Portrait of a Graduate
What Is Our Portrait of a Graduate?
Our goal is that all students graduating from MVSD share these characteristics:
- Responsible Citizenship
- Independence and Initiative
- Knowledgeable & Proficient
- Collaborative Leadership
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
- Effective Communication
The Portrait of a Graduate serves as a North Star for system transformation. Providing strategic direction for the redesign of the overall educational experience for students, this collective vision reinvigorates and re-engages students, educators, and community stakeholders.
It's important to note that the district's Portrait of a Graduate is meant to complement academics and test scores as measures of preparedness. While it does not replace a focus on academic achievement, it shows the district community's commitment to investing in educational experiences that educate the whole child.
The Six Characteristics
Here is a more in depth description of the six characteristics of the MVSD Portrait of a Graduate
Effective Communication
- Listen effectively and empathetically to decipher meaning, while considering knowledge, values, attitudes, and intentions
- Articulate thoughts and ideas using oral, written, and non-verbal communication in a variety of ways and incorporate multiple perspectives
- Utilize multiple media and technologies to express a message
Collaborative Leadership
- Inspire positive action in others while seeking feedback to achieve collective outcomes.
- Demonstrate empathy and elicit diverse perspectives and contributions.
- Show a fundamental regard and respect for the dignity and value of every individual
Independence and Initiative
- Persist to achieve wellbeing and success despite challenge, opposition, and/or failure.
- Commit to meeting obligations and responsibilities
- Take initiative and act with purpose
Responsible Citizenship
- Demonstrate personal integrity, honesty and ethical behavior
- Actively pursue opportunities that make a positive difference in their community and the broader world
- Be informed and accountable stewards of the community
Knowledgeable and Proficient
- Embrace curiosity and the desire to learn
- Engage with and applies rigorous academic content in meaningful ways, including real life situations
- Develop positive attitudes and beliefs about learning
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
- Identify, evaluate and prioritize solutions to complex problems
- Apply thinking that is clear, rational, open minded, and informed by evidence
- Propose solutions and understand the impact they may have at the local, national, or global level
To learn more about the Portrait of a Graduate and the process the district went through to create it, view our Portrait of a Graduate Slide Presentation