Duluth Public Schools Strategic Plan
Duluth Public Schools is launching a comprehensive strategic planning process starting April 25, 2022. The overall process and strategic plan will be created with input from Duluth Public Schools students, staff, families and community members focused on future system-wide enhancements to improve outcomes for students.
The district is engaging with TeamWorks International on the strategic planning process. TeamWorks uses a process called "classroom to boardroom," which if you have been through a traditional planning process, this process is in reverse, or upside down, in that we will start with the classroom and end up at the boardroom. When the planning process is complete we will have a clear and unified vision of the district's purpose and how to work together to bring about our desired outcomes and our core values.


Desired Daily Experiences
The Desired Daily Experience will ask students, when they engage with the school or when they come to school, what is the Desired Daily Experience? What does that look like? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? This information will be used to build our operational plans moving forward.
Draft Student Desired Daily Experiences:
- I enjoy school and feel like I belong.
- I am accepted, cared about, and respected for who I am, regardless of the color of my skin, my identity and my beliefs.
- I have strong, meaningful connections with classmates and staff.
- I have many choices and options for courses including “real life” classes and extracurricular activities.
- My lunch meets my unique needs and interests through choices and time.
- Staff and teachers believe in me and my success, hear my voice, and will do what is needed to support me and my learning.
- I have access to mental health support and am safe at school.
- I know what is expected from me and know that I am treated fairly if I make a mistake.
- Important information is shared with me through ways accessible to me.
The Desired Daily Experience will ask staff, when they engage with the school or when they come to school, what is the Desired Daily Experience? What does that look like? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? This information will be used to build our operational plans moving forward.
Draft Staff Desired Daily Experiences:
- I enjoy my job and find it fulfilling.
- I have dedicated time during my work day to collaborate, prepare, and grow professionally.
- I am part of a diverse workforce, with an inclusive climate that values team building and respectful relationships.
- I receive clear and timely communication.
- I have systems and resources to support students’ academic, social-emotional, and socio-economical needs.
- I have access to and the ability to use current, relevant, educational resources including technology.
- I have quality professional development opportunities for continued learning to support my students and me.
- Resources are provided to support safety at school and within departments for all students and staff.
- We have class sizes that allow us to reach the individual, social/emotional and academic needs of students through differentiation and building relationships.
- I have a voice and opportunity to participate in the decision making process with my colleagues and administration.
The Desired Daily Experience will ask families, when they engage with the school or when they come to school, what is the Desired Daily Experience? What does that look like? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? This information will be used to build our operational plans moving forward.
Draft Families Desired Daily Experiences:
- I have a voice in my child’s education, am connected to the school/district, and am informed through consistent multiple communication methods.
- I have a sense of belonging within the school community with meaningful relationships with staff, ensuring safety and trust in the quality of education.
- I feel welcomed and a sense of community at school including with other parents, teachers, and administration.
- My child is welcomed, seen, heard, safe, engaged and happy while at school.
- My child has pathways to success and opportunities beyond high school.
- My child’s school provides an interesting, meaningful, and engaging academic learning environment/experiences that are equitable, diverse, and inclusive.
- My child is supported with comprehensive resources that support their mental health, social emotional learning that allows for their growth.
- My child has class sizes that allow for differentiation and individualized attention to meet their learning needs.
- My child has equitable access to before, during, and after school activities where everyone can participate and experience success without barriers.
- When my child makes a mistake at school they are treated fairly.
Name | Position |
---|---|
John Magas | Superintendent |
Anthony Bonds | Assistant Superintendent |
Simone Zunich | Excutive Director of Finance Business Services |
Brenda Spartz |
Director of Elementary Education Teaching, Learning and Equity |
Jen Larva | Director of Secondary Education Teaching, Learning and Equity |
Tawnyea Lake | Director of Assessment and Evaluation |
