February 4 Strategic Plan Update - Steering Committee Begins Work This Month

This month, the Shawnee Mission School District Strategic Planning Steering Committee will begin its work. This committee will be responsible for leading the strategic planning process in the district, and drafting a strategic plan for consideration and approval by the Shawnee Mission Board of Education in June of 2019.

Shawnee Mission School District will use Strategic Planning to create a school system which meets the needs of each and every student. For more information about the Strategic Planning overview, click here: https://www.smsd.org/about/strategic-plan-2019-overview.

The 30 stakeholders on this committee are representative of the Shawnee Mission School District community. They bring a broad and diverse background to their work, including experience inside and outside education, and reflect the district’s demographic profile. Together, these members will oversee the Strategic Plan work, which includes the development of district beliefs, a mission statement, strategies to achieve the mission, and action plans to put the strategies in place. 

As part of their work, they will solicit input and feedback from stakeholders throughout the district, through surveys and qualitative feedback conversations (conducted through Thought Exchange), and through other avenues for input and engagement. A process of formally gathering information from members of the community began with an initial round of surveys, which were sent to students, parents, and staff members. Additional opportunities for providing input will be available as the strategic planning process continues.

The strategic planning process formally begins with a Strategic Planning Awareness Kickoff, which will include the Steering Committee, school site councils and building leadership teams, along with PTA leaders. The Steering Committee will meet for three days later in February.

The following individuals have agreed to serve on the Steering Committee*:

Superintendent

·      Dr. Mike Fulton

Board Members

·      Laura Guy

·      Heather Ousley

Staff Members

·      Travis Gatewood – HS South/District

·      Samantha Feinberg – HS East

·      Wraye Royle – MS Northwest

·      Laura Moore – Elem East

·      Jonathan Ferrell – Elem West

·      Gloria Hastings – Elem North

·      Felicia Smith – Middle North

Parents

·      Arcie Rothrock – North

·      Laura Robeson – East

·      Katy Seibold – Northwest

·      Leah Mothersill – West

·      Jennifer Burns – South

Students

·      Harmony Bailey – Northwest

·      Beau Barnes – South

·      Sarah Bledsoe - East

·      Brenda Garcia - West

·      Nkemjika (Glory) Obi – North

Community Members

·      Brian Brown

·      Angelique Rodriguez-Gunion

·      Maddisson McDermott

·      Wanda Vaughn 

·      Andre Carnegie

Building Administrators

·      Josie Herrera – Elementary School

·      David Conrady – Middle School

·      Ryan Flurry – High School

At-Large

·      Linda Sieck – NEA

·      Suzy Hall – Shawnee Mission Education Foundation

*While members are listed in a specific role, many of them fit in multiple categories.

The district has received many expressions of interest to participate in various aspects of the strategic planning process. In addition to the Steering Committee, there will be opportunities to participate on Action Teams and through Building Site Councils.

After the Steering Committee meets in late February, Action Teams will be created to develop plans around each strategy. Those teams will work between March and May, with the Steering Committee reviewing action plans on June 5, 2019. The final strategic plan will be presented to the SMSD Board of Education in late June, 2019.