Portrait of a Graduate is coming into focus

The Portrait of a Graduate from Webb City High School has come closer into focus recently with input from those involved with the district and local community.

Allison Pope, assistant superintendent for instruction, says creating a Portrait of a Graduate will give the district a set of characteristics that teachers will work to instill in their students from kindergarten through high school.

During a meeting Friday morning with members of the business community, words were chosen to describe the best attributes that students should acquire by the time they graduate from Webb City High School.

As Pope wrote in her invitation to the participants, “Your insights into essential employability skills and characteristics are invaluable as we work together to define the qualities that will help our graduates thrive in the workforce and beyond.”

Creating the Portrait of a Graduate is a process that began during the last school year with similar discussions conducted with school staff members.

Feedback has also been received through meetings with parents and recent graduates.

Pope said the goal is to complete and present the district’s Portrait of a Graduate around the first of the year.

One of the presenters, Jeff Brown, assistant high school principal, said plans call for more real-world learning and career exploration so some graduates are career-ready.