New Trier 2020 Strategic Plan: Culture, Climate and Equity

  • On Jan. 22, 2019, the New Trier Township High School District 203 Board of Education adopted a new strategic planning document, New Trier 2030 , that will chart a course for the future of New Trier High School over the next decade and beyond. New Trier 2030 is the culmination of a school- and community-wide effort involving parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and New Trier Township residents who worked together to identify priorities for the future. Beginning in May 2018, a planning committee of 28 members began development of the plan by agreeing on a mission and vision and identifying six frameworks that encompass the work of the District as a whole: Intellectual Engagement, Growth, and Readiness; Student Personal Growth, Engagement, and Well-being; Culture, Climate, and Equity; Leadership Throughout the School; Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Governance; and Finance, Facilities, and Human Resources.

    CULTURE, CLIMATE, AND EQUITY

    All people at New Trier must be welcomed, respected, supported, and valued so students can learn effectively, develop deeper understanding of the complex issues they face, and become empowered to contribute to the school community. This is possible when staff and students learn from and reflect on their own and others' diverse lived experiences.

    Core Values

    • We believe an equitable, safe, inclusive, and welcoming climate is not only necessary for students to learn and supports student growth, but is ethically in alignment with our mission.
    • We believe that an equitable, safe, inclusive, and welcoming climate:
      » creates the conditions that allow individuals to reach their full potential.
      » is built upon respect and the appreciation of differences.
      » holds individuals accountable for their actions and creates access to justice.
    • We believe that all students, no matter their race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, innate abilities, or academic levels, have the right to equitable opportunities to pursue their interests and have the right to a rigorous and rich curricula and inspiring instruction that promotes intellectual growth, exploration, and risk-taking
    • We believe what makes our school better for the most vulnerable students makes the school better for all students.

    Goals:

    • To create a culture of equity that appreciates and celebrates differences across the school by exploring individual identities and the identities of others.
    • To create a culture in which students define their identities more holistically beyond academic achievement and level placement.
    • To create a culture that reduces stress and teaches students the strategies to effectively manage the stress they experience.
    • To create learning environments and curricula that encourage empathy, create interpersonal connections, embrace diverse identities, and explore multiple perspectives.
    • To create an environment in which each individual's needs are met and in which every person feels they belong.
    • To identify and promote those parts of our culture that enhance learning and a sense of belonging, such as our dedication to service, compassion, critical thinking, and empathy.

    The other five frameworks that make up New Trier 2030 also have specific Equity work embedded within their core values and goals. These include:

    Core Values:

    • We believe each and every student deserves access to rigorous and rich curricula and inspiring instruction
    • We believe that students must feel emotionally and physically safe to optimize their learning.
    • We believe positive relationships and adult role modeling promote student growth
    • We believe that schools must value students as individuals and be responsive to their unique needs.
    • We believe in building community among the diverse villages that make up New Trier Township through our unique role as a hub where all of our communities come together.
    • We believe that a diverse and exceptional faculty and staff focused on teaching, advising, relationships, inquiry, and professional development is essential for creating a culture that best promotes students' intellectual and personal growth focused on respect and fairness.

    Goals:

    • To ensure every student has access to rigorous and rich curricula and inspiring instruction that promotes intellectual growth
    • To create a learning environment centered around empathy and understanding of diverse backgrounds and experiences that values student input, collaboration, and constructive dialogue.
    • To recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and exceptional faculty and staff who put students at the center of learning and contribute to a collaborative culture that promotes their intellectual and personal growth.

     

    Links to the Documents: