Feeling accomplished, independent and ready for life were some of the goals for students proposed by 60 parents, staff and members of the community at Sacajawea Middle School on Jan. 14.

The community forum represented one of a four-part process in the Federal Way School District’s Strategic Planning Initiative involving a core planning team, community forums, an instructional focus team, and student voice.

There was no strategic plan in place when Superintendent Tammy Campbell was hired last March. This was the first time she had worked in a school district without a common goal and strategy. Campbell has been working with the Federal Way school district community to make improvements.

“I cannot lead without having a plan,” she said.

Initially, the conversation about how the district should better serve students began with a core planning team in November. This group comprised over 100 people, including principals, assistant principals, teachers, union leadership, students, community members, parents and district leadership. Goals were developed and an implementation plan was constructed.

The purpose of Thursday’s forum was to gain community input about the goals put forward by the team. In the next phases of the initiative, central office leaders will develop instructional and student learning goals, and 100 students will reflect on their experience and give input about improvements. Four more community forums and two additional core planning meetings are scheduled in the next two months at schools throughout the district.

“It really takes a village to take care of our children,” Campbell said, as she opened the forum with background about the initiative.

She introduced Mutiu Fagbayi, CEO and president at Performance Fact, an education-management company that has worked with more than 80 school systems. The company will facilitate development of the strategic plan by leading the district through the process. Ultimately, the community will make the decisions. He also expressed the value of participant contribution.

“I want to encourage you to trust what you know and bring yourself fully into the conversation,” Fagbayi told the community members.

Fagbayi said the Federal Way School District has a diverse student body, and that the goals formed during the initiative are intended to help students of all backgrounds and abilities reach their highest potential.

Fagbayi then involved forum participants in a series of questions like, “What experience and outcomes do we want for all students?” and “What four pillars do you recommend?” Participants discussed the answers among themselves at their tables and then shared their answers with the whole group.

When asked to express what goals they had for all students, community members included to be really well rounded, the ability to take care of themselves, to be critical thinkers and to have a sense of accomplishment.

Of the goals proposed by the team, readiness for college, career and life resonated with the most participants.

Fagbayi also asked community members to choose what they believed the pillars of the district’s plan should be. Most of their answers aligned with the four pillars put forward by the team, which are:

• Standards-aligned, culturally responsive teaching and learning,

• Effective, caring, culturally competent teachers, leaders and staff for every scholar,

• Strong relationships with families and community

• Data driven continuous improvement.

Theresa Garcia is part of the core planning team and has two children in the schools. She is delighted that the district is listening to the community’s voices and believes the initiative will allow teachers to reach a greater number of students.

“They will be able to explain the class in different ways so that each student gets the most out of the class,” Garcia said.

Linda Hultman is the family liaison at Sherwood Forest Elementary and has a fifth-grade son in the district. She hopes the initiative will result in better communication to families about the opportunities available for their children’s future, whether it be a university education, a community college degree or training for a trade. She was encouraged by the emphasis the initiative has on student accomplishment.

“It is going to be about the students and I think that is what is most important,” Hultman said.

Campbell said the large turnout of community members was impressive and the participants contributed ideas that hadn’t been raised by the Core Planning Committee. She stressed the importance of a common vision. The feedback from these community forums, as well as input from the team, students and instructional team, will help align all schools in the district, she said

“I feel when the community feels more involved, they are more likely to engage and partner with us,” she said.

For more information, please visit www.fwps.org.

Grace Swanson is a University of Washington student in the News Lab program.