This winter, Upper Arlington Schools launched an ambitious strategic planning process that draws from the innovative and collaborative vision of students, staff, parents/guardians and community members for the future of education in Upper Arlington.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for our district and community as we continue the conversations we have been having to shape the future of education in Upper Arlington,” Superintendent Robert Hunt, Ph.D. shared. “By relying on all of the information we have gathered over the past year and a half, we will ensure that our strategic plan is well-informed and aligned with the needs of our students and community.”
The strategic planning process, guided by design principles from the Board of Education, places an emphasis on community involvement and data-driven decision-making. The process will be divided into four stages, with a goal of adopting a new strategic plan by December 2024.
The first phase — the design phase — began with the “Dr. Hunt’s UAdventure” listening tour launched in the fall. Since then, Dr. Hunt has gathered feedback from nearly 1,400 students, staff members, parents/guardians and community members. That feedback — along with other key data points including feedback from the superintendent search process in 2022, the Listen Learn Lead community engagement sessions last spring and the equity audit conducted in the fall of 2023 — has helped inform the development of the priority areas for the future:
Excellence and innovation in …
“Under each of these priority areas, we will have specific goals that will guide us and ensure that we continue to excel and innovate,” Dr. Hunt added.
The second phase of the process — the discovery phase — is already underway. During the discovery phase, inquiry teams made up of students, staff members, parents/guardians and community experts will delve into the specific priority areas and identify recommendations for each priority area.
This spring, Upper Arlington Schools will host three opportunities for stakeholders to learn more about the strategic planning process.
Coffee & Conversation with Dr. Hunt
March 13 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and March 14 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Kingsdale Market District, 3061 Kingsdale Center
Listen Learn Lead Community Engagement Session on Strategic Planning
May 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Upper Arlington High School first floor north learning commons, 1625 Zollinger Road
“This strategic planning process reflects our dedication to continuous improvement, adaptability, and stakeholder engagement,” Dr. Hunt shared. “Together, we are charting a course for a bright future for Upper Arlington Schools.”
To learn more about the strategic planning process, please visit www.uaschools.org/strategicplan.aspx.