The Delavan-Darien School District's Portrait of a Graduate is the district's vision to prepare all students for success in an ever-changing world. The Portrait of a Graduate articulates the desired outcomes and characteristics we aim to instill in our students by the time they graduate. It serves as a comprehensive vision that goes beyond academic achievement and encompasses a broader set of skills, attitudes, and attributes that students should possess as they transition from school to the next phase of their lives. The Delavan-Darien School District has proudly developed our Portrait of a Graduate through a collaborative process involving educators, parents, students, business partners, and community members.

As a way to identify our shared aspirations for our students we considered these important questions:

• What is the fundamental purpose of education?

• What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for its students?

• What are the skills and mindsets our children need for success in this rapidly changing, complex world?

• What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences—and equitable access to those experiences—we provide in our school system?

The collaborative discourse that came from these questions helped build a unifying, collective vision for our students. Bringing together these diverse perspectives is essential for better meeting the needs of our students and enduring educational transformation that promotes life readiness.

The Portrait of a Graduate serves as our "North Star" for educational transformation including but not limited to curriculum development, teaching practices, and assessment methods with the broader goal of preparing students to be life ready.