Jason Crane | Director of Special Services |
Theresa Severance |
Director of Human Resources |
Adelle Wellens | Communications Officer |
Patty Paquette | Executive Assistant to Superintendent |
Kayla Carroll | Executive Assistant to Assistant Superintendent |
Nate Smith |
Coordinator Office of Education Equity |
Brian Jungman | Denfeld Representative: English Teacher |
Danette Seboe | Duluth East Representative: Principal |
Brian Kazmierczak | Lincoln Park Representative: Principal |
Ordean East Representative |
|
Hamilton Smith | Area Learning Center/Academic Excellence Online Representative |
Jacob Hintsala |
Residential Representative |
Cindy Miller | Lakewood Representative |
Erica Wittmers-Graves | Lester Park Representative |
Anne Collins | Congdon Representative |
Zach Steigauf | Myers-Wilkins Representative |
Brie Eisenbarth | Lowell Representative |
Jennifer Bobbe | Piedmont Representative: Principal |
Adam Metzer | Laura MacArthur Representative |
Callie Tinsley | Stowe Representative |
Tom Cawcutt | Homecroft Representative: Principal |
Shannon Guzzo | Special Education Staff Para |
Jamie Smith | Support Staff Para |
Angie Frank | Duluth Adult Education Representative |
Nicky Kumerow |
Early Childhood Representative |
Eyde Washington |
American Indian Representative |
When / Where | What / Who |
---|---|
April 27 4-7 p.m. |
Storywall and Lifecycle Session Three-hour session
Who
|
May 5 4-7 p.m. |
Environmental Scan Three-hour session – Environmental Scan and Insights for Desired Daily Experience:
Who
|
April 25-May 12 |
Engagement about Desired Daily Experience (DDE) School and Community-based Stakeholder Engagement Affinity-based facilitated stakeholder sessions ensuring representation of demographics of district:
Who
|
May 18 4-7 p.m. |
Desired Daily Experience (DDE) - Draft and Revised Strategic Directives document Three-hour session
Who
|
August 29 - September 25 |
Engagement about Desired Daily Experience (DDE) Feedback survey of students (grades TBD ), families, and staff ensuring representation of demographics of district. Who
|
September 13 |
Classroom to Boardroom Process Update One-hour session with Duluth School Board
Who
|
September 15 |
School and Department Data Needs and Analysis Three-hour session
Who
|
October 6 4-7 p.m. |
Classroom Theory of Action and Desired Daily Experience Three-hour session
Who
|
November 3 4-7 p.m. |
District Vision Card Three-hour session
Who
|
November 16 4-7 p.m. |
District 3 Year Operational Plan Three-hour session on
Who
|
December 6 4:30-7:30 p.m. |
Classroom to Boardroom Process update One-hour session with school board
Who
|
4-7 p.m. |
District Vision Card, District 3 Year Operational Plan Three-hour session
Who
|
January 26 4:30-7:30 p.m. |
Strategic Roadmap Session - Draft Three-hour session (Note for DPS - 60 to 90 minutes)
Who
|
February 13 4-7 p.m. |
Strategic Roadmap Session - Final One to three hour session
Who
|
February 13 4-7 p.m. |
School Board 3-year Work Plan Three-hour session
Who
|
February 13 4-7 p.m. |
School Board Structures, Practices & Governance Session Three-hour session
Who
|
February 28 6:30-8:30 p.m. |
School and Department Improvement Plans One-hour session
Who
|
March 8 4-8 p.m. |
School and Department Improvement Plans Four-hour session
Who
|
Date & Time | Group | Location |
---|---|---|
April 25
7-8:30 p.m.
|
Community Engagement #1
|
Ordean East
Media Center
|
April 26
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
|
High School Students
2 groups at each site
|
Duluth East (AM)
Denfeld (PM)
|
April 26
2:30-4 p.m.
|
Elementary Staff #1
|
Virtual
|
April 26
5-6:30 p.m.
|
Elementary Parents #1
|
Laura MacArthur Elementary
Media Center
|
April 26
7-8:30 p.m.
|
Middle School Parent #1
|
Laura MacArthur Elementary
Media Center
|
April 27
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
|
Middle School Students
2 groups at each site
|
Ordean East (AM)
Lincoln Park (PM)
|
April 27
4-7 p.m.
|
Storywall with Strategic
Planning Team and invited
Community and staff members
|
Lincoln Park Middle School
Media Center
|
April 27
7:30-9 p.m.
|
Community Engagement #2
|
Lincoln Park
Media Center
|
April 28
8:30-10 a.m.
|
District Staff
|
United Healthcare Group |
May 3
3:45-5:15 p.m.
|
Middle School Staff #1
|
Virtual
|
May 3
5:30-7 p.m.
|
High School Parent #1
|
Virtual
|
May 4
3:45-5:15 p.m.
|
High School Staff #1
|
Virtual
|
May 4
5:30-7:30 p.m.
|
Middle School Parent #2
|
Virtual
|
May 5
4-7 p.m.
|
Environmental Scan with
Strategic Planning Team and invited community members and staff
|
East High School
Media Center
|
May 10
2:30-4 p.m.
|
Elementary Staff #2
|
Virtual
|
May 10
5-6:30 p.m.
|
Elementary Parents #2
|
Virtual |
May 11
5-6:30 p.m.
|
High school Parents #2
|
Denfeld High School
Media Center
|
May 11
7-8:30 p.m.
|
Community Engagement #3
|
Denfeld High School
Media Center
|
May 12
5-6:30 p.m.
|
High School Parents #3
|
East High School
Media Center
|
May 12
7-8:30 p.m.
|
Community Engagement #4
|
East High School
Media Center
|
May 16
5-7 p.m.
|
Education Equity Advisory Committee
All are welcome to join
|
American Indian Community Housing Organization |
May 18
4-7 p.m.
|
Desired Daily Experiences
with Strategic Planning Team
|
Lowell Elementary
Media Center
|
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