Going from Poster to Practice
The Portrait of a Graduate Poster captures our vision for the future of Sonoma County students — but it’s only the first step. We are currently in the adoption phase of the project — facilitating and equipping schools, teachers, parents, and students with the tools they need to focus on these new goals and ideas. From here, we will be developing new strategies and initiatives, as well as seeking out new opportunities to help each child become a picture of success. Because the future will not wait for our kids; we must work every day to prepare them for it.
To ensure that the Portrait becomes more than simply a poster on the wall, schools, youth-serving organizations, employers, parents, and policymakers will all need do their part in supporting opportunities for young people to develop and demonstrate the skills and mindsets outlined in the Portrait.
Below are some ideas that have already been offered for how to bring the Portrait to life in our community. Please feel free to use these ideas, build upon them, or come up with your own unique ways to help move the Portrait of a Graduate from “poster to practice.”
How might parents provide opportunities for their children to develop and demonstrate PoG skills and mindsets?
Talk with your child about where in their day they were able to work on one or more of the skills described in the Portrait
Share with your child how you used one or more of the skills described in the Portrait during your day
Contact your child’s school board to let them know you support the Portrait of a Graduate and would like your child’s educational experience to align with the skills described in the Portrait
How might employers provide opportunities for young people to develop and demonstrate PoG skills and mindsets?
Post the Portrait of a Graduate poster prominently in your business to show young people that these skills are valued in the workplace
Include the skills described in the Portrait in job postings/descriptions and as part of interview questions
Incorporate the skills described in the Portrait into growth goals and employee evaluation procedures
How might youth-serving organizations provide opportunities for young people to develop and demonstrate PoG skills and mindsets?
Have staff members be explicit in connecting organizational activities with the related skill(s) described in the Portrait
Incorporate the skills described in the Portrait into one-on-one services, counseling, and career training
Incorporate the skills described in the Portrait into mission statements and organizational goals
How might schools provide opportunities for young people to develop and demonstrate PoG skills and mindsets?
Prominently place posters throughout campus and classrooms
Shadow students to identify where and when there are opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate the skills described in the Portrait
Be explicit in connecting student assignments, projects, and activities with the related skill(s) described in the Portrait
Share your ideas.
Let’s build the list together. Please share your ideas using the form below.