Board hears Teamworks consultant outline 'up and out' strategic plan focused on "desired daily experiences"

Ray Queener, a consultant with Teamworks International, told the Farmington Public School District board that the district's strategic planning process will prioritize stakeholders' everyday experiences and produce a living implementation system rather than a static plan. "It's centered around the desired daily experiences," Queener said, adding the method is intended to generate shared ownership among students, families, staff and board members.

Queener described an "up and out" process that begins with focus groups and stakeholder listening, then funnels draft statements up to a planning team that translates them into measurable vision cards and one‑page action cards. He said the approach aims to avoid plans that sit on shelves: "When we're done with our plan, you will have a plan, but you will have a system of how to keep that plan up to date every year."

The consultant emphasized equity and practical implementation: the process engages students (K–12), staff and families, then asks professional educators to design systems that deliver those desired experiences. Queener said the district will receive detailed reports from each session to inform the board and the public on progress.

Board members welcomed the focus on concrete, implementable outcomes after noting past strategic documents sometimes felt overly academic. One board member said the framework's emphasis on day‑to‑day student experiences could help address enrollment pressures by making the district more attractive to families.

Queener said the district will also use a three‑year governance plan aligned to the continuous improvement work so that the board's priorities and the administration's implementation remain coordinated. The board will see draft vision cards and the strategic roadmap later this summer, and the consultant said staff would return with metrics and implementation tools to monitor progress annually.

The board did not take formal action during the presentation; members encouraged staff and the consultant to continue stakeholder engagement and bring options for measuring and sequencing the work.