A strong strategic plan should reflect more than the perspective of school leadership. It should be built through listening: listening to students, families, staff, community members, civic partners, and others who care about the future of St. James Public Schools.
During the 2026–2027 school year, our district will develop its next strategic plan, which will guide St. James Public Schools from 2027 through 2032. This plan will help establish clear priorities for student learning, belonging, opportunities, partnerships, communication, facilities, and responsible stewardship of district resources.
We are not starting from scratch. Our district’s vision “A lifetime of learning, growing, and succeeding together” along with our mission and core values, will continue to provide a strong foundation. This process will help us examine what is working well, identify areas that could be stronger, and determine which priorities will make the greatest positive difference for students during the next five years.
An important part of that work will begin on Tuesday, September 15, with three strategic-planning listening sessions facilitated by Dr. Dave Webb of Homerun Leadership.
The community session will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. during Coffee with the Mayor at the St. James Community Building. We appreciate Mayor Chris Whitehead providing this opportunity to bring community members together for an interactive conversation about the future of our schools.
This session is open to everyone. We want to hear from parents and caregivers, residents, business owners, civic organizations, district partners, alumni, and community members including those who do not currently have children enrolled in St. James Public Schools. Our schools belong to the entire community, and the district’s strategic plan should reflect that broad perspective.
Participants will be asked to consider three central questions:
What is working well in St. James Public Schools?
What is not working as well as it could be?
What ideas should we consider to make St. James Public Schools even better?
Participants will also have an opportunity to identify which ideas could make the greatest positive difference for students across the district. Feedback will be collected through the Homerun Leadership application. Community members are encouraged to bring a phone, tablet, or computer. Assistance and alternate ways to participate will be available.
Students and staff will participate in aligned listening sessions later that day. Middle and high school students will provide feedback during advisory from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. Their session will focus on learning, belonging, opportunities, support, and what they believe would improve the student experience.
Licensed and nonlicensed employees will participate from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Middle/High School Little Theater. This conversation will include perspectives from teachers, paraprofessionals, office staff, transportation, food service, custodial services, childcare, community education, and other district roles.
Using consistent questions across the community, student, and staff sessions will allow the district to recognize both shared themes and important differences among stakeholder groups.
The September 15 sessions are one part of a yearlong process. The feedback gathered will be considered alongside School Board and leadership input, district data, surveys, focus groups, and the work of the Strategic Planning Advisory Team. Themes from this engagement will help the team review the district’s current priorities and develop a draft plan. Additional opportunities for community review and feedback will occur before the plan is presented to the School Board for consideration in spring 2027.
A strategic plan should be more than a document placed on a shelf. It should provide clear, actionable priorities that guide decisions, connect resources to what matters most, and allow the district and community to monitor progress over time.
Our leadership commitment is to listen deeply, lead purposefully, and grow together. I hope you will join us on September 15 and share your perspective. Your voice can help shape the future of St. James Public Schools and strengthen the opportunities we provide for every student. The Strategic Planning Advisory Committee is also seeking 1-2 community members to serve on the committee. If interested, please contact Superintendent Liam Dawson with your interest. Go Saints!
