The Bibb County School District’s Strategic Planning Design Team continued working with Engage2Learn earlier this month, on Monday, February 6, and Tuesday, February 7. Design Team members represent various stakeholder groups, including parents, students, teachers, principals, assistant principals, district leadership, and community partners. Over the course of the semester, the team will work together to develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that will help shape the future of Bibb County Schools.

During the February workshop sessions, the team worked on identifying action ideas and specific results, as well as timeline and sequencing rationale. All work continues to be in draft form as the team continues the design process with Engage2Learn.

Quincy Davis, a seventh grade Life Science teacher at Miller Fine Arts Magnet Middle School, said the experience of collaborating with the design team has been “fun, yet challenging.”

“It has given me the opportunity to both serve as a teacher representative and to allow me insight into the intricate tapestry that is our district,” Mr. Quincy said. “There are so many things that we as teachers are just not aware of and this definitely widened my perspective and deepened my understanding.”

Howard Middle School Principal Tony Jones said, “Strategic planning is a deliberate act that requires all stakeholders with different points of reference and view so the district will continue to grow. Being involved in the planning in January and these past two days in February has allowed me the opportunity to contextualize where we have been while being an active participant in where our school district is heading over the next five years. The participants have been from all stakeholder groups and our conversations have at times been difficult, deep, and robust, but ultimately rewarding!”

Rutland High School parent LuWanna Williams, a member of the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council, has been actively engaged in the strategic planning design process, from participating in the parent focus group session in the fall to the sessions with whole team this semester.

“Bibb County School District is doing the work to ensure that there is priority alignment with student, community and future workforce needs,” Mrs. Williams said. “Strategic planning is a heavy lift for any organization but more so for a school district; they have the minds of young people at stake and the needs of the entire community - it is important work. It is important because it focuses attention on the critical issues and challenges the school system faces and it helps to align the needs to decisions made related to student learning.”

“The level of dedication and commitment given to the process by everyone that is involved proves the passion that there is for student learning and the future of every student in Bibb County,” she said. “There was an intentional approach to ensure that every stakeholder had a voice – students, parents, teachers, community advocates, business partners and school system administrators. I feel honored to have been a part of this process and I am excited to know that there is a plan that seeks to meet the educational needs of every student and preparation for their individual futures!”