Shawnee Mission School District’s Portrait of a Graduate

With two years of high school remaining, Shawnee Mission East High School junior Braxton Jeffrey is looking toward the future.

He’s holding conversations with teachers and trusted adults. He’s considering what courses, activities, and experiences will help him get the skills he needs. Along the way, he is focused on Shawnee Mission’s reimagined Portrait of a Graduate.

Portrait of a Graduate is Shawnee Mission’s vision for what it means to be truly ready for the next step after high school. It outlines the skills, habits, and mindsets that prepare students for college, career, and life success, allowing them to navigate in an unpredictable world. Jeffrey recalls first seeing the Portrait of a Graduate his freshman year.

“It boosts my confidence and I’m not stressed about graduating because I know I’ve prepared and I’m confident in my ability,” Jeffrey shared. “It’s important to have that outlined so you can go into graduation feeling more confident and knowing you achieved a lot.”

As a student, Jeffrey has also joined an extensive, community-driven redesign process for the Portrait of a Graduate that engaged students, families, educators, business leaders, and community partners in thoughtful conversation about the future. First developed in 2019, the Portrait has been revisited and re-envisioned as part of the district’s Strategic Plan. The process ensured the Portrait remains relevant, with current research and input from our community.

Built by the Community

Every individual who contributed to the redesign was asked a powerful question: What are the most important skills and qualities our students need to succeed in life?

“Because the community helped build it, the Portrait has broad support and a shared sense of ownership. It reflects who we are as a community – and who we want our young people to become,” noted Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of strategic initiatives. “It brings coherence to our work as educators, clarity to our goals as a system, and confidence to our families that we are preparing their children for a meaningful future. Most importantly, it highlights that education extends beyond academic achievements to encompass the personal growth and development of students.”

Shawnee Mission’s focus on Real World Learning is also outlined in the Portrait, ensuring graduates are prepared for higher education and the workforce. By 2030, all SMSD students will graduate with a minimum of one Market Value Asset—which may include internships, industry-recognized credentials, entrepreneurial experiences, client-connected projects, and/or college credit.

These assets equip students with in-demand skills and experiences valued by employers. In addition to contributing to the Portrait redesign, Danielle Pringle, business development manager at Performance Services and Portrait of a Graduate contributor, says she has intentionally worked with middle and high school students discussing career paths for trades and in construction.

“We’re in a mad rush to get experienced and certified construction workers in the trades as we are in a nationwide deficit,” Pringle explained. “It is especially important to find employees who take ownership, accountability, and pride in their work. It’s important so that we as business leaders can find eager students to learn trades and get them prepared and ready for the real world early in high school.”

While serving on Strategic Plan Action Team 1.2.1, Kate Herrenbruck, fourth grade teacher at Trailwood Elementary School, contributed input related to interpersonal skills. It was tremendously helpful to have a variety of perspectives redesigning the Portrait, she noted.

“I think this is something we can all get behind – setting goals for our students that will help them become the best versions of themselves,” Herrenbruck shared. “We not only care about grades; we also care that they are going into the world as capable, confident humans.”

When providing his input on the updated Portrait, SM East student Jeffrey said it was important to him that financial literacy be included. He noted that it is a component of what it means to be a Civic and Global Contributor. He also consulted classmates to understand what they thought would be important to include.

“It honestly means so much to me,” Jeffrey shared. “It was amazing, feeling your voice was being heard and representing those who don’t always have that opportunity, I thought that was so cool.”

Supporting the Student Experience

The Portrait of a Graduate will be reflected in classroom instruction, student goal-setting, counseling, professional learning, and district decision-making.

“Teachers will use it to design learning that builds these competencies,” Neal explained. “Students will use it to reflect on their growth and set personal goals. Leaders will use it to shape strategic priorities. Over time, it becomes the common language and compass for our entire system.”

Ensuring each student fulfills the Portrait of a Graduate must be sustained work throughout a child’s formal education, because the skills and attributes must be cultivated and practiced, according to Blake Revelle, Shawnee Mission West Principal and Portrait of a Graduate contributor.

“Attaining these skills takes more than just easily flipping on a metaphorical switch in high school,” Revelle explained.

The portrait helps elementary students explore, middle school students engage and develop all of the skills outlined, and high school students will experience the implementation of these skills in real world settings, he added.

“A high school graduate who possesses the skills and aptitudes outlined in our updated Portrait of a Graduate will not only position themselves to achieve their immediate goals and aspirations, but they will also possess the requisite skills to adapt and continue their lifelong learning to expand and grow into any future steps they might want to pursue,” Revelle noted.

As she advises students as a Real World Learning counselor at Shawnee Mission North High School, Britt Sherer says her goal for each student will be for them to be opportunity-ready, with the confidence to follow the path that is a best fit for them.

“They will walk out of high school with skills that they know and understand and that can be used whether they take a path towards higher education, a path towards career or a path towards the military,” she added.

At the elementary level, students, educators, and families are often focused on steps to get to the next grade level. The Portrait will help everyone, starting in Pre-Kindergarten, envision the future and students’ journey to get there, noted Amy Sachse, Merriam Park Elementary instructional coach and Portrait of a Graduate contributor.

“My hope for our future students is that they feel buoyed and empowered by the robust support system here that Shawnee Mission provides,” Sachse explained. “With personalized learning plans and Real World Learning opportunities, we are giving students the critical skills needed to leave Shawnee Mission with the confidence to take on the world.”