In June 2003, the Surrey School District embarked on an ambitious process to create a vision of what public
education needs to do to prepare students to have successful and productive lives in the early decades of the
21st century. The criteria for the process were: inclusive community participation; unfettered visioning; reflective
responding and responsive planning.
Thus began an exciting and engaging sequence based on the Appreciative Inquiry 4-D Model which led the
district and its stakeholders and community partners through a sequence of “Discovering, Dreaming and
Designing the Destiny” activities aimed at meeting the needs of all learners in our schools and programs to 2010
and beyond.
In more than 18 months since the launch of Vision 2010, more than 20,000 “pieces” of data in the form of
comments, survey results and other feedback were collected from numerous public meetings, forums,
conferences, consultations and online surveys.
There were also meetings, advice and involvement of many diverse stakeholders from within and outside the
school district, including parents, students, educators, business groups, colleges, universities, local governments
and government agencies, RCMP, ethnic communities and more. Several internationally-renowned educational
researchers and practitioners were also engaged in the process.
The Surrey Board of Education set a five-year path for public education in the district called “Vision 2010”. As a result of this process, the board identified four main themes and ten major goals to be addressed over the next five years.
The four themes and ten goals formed the basis for development of a strategic plan which commenced implementation in 2005/06.
Themes
The four main themes identified by the Vision 2010 process:
- Provide quality educational programming
- Involve parents and community
- Nurture morally and socially responsible citizens
- Prepare graduates for the multiple roles of their futures
Renewing and affirming the board vision
During the spring of 2009 the board engaged more than nine hundred parents, teachers, students, school administrators and community partners in a process to affirm and renew the board’s vision to best prepare students for a successful, productive and meaningful future. This work built on the larger, more extensive process that was undertaken during the 2003-2005 school years.
The resulting vision, “The Schools Our Children Deserve” will provide the district and its schools with valuable guidance for short and long term goals for improving student achievement and plans for growth in an ever-changing community and society.
Surrey Board of Education
Last Updated: October 20, 2009 |
