Dr. Ryan Smith Champions Holistic Education with the Portrait of a Graduate

Dr. Ryan Smith Champions Holistic Education with the Portrait of a Graduate

MONROVIA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / In the education sector, it is crucial for school districts to clearly define the characteristics and skills their graduates should embody. This is where the concept of a "Portrait of a Graduate" (POG) comes into play, ensuring students are well-prepared for life beyond high school. Dr. Ryan Smith, a seasoned educational leader with over 25 years of experience, has been at the forefront of this initiative, leveraging his extensive background in strategic planning and educational leadership to implement POG in school districts.

A Portrait of a Graduate outlines the academic, social, emotional, and civic competencies necessary for success in postsecondary education, careers, personal lives, and communities. It reflects a holistic view of student success, encompassing academic skills, durable skills, and civic traits. According to Dr. Smith, a well-crafted POG creates a shared vision that aligns educational efforts across sectors and industries, ensuring that all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, students, and community leaders, work towards common goals. This alignment fosters buy-in and support from the entire community, making the educational process more cohesive and effective.

Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of a POG in ensuring students are well-prepared for future challenges. Dr. Smith says that by defining the competencies most demanded by postsecondary institutions and employers, a POG supports a more personalized and relevant education, emphasizing social and emotional growth alongside academic achievement. It helps create a focused and unified approach to education, ensuring that all initiatives and efforts within the district are aligned with the ultimate goal of preparing students for life beyond school.

Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Smith shared insights from his tenure as Assistant Superintendent at Paramount Unified School District, where the absence of a POG in their Strategic Plan was a missed opportunity. "While our strategic plan yielded significant results, I felt that a complementary POG would have been crucial in transforming the district's teaching and learning model and providing additional support for students," Dr. Smith explained.

In contrast, during his tenure as Superintendent at Monrovia Unified School District, Dr. Smith worked with the Learner-Centered Collaborative to develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan that included a POG, something they called a 'Learner Profile.' A large group of stakeholders, including parents, teachers, students, and community members, collaborated closely with a facilitator to identify and define the elements of the POG. The guiding coalition, Dr. Smith says, ultimately identified five key competencies: Creative & Analytical, Resilient & Adaptable, Responsible & Globally Minded, Collaborative, and Empathetic.

The Guiding Coalition, Dr. Ryan Smith states, also identified learner outcomes to accompany each of these competencies. For example, graduates who are Creative & Analytical are flexible, critical thinkers who master core knowledge and demonstrate curiosity and lifelong learning. Those who are Resilient & Adaptable, he said, persist through challenges and adapt to a rapidly changing world. Dr. Smith adds that responsible & Globally Minded graduates act with integrity and engage with their communities, while Collaborative graduates work respectfully with others and seek diverse perspectives. Lastly, Empathetic graduates appreciate diverse perspectives and foster positive relationships.

Dr. Smith's work in Monrovia Unified School District serves as a model for other districts considering the development of a POG. Many school districts nationwide have developed exemplary POGs emphasizing a balanced academic, social, and emotional development approach. States such as North Carolina, Wyoming, Vermont, Kentucky, South Carolina, Nevada, and Washington are also developing POGs to create a unified vision for student success at the state level.

Incorporating a POG into a district's strategic plan, he says, is a powerful step towards ensuring students are equipped with the skills and attributes needed for future success. It complements the mission, vision, and core values, providing a comprehensive framework that guides students' holistic development. Dr. Smith advises school and district leaders to reflect on their current strategic frameworks and consider whether their students are being prepared for the future with the necessary skills and mindsets.

Dr. Ryan Smith, with 25 years of leadership experience in public education, is dedicated to ensuring every student receives an outstanding education and reaches their highest potential. Through his current service as Deputy Superintendent of the Bellflower Unified School District and in other key leadership roles including Superintendent of the Monrovia Unified School District and Assistant Superintendent in the Paramount Unified School District, his commitment to putting students first has driven success and positive change across various schools and districts.

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SOURCE: Dr. Ryan Smith