Portrait of a Graduate » Portrait of a Graduate

Portrait of a Graduate

After six months, 36 community meetings, and more than 6,800 engaged participants, Durango School District’s Board of Education approved a Portrait of a Graduate plan on May 24, 2022. This vision guides the district as a “north star” to prepare students for life after school. When students graduate, that’s really just the beginning.

 

“This is a shared vision of what qualities our graduates need to possess in order to be positive contributors to society and have a good quality of life,” said Durango School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser. “Portrait of a Graduate adapts the traditional model of education to evolve in an ever-changing world.”

 

An infographic featuring a cairn — a vertical stack of rocks — serves as a visual metaphor for Portrait of a Graduate. Cairns are familiar to hikers navigating local trails, and for students it will represent “a wayfinder to balance skills on the path to success.”

Portrait of a Graduate poster

Snapshots: Portrait of a Graduate IRL

What do Portrait of a Graduate competencies look like when our students and staff live them out each day? Click on the PoG competency below to see real-life examples pulled from the district's social media feeds.

Questions? Contact Our PoG Rockstars

Questions about how your child's school is helping students develop power skills for learning, work, and life? Our PoG Rockstars help oversee the implementation of Portrait of a Graduate throughout the district, and would love to tell you more!