LEAD - Kent ISD's Strategic Plan

What is a Strategic Plan?

The Kent ISD Strategic Plan is both a compass and a roadmap—providing clear direction for our mission while outlining actionable steps to drive meaningful impact.

It ensures that our decisions, resources, and partnerships are strategically aligned to support continuous improvement across the educational systems we serve.

As a vehicle for systems improvement, our plan is designed to evolve, using data, innovation, and stakeholder input to address the changing needs of students, educators, and communities.

With a focus on success for all, we are committed to strengthening education in Kent County by fostering collaboration, supporting educators, and ensuring students are prepared for the future.

LEAD 2.0

The 2024-25 school year marks the third year of our strategic plan, LEAD. The strategic plan calls for Kent ISD to repeat the strategic planning process every three years, so a new committee with representatives from across the organization has begun to plan LEAD 2.0. The team met for the first time November 1 to start gathering data and input from Kent ISD employees. Online surveys have been completed by dozens of employees in the early part of 2025 and the team is currently analyzing the results.

Future meetings are scheduled monthly through May 2025. We look forward to continuing this important work and sharing regular updates as we shape Kent ISD's strategic direction for the years ahead.

Core Values

These fundamental principles guide our actions and define Kent ISD's organizational character:

Relationships: We build meaningful connections with students, families, educators, and community members, recognizing that strong partnerships amplify our impact.
Learning: We model lifelong growth through professional development, reflective practice, and openness to new ideas.
Equity: We work to remove barriers and create conditions where all individuals can thrive, providing differentiated support based on unique needs.
Opportunities: We create pathways for achievement, ensuring all learners access experiences that unlock potential.
Innovation: We cultivate creative thinking and thoughtful risk-taking, adapting to evolving needs while honoring proven practices.
Service: We approach our work with helpfulness and humility, centering the needs of our districts, schools, educators, and students.
Excellence: We pursue the highest standards with integrity, continuously evaluating our effectiveness to exceed expectations.

Mission

Kent ISD partners with our schools and communities providing enhanced and equitable opportunities to enrich the experiences and achievements of our learners.

Vision

Building thriving communities through meaningful partnerships and equitable educational opportunities for all learners.

Goals

Goal 1: Position Kent ISD as a leader for student-centered programming and regional educational services.

Kent ISD is the fourth largest ISD in the second most populous region in Michigan. This positions the organization to not only be a regional leader, but also a model for quality statewide. Kent ISD’s goal is to be the premier destination for high-quality student and school district programming - one that meets the needs of all students and districts.

Goal 2: Build an organizational culture of transparency and accountability.

Internally, a culture of transparency and accountability builds a culture driven on setting and meeting goals. It also promotes the notion that decisions are made using evidence. Externally, it demonstrates that Kent ISD is a good steward of resources.

Goal 3: Recruit and retain a thriving, diverse and inclusive workforce.

The foundation of any high-functioning organization is a highly-skilled, self-motivated and thriving workforce, with the right people in the right positions. To best meet the needs of all learners, Kent ISD’s workforce should reflect the diversity of its diverse student population.

Goal 4: Demonstrate Kent ISD’s value as a community partner.

As a regional education service agency, Kent ISD has an obligation to use its resources, talent and expertise to serve the community at large. This includes intentional community outreach and awareness around the services available through Kent ISD.

Goal 5: Proactively address the evolving needs of the work environment.

Talent is any organization’s greatest asset. Kent ISD must meet the evolving needs of the workplace - including ensuring talent is productive and well supported in their roles. Needs range from leveraging technology to instituting more streamlined business processes to distributed work opportunities.