LEADING FORWARD

Following her announcement as superintendent, Dr. Whitney Oakley launched Better Together, a series of community conversations with various stakeholder groups, including parents, students, teachers, staff, operational staff, bus drivers, faith-based leaders, business and nonprofit representatives, families with multilingual learners and exceptional students, and superintendent advisory councils, among others.

Guiding Questions for Better Together Community Conversations

What is compelling about where we have been and what we have accomplished over the last five years?

What else would you have liked to see prioritized based on your lived experience in our community?

Student pointing to her computer with teacher looking on

What do we need to prioritize in order for our graduates to be successful? What do we need to focus on?

What is compelling about where we have been and what we have accomplished over the last five years?

Increased support for students following the COVID-19 pandemic school closures (high-dosage tutoring, learning hubs, fifth quarter, etc.).
Work being done to close gaps between white students and black and brown students.
Expansion of school safety measures and mental health supports.
Historical bond to address critical infrastructure needs, including building and fully renovating schools in priority order, as well as safety and technology upgrades.
The wide range of educational and co-curricular programs available to students.
Advocacy for competitive pay scales that attract and keep the best and the brightest.
Enhancements in school transportation.

What else would you have liked to see prioritized based on your lived experience in our community?

COMMUNITY

Strengthen communication and relationships between schools, families and students.
Increase intentionality to involve parents.
Offer clear ways for community partners, parents and others to support the district and schools.
Offer more opportunities for the GCS community to learn about the budgeting process.

Leadership & Staff

Increase community forums between senior district leaders and staff, especially classified staff.
Calibrate on code of conduct and its implementation.
Address staff schedules and impacts on childcare.
Include more time for school administrators to focus on instruction and strategy.
Increase consistent practices with clear, meaningful data.
Integrate impactful and relevant professional development into the calendar for all levels of staff.
Build a strong professional culture where teachers and staff feel supported, respected and appreciated.

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

Raise awareness of on-demand workforce development career paths and other programs available to students.
Improve access to higher education and knowledge-based jobs.
Provide meaningful integration of technology into academics.
Address student schedules – athletics and after-school jobs.
Provide additional safety strategies and mental health supports for students and staff.

What do our graduates need to be successful?

Strong written and verbal communication skills
Critical and analytical thinking skills
Early and frequent exposure to professional opportunities
Civic engagement
Team building and collaboration skills
Personal vision for their lives and careers
A focus on addressing the gap in expectations for students between transition points (K, 6th, and 9th grade)

LEADINGFORWARD

LEADING FORWARD

What is compelling about where we have been and what we have accomplished over the last five years?

What else would you have liked to see prioritized based on your lived experience in our community?

What do our graduates need to be successful?

Guilford County Schools

LEADING
FORWARD