Parents and parents-to-be move to our community for GCISD. If it were not already a great district, this would not be the case. The district also happens to be diverse and strives to meet the needs of all students. This is reflected in LEAD 2021 (Leading Excellence - Action Driven) and LEAD 2.0.
LEAD 2021
Under the leadership of Dr. Ryan, GCISD embarked on a ten-year plan that was aligned with its mission and vision. In October 2010, a 30-member planning team met for a two-day retreat to review the district’s beliefs, vision, mission, and long-range goals. The intensive, 20-hour retreat resulted in strategic objectives and strategies that were used as the foundation for the 10-year plan. Using these objectives and strategies, seven community action teams formulated specific action plans designed to accomplish our mission and objectives over the next 10 years. The action teams worked from November 2010-January 2011, then presented their recommendations to the strategic planning team. The final strategic plan presented to the GCISD Board of Trustees for action in February 2011.
Strategic Objectives
Strategies
1. We will purposefully hire, continually train, and hold accountable all GCISD staff to ensure the fulfillment of the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
2. We will facilitate a process that carries out the development, implementation, and realization of a personal learning plan that includes goals within the areas of academics, campus activities, and workforce/community involvement for every student to accomplish the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
3. We will transform from a teaching platform to a learning platform by designing engaging, differentiated work for students toward the accomplishment of the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
4. We will create a plan that customizes communication methods and messages for students, parents, teachers, administration, and community to communicate and support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
5. We will practice thoughtful management of district resources and expand opportunities by establishing partnerships with our business community, non‐profit, and civic organizations to secure scholarships, grants, endowments, and internships that support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
6. We will integrate technology, including student mobile wireless computing devices, into every aspect of the student academic experience to support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
7. We will ensure all facilities are progressively equipped and designed to support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
Pretty ambitious goals - especially for a district challenged with overwhelming Robin Hood payments and shrinking resources! Let’s add one more challenge. After adopting LEAD 2021, GCISD learned that the state would be reducing public school funding by $5.4 billion. That resulted in a $14 million dollar shortfall for GCISD. In a business where 89% of your operating budget is spent on salaries, this news was devastating. While other districts reduced their payrolls and hunkered down, GCISD reframed, reorganized, and continued to innovate.
LEAD 2021
Under the leadership of Dr. Ryan, GCISD embarked on a ten-year plan that was aligned with its mission and vision. In October 2010, a 30-member planning team met for a two-day retreat to review the district’s beliefs, vision, mission, and long-range goals. The intensive, 20-hour retreat resulted in strategic objectives and strategies that were used as the foundation for the 10-year plan. Using these objectives and strategies, seven community action teams formulated specific action plans designed to accomplish our mission and objectives over the next 10 years. The action teams worked from November 2010-January 2011, then presented their recommendations to the strategic planning team. The final strategic plan presented to the GCISD Board of Trustees for action in February 2011.
Strategic Objectives
- No less than once annually, all students will collaboratively develop, revise, and accomplish a rigorous personalized learning plan leading to college and career readiness and culminating with all graduates possessing a post-graduate plan aligned with their individual goals.
- Every student (PK-12) will responsibly and effectively use and apply the latest relevant technology and, upon graduation, all students will be able to use technology masterfully in all dimensions of their academic work.
- All members of the GCISD family will promote good citizenship and demonstrate mutual respect.
- All students will be positive participants in their local communities and our global society.
Strategies
1. We will purposefully hire, continually train, and hold accountable all GCISD staff to ensure the fulfillment of the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
2. We will facilitate a process that carries out the development, implementation, and realization of a personal learning plan that includes goals within the areas of academics, campus activities, and workforce/community involvement for every student to accomplish the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
3. We will transform from a teaching platform to a learning platform by designing engaging, differentiated work for students toward the accomplishment of the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
4. We will create a plan that customizes communication methods and messages for students, parents, teachers, administration, and community to communicate and support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
5. We will practice thoughtful management of district resources and expand opportunities by establishing partnerships with our business community, non‐profit, and civic organizations to secure scholarships, grants, endowments, and internships that support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
6. We will integrate technology, including student mobile wireless computing devices, into every aspect of the student academic experience to support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
7. We will ensure all facilities are progressively equipped and designed to support the GCISD mission and strategic objectives.
