FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Wood, Superintendent
P: 330-633-3291


Tallmadge Board of Education Approves New Directional System and Portrait of the Graduate

TALLMADGE, OHIO (March 20, 2019) – At Tallmadge City School District’s (TCSD) Board of Education (BOE) meeting on March 20, board members approved two initiatives in support of the revamped mission and vision of the district.

The first initiative that was approved focuses on the plans for the Tallmadge City Schools’ Directional System—a road map for the district’s future that has been developed over the last two years. The road map includes the newly formed Portrait of the Graduate, which is a portrait of the ideal Tallmadge High School (THS) graduate.

The Portrait of the Graduate will ultimately act as the District’s North Star while the Directional System will serve as its road map.

In collaboration, Tallmadge educators, local business leaders, parents, members of higher education, religious leaders and students worked together to outline the Directional System, including the district’s guiding principles, instructional strategies and character traits moving forward.

For example, some of the instructional strategies the district aims to implement include collaborative interdisciplinary training, differentiation, technology integration and problem-based and service learning. These strategies are designed to make learning relevant to the student and provide real world connections.

“The mantra that will ultimately guide the Directional System is to ‘Empower Everyone Everyday,’” said Shelley Monachino, director of teaching and learning. “This plan summarizes the goals and tactics that will allow us to reach our mission—to ensure every Tallmadge graduate is successfully employed, enrolled or enlisted.”

The second initiative that was approved by the BOE confirmed the definition and qualities of the Portrait of the Graduate. The approved characteristics encompass key qualities such as: resilient, critical-thinkers, self-directed, empathetic, productive, creators and innovators and communicators.

Implementation of these initiatives in TCSD is already underway. The District is starting to use the Directional System as a guide when hiring new staff members, providing professional development opportunities and assessing educational strategies in the classroom.

“Our community has worked hard to create a vision for our district and graduates over the last two years,” said Superintendent Jeff Ferguson. “By approving these two initiatives, our hope is to embrace learning standards that incorporate collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity while making real-world connections. Doing so will hopefully empower students to take ownership of their learning so they are well-prepared for employment, further education or enlistment upon graduation.”