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Marshwood presenters show board a draft 'Vision of the Graduate' ahead of accreditation visit
Summary
School leaders presented a draft "Vision of the Graduate"—an aspirational, cross-curricular statement of skills and values—saying it grew from two years of self-reflection, surveys and a steering committee and asking the board to review it ahead of a January vote and a formal accreditation visit next November.
Marshwood High School staff on Tuesday presented the board with a drafted "Vision of the Graduate" intended to guide curriculum, assessment and instruction across the district.
The presentation, led by members of the school's NAS steering committee, described a two-year self-evaluation and community-engagement process that produced a living document of core values and graduate competencies. "Our vision is to empower them for future success: Marshwood High School students will gain essential knowledge, develop and enhance transferable skills, and contribute to their community," one presenter read aloud and said the statement is meant to be "aspirational and action-oriented." (Presenter identified in the meeting as Josh Livingston.)
Administrators said the draft emerged from surveys of parents, students, local businesses and faculty, multiple faculty workshops and three revision cycles led by a steering committee. They described the document as a tool to help the district prioritize decisions about curriculum and instruction and to move focus from grades to deeper demonstration of learning through portfolios, capstones or student-led conferences.
Board members praised the draft for being both aspirational and practical, and asked about faculty and student buy-in. Presenters said the faculty voted overwhelmingly to endorse the draft in its most recent revision and that student feedback—particularly calls to be "listened to"—was incorporated into the text. "We want students to have a growth mindset and to reflect on what they learned," a presenter said during the discussion (Josh Livingston, presenter).
Superintendent and staff recommended the board review the draft during the coming weeks so the board could consider formal adoption at the January meeting; the administration said it plans to finalize ancillary components in time for the next accreditation visit in November.
If the board approves the draft as a working document, administrators said it would be posted on school websites and used in classrooms beyond being a poster on the wall. The board did not take a vote on the vision at the meeting and was invited to submit questions prior to a possible January action.
