This year, UP for Learning is partnering with Mount Abraham Unified School District (MAUSD) on a multi-phase journey to create a “Portrait of a Learner” that will ultimately guide and inspire a revitalized strategic plan for the district. From the outset, the MAUSD leadership knew they wanted to depart from the status quo and approach strategic planning differently than they have in years past. While it may have been faster and more familiar to design an “adults-only” process, they recognized that true, lasting transformation requires deeper, more inclusive engagement. Their vision is to develop “a North Star” that guides the district forward, one that is truly rooted in the values and aspirations of the entire community and developed alongside youth in authentic partnership.

This ambitious, grassroots effort is stewarded by a vibrant, dedicated group of forty youth and adults who represent a wide cross-section of the MAUSD community. The MAUSD Portrait of a Learner team meets at regular intervals throughout the year, with membership spanning from elementary, middle, and high school students, classroom teachers, student support professionals, substitute teachers, nurses, board members, parents/caregivers, community members and administrators, ensuring a rich range of perspectives and experiences. United by a shared mission as community researchers, their charge is to engage directly with their schools and local communities to gather valuable insights from students, caregivers, educators, and community members about the values and aspirations that will positively shape the future of learning in the district for all students.

This Portrait of a Learner effort took off in earnest in October with the first team retreat at Holly Hall in Bristol, VT, followed soon after by a district-wide inservice presentation that gave the entire MAUSD staff an opportunity to learn about the process, provide input, and deepen their involvement. Since then, the Portrait of a Learner team has been trained and mobilized to collect data across the district, all centered around one, essential question: What are the skills, characteristics, and experiences that are most essential for MAUSD students to thrive in learning and in life?

This community-driven data collection has taken many forms: At Beeman Elementary School (New Haven, VT), every student completed a survey in the polling booths during their school’s mock election. At Robinson Elementary (Starksboro, VT), a group of determined sixth graders took the initiative to interview every kindergartner, ensuring that even the youngest voices were heard. The Bristol Elementary team created two surveys designed to capture youth perspectives, one of which invited students to express their hopes and dreams for their school through a drawing exercise. This team is now preparing to present their findings at an upcoming staff meeting, encouraging teachers to complete their own surveys as well. The Monkton Central School team has successfully gathered input from every student at their school, and students from their team are currently preparing to deliver an update to the entire school community at an upcoming assembly. The Mount Abraham MS/HS and Community teams are working hard to get the word out during school advisories and lunchtimes, as well as at concerts, basketball games, and school plays to maximize engagement. In recent weeks, teams have reconvened at Holly Hall to analyze their initial data sets and are starting to identify some key themes emerging that will shape the Portrait of a Learner.

One of the great benefits of this undertaking is that the process itself is just as powerful and meaningful as the outcome. For Calvin, a fifth grader at Bristol Elementary, this journey has been one of connection. At a recent team meeting, Calvin shared with enthusiasm what he loves most about the work: “I get to come here and hang out with people that I don’t know, and I end up learning so much about them.” 

For Pat LaRose, a community member and substitute teacher at Robinson Elementary, the experience has deepened her gratitude for the district’s educators. She reflected, “After the last meeting, it occurred to me that there are all these adults who make it their life’s work to support our young people. It’s just amazing.” 

Sara Audy, a literacy interventionist at Robinson, expressed, “I adore the partnership with students,” noting how listening to and amplifying their voices and advocacies has been personally transformative.

 For Elise, a sixth grader at Beeman Elementary, this work has strengthened her resolve to strive for the best in her community. “This is what I want to say to people,” she offered, “Don’t stop wanting more when there is more to want.”

Indeed, this effort is about more than just developing a “Portrait of a Learner,” it is about an entire community working together to ask each other, “What is it that we want for all learners?” In lifting up youth voice and youth-adult partnership in the process, MAUSD is laying the groundwork for a district-wide cultural shift that will positively impact their school community for years to come.