EDUCATION STrATEGIC PLAN
vision and PILLARS
The Salem Public School strategic planning process began in earnest with a multi-stage endeavor and resulted with the following community-developed vision:
All students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world.
See Salem’s Public School’s strategic plan or visit salemk12.org for more information.
The district’s Senior Management Team adopted four core pillars around which to organize the district’s work:
Create a vibrant K-12 teaching & learning ecosystem
An ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. Many conversations centered on how to create a district-wide environment that is innovative, and that builds essential 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. There was also widespread agreement about the importance of real-world experiences and classroom learning that is more engaging and student-centered.
Reimagine the high school experience.
There is consensus nationwide that the American high school is an obsolete institution, aligned with an economy and society that no longer exist. Conversations focused on how to align Salem’s three high schools with the realities of modern life, and how to ensure that the high school experience helps every young person find a sense of purpose.
Nurture staff leadership & empowerment.
Salem Public Schools aspires to be a district in which everyone is a learner every day, and where people come to work because they have thoughtful and dedicated colleagues who are committed to each other’s growth and to the growth of their students. Teachers, in particular, voiced a desire to design their own learning and leadership path, whether in or out of the classroom.
Strengthen family & community engagement.
Salem Public Schools heard time and again about the vital importance of partnership between families and schools, and about the centrality of community partners to enrich student learning. SPS also heard about the need for increased family and community awareness about the importance of early childhood education and the options available for children in Salem. The community made clear that the district needed to significantly step up its game in these arenas.
Imagine Salem Guiding Principles
