional development. Vice Chair Colucci urged that the portrait be “up in every classroom and even translated at the elementary and early childhood level.” Board members emphasized implementation fidelity and continuous use in operations rather than letting the portrait “sit on a shelf.”
Staff proposed using the portrait to inform a student resume framework that documents demonstrated skills, industry certifications and experiences — a next step intended to help graduates present their competencies to employers or postsecondary institutions. Superintendent and staff said the portrait will become a foundational element of the strategic plan and that implementation work will begin after the board finalizes the portrait.
The workshop closed with board direction to continue refining the portrait language and to begin work on metrics and operational integration. Staff said they will return in late spring with measures and a comprehensive strategic plan for board consideration.
