Fennimore, WI – The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in partnership with the School Superintendents Association (AASA), is inviting educators, families, community members, and business leaders from across Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Crawford, and Richland counties to help shape the future of education by contributing to the development of Wisconsin’s “Portrait of a Graduate.”
An in-person listening session will be held on May 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CESA 3 in Fennimore. A light lunch will be provided, and registration is appreciated at cesa3events.org/portrait. This session is part of a statewide effort to gather community feedback and ensure the final Portrait reflects the shared values and priorities of communities across Wisconsin, including those throughout southwest Wisconsin.
The “Portrait of a Graduate” is a forward-looking vision that defines what students should know, value, and be able to do by the time they graduate. It emphasizes both academic rigor and essential life skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, adaptability, and lifelong learning skills necessary for success in college, careers, civic life, and beyond.
Grounded in Wisconsin’s commitment to strong public education, this initiative aligns with DPI’s Strategic Plan, particularly its focus on modernizing learning environments through innovation and student-centered practices. The Portrait will serve as a guiding framework for schools as they expand real-world learning opportunities and move toward competency-based education.
AASA brings national expertise to the effort, having supported the development of Portraits of a Graduate in multiple states and hundreds of school systems across the country.
“These listening sessions are an important opportunity for community voices to help define what readiness looks like for our students,” explained Jamie Nutter, CESA 3 Administrator. “We want to ensure that Wisconsin’s vision reflects the aspirations and needs of the people it serves.”
The May 6 session will focus on gathering input and perspectives to inform the development of the Portrait. Additional opportunities for engagement, including virtual sessions, surveys, and project updates, will be shared through DPI’s ongoing communications.
The Portrait of a Graduate will ultimately serve as a “North Star” for Wisconsin’s education systemguiding innovation, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring students are prepared for a rapidly changing world. Broad participation from across the five-county CESA 3 region is encouraged to ensure diverse perspectives are represented.
All are encouraged to attend and share their voice.
For more information and to register, please cesa3events.org/portrait.