001The Oak Harbor School District is located on the beautiful Whidby Island and we are the home of the Naval Air Station NES [music] Whidby. We are the largest school district on the island of just over 5,000 students. And when I came here, our strategic plan was over two decades [music] old. So, we really were not functioning with a clear and coherent definition of success. I can still remember when we went to the WASDA [music] conference in 2022. All five of us at that time on the board went and listened to the Ever School District because they [music] had just updated their strategic plan. And the energy that all of [music] us had knowing we need to do this. The following year, we started our process of [music] doing a community schoolwide district plan so everybody's
002voice was heard. [music] And what was the most important thing about that strategic plan that it was centered on student voice? We started with our students bookending the beginning of the strategic [music] plan and then at the very end before we went to the school board to adopt the strategic plan, we said, "Did we hit the mark with what you asked us?" >> What success looks like for us is when we know that all of our students are thriving and [music] reaching their fullest potential. We are a board that is centered about the success for our students. >> I think it's really important to just make sure the people who the board is working to help are the ones who really are giving their voices. Me and my fellow students [music] were the ones experiencing
003all of the new policies and everything on the daily [music] and making sure that we have a voice and we can make the changes that we need to [music] better our education and better our future. >> It was so fun to be out in the buildings [music] talking to the kids and ask them what they thought about what the student vision of their experience in the Carver public school should [music] look like. 85% of our students feel like they have a trusted adult in [music] our system that makes them feel like they belong. So whether it's one or multiple people, when you have 85% success rate, [music] that's pretty incredible. I knew all along that we had a pretty incredible school board, when they have different ideas and perspectives, but they can come together when
004it comes to how do we measure our success as a school [music] board and they do it through two things. From the very beginning before our strategic plan was in place, our board had the opportunity to say, "If we were ever a board of distinction, what would [music] that look and sound like to our community and to you as school board?" So, we've always done that work about what was to success a board of distinction is, but more importantly through the lens of students. So, if we were to ask our students, what is our board doing to elevate your success as an individual student? [music] That truly is a success of a board when all students feel successful in our Oak Harbor public schools. There's so much work that goes into a school board. [music]
005I see it from all of the other school board members. I've felt so supported by them and I know they have a lot of work that they do outside of everything. I see it all the time. I think it's just so awesome to see that their work is getting recognized [music] and they're a role model for other school boards in the state. It's going to be great to get to work with them some more. I just want to thank my fellow school board members [music] and to thank all the folks that work in the Oak Harbor public schools. We have an incredible district. Everybody is very supported and committed to ensuring that our kids thrive. >> [music]