In an age when technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics are redefining work, preparing students for careers becomes a vexing challenge. To quote former U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley, “We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist … using technologies that haven't been invented … in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet.”

Where does this leave schools? As we observe how the global workplace is constantly changing, our role as educators is to develop in our students uniquely human skills and capabilities that cannot be replaced by machines and technology. Simply stated, we are looking to produce students with an AI-proof set of talents and traits that will lead to career success.

            To this end, the Orcutt Union School District has been investing time this year in identifying which skills, knowledge, and habits we want to instill in products of our school system. The project, called “Portrait of a Learner,” will culminate in a specific list of attributes that we believe will best prepare students for a prosperous future.

            At this point, the list is under development. We have gotten input from our administrators, school leadership teams, and teachers, but we still have more input to get – including yours. Let me share a bit more about our process before asking for your help. 

            Our “Portrait of a Learner” initiative follows a template established by the League of Innovative Schools, a leader in this work and an organization in which our district is a member. The League has synthesized research across many fields to develop a list of core competencies and associated educational strategies that are most aligned with career success. School systems like ours can review the list to identify seven or eight that reflect a shared vision for the future readiness of our students.

            To give you a sense for the input we have received thus far, here are four traits that have come to the forefront:

• Critical Thinking - being able to evaluate information, consider ideas across different perspectives, making decisions, and solving problems.

• Learner Mindset - a lens through which children see the world that encourages continuous learning and academic achievement.

• Creativity - a combination of divergent and experimental thinking that generates new ideas and novel products.

• Effective Communicator - being able to use multiple modes of communication to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

            Once we have a final set of competencies, we will work on how to operationalize them in student learning, communicate them to students and families, and report on student progress. You can expect to have us talking about our Portrait of a Learner in venues ranging from the district and school websites to parent-teacher conferences.

            Getting back to the process, our immediate next steps are to seek input from three important groups:  students, parents/guardians, and our community. Following is a link to an online survey on which community members can weigh in to indicate which competencies you believe are most important for career readiness for our students:  bit.ly/Orcutt26

            Thank you in advance for your time and for being part of this important project. When the OUSD Board of Trustees approves our final “Portrait of a Learner” list later this school year, we will have an important road map to helping get our students ready for successful careers, whatever the future may hold.