Pretty ambitious goals - especially for a district challenged with overwhelming Robin Hood payments and shrinking resources! Let’s add one more challenge. After adopting LEAD 2021, GCISD learned that the state would be reducing public school funding by $5.4 billion. That resulted in a $14 million dollar shortfall for GCISD. In a business where 89% of your operating budget is spent on salaries, this news was devastating. While other districts reduced their payrolls and hunkered down, GCISD reframed, reorganized, and continued to innovate.
In April 2018, the District began to look at the next iteration of the strategic plan, called LEAD 2.0. The aim of LEAD 2.0 is to further refine the tenets and successes of LEAD 2021.
Throughout the refinement process, over 1,000 community members were involved in framing the goals and direction for the future. In addition, more than 100 stakeholders including students, staff, parents and community members were invited to participate in a Discovery Action Committee, which worked towards honing in on some areas where GCISD has the capacity for growth and improvement. Additionally, parent focus groups were conducted at each and every campus and centered on the hopes and dreams parents had for their children and the definition of success in GCISD. For those unable to attend one of the campus meetings, several evening meetings were held, and an online resource was made available through online mediums.
The below goals were approved by the GCISD Board of Trustees in December 2018.
Some of the extremists have objected to the LEAD 2.0 goals because they claim academics is not mentioned once. Although the LEAD 2.0 goals are clearly relevant to learning, these extremists do not mention that these goals expand upon the objectives and strategies developed as part of LEAD 2021.
Goal 1: Actively identify and remove barriers that limit access to and opportunity for learning
Goal 2: Design learning environments that support social and emotional well-being
Goal 3: Create a culture that fosters learning environments that reflect student voice and promote student engagement
Goal 4: Effectively communicate with targeted audiences
Throughout the refinement process, over 1,000 community members were involved in framing the goals and direction for the future. In addition, more than 100 stakeholders including students, staff, parents and community members were invited to participate in a Discovery Action Committee, which worked towards honing in on some areas where GCISD has the capacity for growth and improvement. Additionally, parent focus groups were conducted at each and every campus and centered on the hopes and dreams parents had for their children and the definition of success in GCISD. For those unable to attend one of the campus meetings, several evening meetings were held, and an online resource was made available through online mediums.
The below goals were approved by the GCISD Board of Trustees in December 2018.
Some of the extremists have objected to the LEAD 2.0 goals because they claim academics is not mentioned once. Although the LEAD 2.0 goals are clearly relevant to learning, these extremists do not mention that these goals expand upon the objectives and strategies developed as part of LEAD 2021.
Goal 1: Actively identify and remove barriers that limit access to and opportunity for learning
Goal 2: Design learning environments that support social and emotional well-being
Goal 3: Create a culture that fosters learning environments that reflect student voice and promote student engagement
Goal 4: Effectively communicate with targeted audiences
So What Do We Have to Lose?
Since 2011, GCISD has either initiated or fully developed the following personalized programs to meet the goals of LEAD 2021 as well as to meet the needs of an ever-changing student body.
- Two-Way Dual Language
- STEM Academies K-12
- ASPIRE Academy
- iUniversity Prep
- Collegiate Academy
- Career and Tech Center
- AVID
- Leader in Me Academy
- Arts Integration
- Math Telescoping
- No Excuses University
- Full Day Pre-K
Descriptions of all of these programs can be found on the district website. You can also see more details in the document below. These personalized programs are in addition to ever-expanding academic, athletic, extra-curricular, and fine arts programs. These programs are not required by the state as part of the foundation school program, so they are subject to scrutiny when budget decisions have to be made.
GCISD is a very different district than it was 20 years ago. The community has changed, the educational context has changed, and student needs have changed. The demand for ever-increasing test scores by the state conflicts with the efforts to provide a robust education for all children. Chasing test scores narrows the curriculum and associated opportunities for kids. Working under an onerous and broken accountability system, GCISD provides a world-class education to all of its children. Don’t be fooled by test scores and their purported meaning. Placing value on a school or district based on its socioeconomics is a slippery slope. Look, instead, at the incredible opportunities every child in GCISD is afforded. Judge your school or district against the GCISD Portrait of a Graduate. This is what the community has said it wants for its children, not higher test scores.