Collective Commitments to KCSD96 Values

The following Collective Commitments to each District 96 Value Statement represent thoughtful reflection and discussion among students, staff, parents, community leaders, District administrators, and Board of Education members. Their work spanned approximately two years, with a focus on defining and reaching agreement on an understanding of each value statement as it applies today in our richly diverse culture.

Learning has no boundaries.

  • We commit to a free and open exchange between home and school while promoting confident learning.
  • We persevere, encourage, and advocate.
  • We value and address diverse learning styles and needs.
  • We (students, teachers, staff, and families) have access to high-quality teaching and learning.
  • We take risks.
  • We address learning barriers.
  • We commit to learning forever ....

Model for others what we expect from others

  • We create proactively a safe environment to facilitate cultural inclusion and an exchange of information and ideas.
  • We demonstrate high levels of professionalism.
  • We collaborate at high levels.
  • We align decisions and actions to the District 96 value statements and collective commitments.
  • We are the change we want to see.
  • We have crucial and authentic conversations.
  • We commit to understanding and articulating the why.
  • We lead.
  • We embrace the uniqueness of individuals in an inclusive community.
  • We respect the opinions of others, even when they differ from our own.
  • We stand up for others.
  • We commit to modeling, no matter the platform (face-to-face, email, text, social media, etc.).

Celebrate success

  • We celebrate all accomplishments, big and small (learning, academic, and social behaviors).
  • We believe that we are stronger together.
  • We embrace that every part contributes to our success as a whole.
  • We celebrate growth.
  • We celebrate diversity and uniqueness.
  • We define success wholistically.

Every child, every school, every day

  • We embrace uniqueness and diversity and encourage, facilitate, and support learning about others.
  • We demonstrate empathy and compassion.
  • We commit to an ongoing cycle of continuous improvement.
  • We never predetermine potential.
  • We believe each and every member of our school community can see himself or herself in our environment and in our work.
  • We commit to inclusivity.
  • We demonstrate and promote advocacy.
  • We balance the academic, social, and emotional well-being of all.

Best practice, not first practice

  • We embed creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication continually into instruction.
  • We engage in thoughtful reflection on data to make informed choices about instruction and programming.
  • We commit to continuous improvement and innovation and adjust our practices accordingly.
  • We learn collaboratively as adults and students.
  • We challenge one another respectfully.
  • We commit to rigor and productive struggle.
  • We lean in to discomfort.
  • We trust and believe in the power of our collective efficacy.
  • We embrace growing and learning through taking risks.
  • We learn from our mistakes and our failures.