Portrait of a New Learning System

Getting Smart, a Washington State – based think tank committed to young learners, released “A Portrait” school improvement model a few weeks ago. According to Getting Smart, this new model will help schools and school districts build coherence in school and system redesign.

The Getting Smart authors begin by writing,

“A ‘Portrait’ framework helps leaders implement a new collective re-design vision. To facilitate and empower leaders in this transformative journey, we start with a comprehensive visioning and strategic process that revolves around five interconnected and dynamic portraits: the Portrait of a Learner, the Portrait of a System, the Portrait of a Leader, the Portrait of an Educator and a Self-Portrait. These interrelated and adaptable elements of the framework have both interconnected and discrete competencies. Done in an intentional order of Learner, System, Educator, Leader, then Self, the resulting framework provides clear guidance and transparency to the redesign process.”

“The Portrait of a Graduate (also called Profile of a Learner) is a unique and locally tailored vision that outlines the competencies and transferable skills that support a learner’s long-term success. It serves as the guiding North Star for systemic transformation. This collective vision not only defines the essential knowledge, skills, and mindsets desired for students upon graduation but also rekindles engagement and enthusiasm among students, teachers, administrators, and community stakeholders. It provides strategic direction for a thorough redesign of the overall educational experience, ensuring the growth, adaptability, and ultimate success of every learner in our ever-evolving world.”

“One the Portrait of a Graduate is complete, the Portrait of a System elevates this vision beyond mere aspiration, underscoring the need for a deliberate focus and alignment throughout the entire school district. Collaborating closely with dedicated district leaders cultivates a strategic shift by establishing new conditions, processes, and practices that promote equitable and enduring 21^st-century experiences for both educators and students alike. This alignment ensures seamless integration of the vision at every level of the education ecosystem, fostering a cohesive and purposeful transformation. Districts and schools support these with codesigned learning models, curriculum frameworks, and instructional models.”

“The Portrait of an Educator articulates the competencies needed by educators to implement a high-quality learning model articulated in the Portrait of a System. The Portrait of an Educator framework guides the identification and design of essential tools, resources, and support systems, empowering educators to effectively deliver on the district’s new vision with passion and proficiency. It often includes a set of overarching Design Principles built on learning sciences that inform specific practices and approaches articulated within the Portrait of a System.”

“Fourth, a Portrait of a Leader describes the optimal competencies required by leaders within the system (both at the governance and administrative levels) to support educators who implement the learning model to help every student achieve the Portrait of a Graduate.”

“Finally, every learner should build an evolving Self-Portrait to self-reflect, set goals, and describe who they are and who they want to be.”

“Through this integrated approach, we pave the way for a transformative path that upholds the vision for education within a community, nurturing a generation of students equipped with the essential skills and mindsets to thrive personally and professionally. The intentional system-wide shift fosters an inclusive, forward-thinking, and learner-centered education, empowering our students to become future-ready leaders and active contributors to a flourishing society.”

I like most of everything Getting Smart lays out here.

And most traditional school districts don’t have a chance in hell of achieving it.

Why? Let’s just say traditional school districts are hand-cuffed by, well, for lack of a better word, “traditionalism.”

Traditional school districts are too political to make something like this happen. School boards commit to the Portrait Model and then a new set of leaders come in and scrap the whole thing. Even though a school superintendent falls in love with the Portrait Model, middle managers inside the district are skeptical and decide to wait out the “new innovation” until the superintendent either gets fired or moves on. Unions won’t like the extra responsibility placed on their teachers. The amount of professional development necessary for a district to do something like this would be costly and would take too long to achieve – especially in the uber-political world of the modern public school district.

But, this Portrait Model might work to provide structure to new learning systems – systems that are created to serve young learners and their families who develop their own learning plans with the assistance of trained learning coaches. Learning systems that support and bolster learning pods, microschools, and other types of non-traditional efforts.

Portrait of a Learner, Portrait of a System, Portrait of a Leader, Portrait of an Educator (I like the title “Learning Leader” instead of Educator,) and a Self-Portrait could be the beginnings of a new learning system – a system committed to benefit the young learner and their families, especially those who are black, brown, or poor.

Til tomorrow. SVB