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Methuen School Committee adopts local 'Vision of the Graduate' emphasizing respect and six competencies
Summary
After yearlong stakeholder work including students, staff and families, the committee unanimously approved a locally adapted Vision of the Graduate that frames six competencies (including a prominent emphasis on respect) and directs staff to embed them into curriculum, assessment and communications.
The Methuen School Committee on June 11 unanimously approved a locally adapted Vision of the Graduate designed to guide curriculum and district priorities.
The vision, developed over the past school year by a district committee and led by Meredith Moore and Christine Dumont, adapts the Massachusetts Vision of the Graduate and adds a community-emphasized competency: respect. Moore told the committee the work began with surveys and focus groups and included student and staff workshops, a design contest and multiple community events to define six competencies — academically prepared, creative problem solver, self-aware navigator, collaborative team member, responsible decision-maker and effective communicator.
"We wanted this to be a whole-school and community-driven process rather than a top-down administrative initiative," Moore said, describing the committee’s outreach to students, families, staff and alumni.
Acting Superintendent Dr. Golovski said the document is intended to be more than aspirational language: the administration will market the vision, produce teacher-, student- and family-facing materials, embed the competencies in curriculum and identify assessments and tracking systems so the district can measure progress.
"Visions are nothing without work," Dr. Golovski told committee members, who asked how the vision will intersect with graduation competency determinations. Member Keegan pressed the committee to align the district’s competency determination for graduation with the new vision, saying, "we need to make sure our graduates actually reflect what we're saying they will be."
The committee also noted that the state is moving toward graduation requirements that include culminating projects and postsecondary experiences, and members said Methuen’s vision could dovetail with those expectations.
The motion to approve the Vision of the Graduate passed on a roll-call vote with all present members voting yes.
