Upper Arlington Schools has launched an ambitious strategic planning process that draws from the innovative and collaborative vision of students, staff, parents/guardians and community members for the future of education in Upper Arlington. 

Feedback from the Listen Learn Lead community engagement process, Dr. Hunt’s UAdventure and the district-wide equity audit have provided the foundation for the strategic planning process. Those three primary data points have resulted in a combined 8,700 touch points that represent a wide variety of stakeholders in our community, including students. That feedback has informed the development of three proposed priority areas for the next strategic plan, each strengthened by a focus on continuous improvement through excellence and innovation.

The strategic planning process includes multiple opportunities for staff, student, parent/guardian and community feedback leading up to the adoption of a new strategic plan to launch in 2025.

Throughout the strategic planning process, the district will continue to move forward with the priorities identified in the current 2019-2024 Strategic Plan.

Three Strategic Inquiry Teams made up of more than 50 staff members, students, parents/guardians and community members have been informed to research the three draft strategic priority areas and identify possible strategies that can help move UA Schools into the future. In addition, a Strategic Coordination Team made up of more than 25 parents/guardians, staff members and community members are providing feedback and direction to the inquiry teams. 

Beginning with two Coffee & Conversation events with Dr. Hunt in March, there are multiple opportunities for stakeholders to learn about the current status of the strategic planning process and provide feedback. This includes a meeting of the Teaching and Learning Team, made up of staff members from across the district, in April and a Listen Learn Lead community engagement session on May 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Upper Arlington High School, at which leaders of each of the Strategic Inquiry Teams will share an update and solicit feedback.

Based on the feedback gathered during the spring of 2024, the Strategic Inquiry Teams and Strategic Coordination Team will finalize recommendations to present to the Board of Education for their feedback. Once the recommendations are finalized, district staff, including the Teaching and Learning Team, will work to develop an implementation plan beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Additional feedback will be gathered on the draft implementation plan through building and department visits during the fall of 2024. 

Based on all of the feedback gathered from stakeholders during the summer and fall of 2024, the district will finalize an implementation plan to present to the Board of Education for approval in January 2025.