Parents who select schools for their children want to know that they will graduate with the skills, character, and learning needed for work and life – commonly known as Portrait of a Graduate. It is the end result making your school’s mission happen.
But how can teachers guide, mentor, track, and communicate each student’s POG progress over time? Easily, with Foundry.
“Portrait of a Graduate” is a term commonly used to describe a set of skills, attributes, and characteristics that educators aim to cultivate in students as they progress through their educational journey. This concept represents a broader and more holistic approach to education, moving beyond traditional academic knowledge and focusing on the development of well-rounded individuals who are prepared for success in college, career and life.
A “Portrait of a Graduate” typically includes a list of competencies and qualities that educators essential for students to thrive in the 21st century. While the specific components may vary from one learning community to another, some common elements include:
Academic Excellence: Proficiency in core academic subjects such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies remains a fundamental aspect of a graduate’s profile.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Graduates are expected to be skilled at analyzing complex problems, thinking critically, and coming up with creative solutions.
Communication Skills: Effective communication, including both written and oral, is essential for success in various contexts, including personal relationships and professional settings.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Graduates should be able to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cooperate toward common goals.
Adaptability and Resilience: The capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and bounce back from setbacks is highly valued in a rapidly changing world.
Creativity and Innovation: Fostering creativity and encouraging innovative thinking prepares graduates to tackle novel challenges and contribute to progress in various fields.
Global and Cultural Awareness: Graduates should have an appreciation for different cultures, worldviews, and global issues, promoting empathy and an understanding of the interconnectedness of the world.
Civic and Social Responsibility: A strong sense of civic engagement, social responsibility, and ethical decision-making is essential, encouraging graduates to contribute positively to their communities and impact society at large.
Leadership and Initiative: Developing leadership skills and the ability to take initiative prepares graduates to take on leadership roles and drive positive change.
Information and Technology Literacy: Graduates should be able to effectively find, evaluate, and use technology to access from various sources.
The goals and attributes outlined in a “Portrait of a Graduate” serves as a guiding framework for educators to design curriculum, teaching methods, and assessment strategies that align with the development of these important life skills and attributes in students, ultimately preparing them for success in a rapidly evolving world.
QuickStart: Our streamlined system allows you to begin utilizing Portrait of a Graduate in as little as a day.
Choice of Competencies: Select from our growing library of Portrait of a Graduate competencies or utilize your targets.
Evidence of Learning: Easily add documents and links to students’ demonstration of learning mastery
Real-life Experiences: Let students demonstrate what they’ve learned and reflect on its impacts.
Progress Monitoring: Easily track student growth over time.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize the way your school approaches the Portrait of a Graduate. Schedule a preview with Foundry. Together, let’s empower your students to excel in learning, work and life!
To preview Foundry, all it takes is 30 minutes of your time. We can show you what others have done, or you can tell us what you would like to do, and we’ll show you that, too. Your colleagues are welcome to join as well.
A self-described entrepreneur, Bill Mortimore is Foundry’s CEO, Board Member, and Lead Investor. Bill is committed to transforming education, so every student has the 21st Century skills for work and life. For the past decade, he has focused on creating the technology that makes Deeper Learning possible and equitably accessible.
Having been the founder and CEO of Merge Healthcare (acquired by IBM), where his technology was pivotal in getting physicians to switch from reading radiological films to digital viewing, leading to more accurate diagnoses. Bill leveraged that unique perspective and passion to transform traditional classroom education into Deeper Learning, where students learn 21st Century skills such as critical thinking, communication, creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, collaboration, information literacy, technology skills, and digital literacy.
Chief Sales Officer
Bob Sanders is here to educate our prospective customers and ensure that Foundry is the right solution for them. Bob is a sales leader with 25 years of experience helping educational clients thrive by providing a solution to their problems, an answer to their needs, and a pathway to their goals.
In his work, Bob is consultative in his approach, asks astute questions, and is a great listener. He easily gains trust and builds relationships and has an easy knack for conversation.
We need more Bobs in the world. We hope you have some in yours.
Chief Marketing Officer
Combine strategy, knowledge, creativity, and fun and you have Beth Frost-Johnson. Beth takes on challenging responsibilities such as teaching the educational marketplace what Deeper Learning, Competency-based Learning, Standards-based learning, and Project-based learning are all about.
Prior to Foundry, Beth was Chief Marketing Strategist at Merge Healthcare, where she launched the first radiological software that could be purchased via eCommerce. It became the #1 radiology viewing software in the world, used in over 70 countries. As a consultant to entrepreneurs, Beth has helped 40+ companies to achieve their preferred exit strategies.
Ask Beth for her Spaghetti Sauce recipe. She won’t give it to you.
Chief Financial Officer
Scott is passionate about growing Foundry where he partners with Foundry’s business leaders to build metrics to better understand the business drivers and to grow profits organically or through acquisition.
Among his favorite work-related pastimes are capital raising, financing growth initiatives, implementing a flexible budgeting process, financial planning; ensuring the right tax strategies; investor presentations Cost cutting, and everything else that involves numbers. Scott is masterful, professional, and skillful, and always knows how to kindly ask the right questions at the right time.
Chief Learning Officer
Dr. Mortimore is a pioneer and leader in personalized, learner-centered learning, as well as administrative leadership, organizational development, and change management. She believes that every student has the right to take ownership of his/her education and deserves to be fully engaged in it, with teachers and mentors being their guides.
Camille was the Founder and Head Learner of an expeditionary, project-based public charter school in Milwaukee’s central city. She has served as superintendent and principal for more than two decades and has extensive experience as an elementary, middle, and high school teacher, parent educator, corporate and higher education instructor, and consultant.
She is passionate about transforming education, and her professional values can be summed up as follows: Educational Equity; Teacher Value and Worth; and Uncapped Student Potential. Camille has earned a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership and an M.Ed.in Administration and Supervision from Marquette University.
Chief Technology Officer
Mr. van Kimmenade is responsible for overseeing Foundry’s product strategy and development. His primary goal is to make Deeper Learning accessible from anywhere at any time and to be intuitive in its use. Anton has been a 9-year investor in Foundry. Prior to that, he was chief software architect and development leader for 13 years as a senior technology executive at Merge Healthcare, where he established Merge’s European branch. Anton also was a member of Philips Medical systems in Europe and in the U.S., where he directed QA and software management.
He strongly believes that there is one way to develop technological solutions – the RIGHT way.