Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Portrait Of A Learner topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bath County board hears Portrait of a Learner proposal to build work ethic, communication and real-world readiness
Summary
Bath County's proposed Portrait of a Learner, developed through community engagement and student input, defines six competencies (including strong work ethic and real-world readiness) and would be embedded across grade levels and incorporated into the state's new accountability model if the board adopts it.
Dr. Bailey presented the Bath County Portrait of a Learner on April 27, outlining a community-designed set of six competencies district leaders want every student to demonstrate when they leave Bath County schools.
The proposal, developed after three community engagement sessions and student input, lists six pillars: strong work ethic; problem solvers; real-world ready; empowered learners; effective communicators; and compassionate community members. "Academic content remains vital, but it's no longer enough. We must be intentional about fostering durable skills like communication, collaboration, and adaptability," Dr. Bailey said.
Why it matters: Superintendent-level staff and the Kentucky Department of Education representative pushed the district to design the portrait with community input. Bath County leaders said the portrait will be woven into everyday instruction rather than added as an extra task for teachers, and it would factor into the state's new accountability system if the board accepts the model.
Presentation details: Board members were told the competencies grew from a district survey of more than 15 candidate competencies and three stakeholder meetings that included students, teachers, principals, community members, business leaders and board member Kim. Presenters emphasized employer feedback that while graduates possess academic skills, many lack workplace habits such as punctuality and follow-through; Dr. Bailey said students and employers asked for "real-world experiences" including job shadows, co-ops and career pathways.
Student influence was cited as a key driver: Dr. Bailey said high school students pressed for a "real world ready" competency to ensure students graduate with concrete next-step plans and evidence of career or postsecondary readiness.
Next steps and timeline: Dr. Melton, who has been involved in the effort, described this as the design and initial phase: if the board accepts the portrait, the district will develop criteria for demonstrations/exhibitions of learning and move through a multi-year implementation process. "This is the beginning process," Dr. Melton said, describing a multi-year rollout that would include exhibitions and criteria-setting in coming years. The board did not take a final adoption vote on the portrait at this meeting.
The presentation closed with recognition of staff who led the engagement and a note that the district will train teachers to embed the competencies into classroom instruction.
