February 2025

After months of thoughtful collaboration involving students, staff, families, and community members, I am proud to present Independence Local Schools' new Strategic Vision – a roadmap that will guide our district's growth and success in the years ahead. 

This comprehensive vision emerged from numerous engaging sessions where our stakeholders shared their hopes, concerns, and vision for our schools. Working with the Schlechty Center, we have developed a framework that honors our community's values while pushing us toward educational excellence.

Our new vision, "Cultivating a Legacy of Excellence," captures our aspiration to build upon Independence's strong foundation while embracing innovation and growth. This vision is supported by belief statements that emphasize student voice, personal growth, transparent decision-making, and strong community partnerships.

The vision focuses on four key strategic priorities:

• Empowering Whole Child Development

• Designing Valuable Experiences and Work

• Aligning Resources and Knowledge for Collaborative Growth

• Creating an Inclusive and Welcoming Community Environment

These priorities will guide our decisions, resource allocation, and daily practices across all three schools. We're committed to maintaining strong communication and transparency as we implement these initiatives, ensuring that our community remains involved every step of the way.

Below you will find the complete Strategic Vision. Your continued engagement and support are essential as we work together to prepare our students for future success while maintaining our commitment to integrity and excellence.

Thank you for your partnership in this important work.

Sincerely,

Kelli Cogan, Superintendent

• We create an environment where the student voice drives our actions and fosters greater engagement in their educational experience.
  

• We inspire and empower students to achieve personal and academic growth, within their school and community.
  

• We commit to making purposeful decisions that prioritize the success of our students through transparency, innovation, and community involvement.
  

• We seek, develop, and share knowledge to ensure strong partnerships among our district, families, and the overall school community to support learning.

Cultivating a Legacy of Excellence

With integrity, our mission is to create a collaborative and innovative educational community where our students thrive as active contributors to their world.