The mission of the Kishwaukee Education

Consortium is to provide a safe and challenging

academic environment where students develop the necessary skills to become responsible citizens and

life-long learners.

The strategic plan process for the Kishwaukee Education Consortium began in the summer of 2010. The initial stages of the plan involved over forty people from community businesses, local service organizations, member school districts, Kishwaukee College and the Kishwaukee Education Consortium staff and students. The process was put into place to develop a vision of where we want to move as a career and technical education program over the next five years. The first step in the strategic plan process was to develop a mission statement. The components of the Kishwaukee Education Consortium mission statement would be a guide from which we would construct the strategic plan. The contents of the strategic plan will be the foundation for all future decision making. The plan includes the understanding of an incessantly changing world. It also takes into consideration the evolution of technology, as well as the cultural and demographic shifts in the communities of our sending schools. A special thanks to the Kishwaukee Education Consortium Board for a commitment to career and technical education and to Kishwaukee College for their continual support of our programs in an effort to help students in our communities become career and college ready.

Tom Crouch, Executive Director Kishwaukee Education Consortium

Student Profile

The following are characteristics that a KEC student will have in order to excel and contribute in their community

Personal Skills

Accepting of Others Communicator

Community Awareness Conflict Resolution

Creative Critical Thinker

Emotionally Intelligent

Ethical Honest

Life-long Learner Positive Attitude

Respectful Sense of Humor

Volunteer

Employability Skills

Accountable Adaptable

Appropriately Skilled/In Area Dependable Independent

Intrinsically Motivated Real-World Ready

Resilient Team Player Technological

GOAL 1

Provide programs that meet the needs of the sending schools and business community

Objectives:

1.1) KEC Director, Special Projects Coordinator & other KEC Administrators increase dialogue with community businesses, local chambers and sending schools about current and future employment opportunities

1.2) Enhance job-shadowing for students which leads to connection with

community businesses 1.3) Explore new EIP opportunities for staff which connects staff with community

1.4) Expand ideas and events for Linking Leaders

1.5) Continue KETCP committee

1.6) Establish Advisory Committees for all programs

GOAL 2

Develop assessment tool to evaluate whether classes/programs are meeting needs of the students to

prepare them for the workforce and/or college Objectives:

2.1) Implement evaluation tool for staff

2.2) Create student surveys to help instructors assess their teaching

2.3) Involve community partners for advisory committees and obtain input for programs/curriculum

2.4) Evaluate data from certification materials and results

2.5) Get all programs eligible to have students compete in SKILLS USA

2.6) Create comprehensive exam/project for assessment of students in subject areas

GOAL 3

Develop creative ways to attract new partners and grow the student population at KEC

Objectives:

3.1) Develop a marketing plan for KEC

3.2) Increase visibility in community

3.3) Implement Multimedia class for promotion of programs

3.4) Improve and update web site and develop social networking outlets

3.5) Enhance Sophomore presentations through all technology and resources available

3.6) Host potential students at KEC for tours of programs

GOAL 4

Increase parent, community and sending school participation in

program and curriculum development

Strategic Objectives:

4.1) Develop classroom web sites for interaction with staff and to get updates on class activities week-to-week

4.2) Host parent-teacher conferences

4.3) Host “Parent Night” where students demonstrate skills learned in courses

4.4) Increase participation in General Partnership Luncheon

4.5) Continue advisory committees for all programs and evaluate members and effectiveness

4.6) Make efforts to host community events at KEC

4.7) Build relationships between administrative staff at KEC and sending schools counselors and administration

GOAL 5

Prepare students to be career and college-ready when they complete KEC programs

Objectives: 5.1) Continue to implement and follow Common Core standards

5.2) Develop a “Life Skills” portion to curriculum

5.3) Require every student to participate in a public service project

5.4) Implement transition program for seniors

5.5) Expand hands-on activities for students (evident in curriculum)

5.6) Require every student to complete a resume and portfolio

5.7) Incorporate math and reading into every class at KEC

5.8) Aid sending schools in increasing AYP scores

5.9) Attempt to decrease the number of students needing remedial courses when they enter college

Employee Development Plan

Develop an interview and screening process for new candidates

Create attractive marketing plan to recruit staff

through media and technology

Generate on-line applications Create staff development schedules through outside

sources and in-house development workshops

Implement support system for new staff, part-time and off-site staff

Recognize and reward staff accomplishments

Provide up-to-date equipment and resources for staff

Continue to emphasize best practice

Institute a competitive salary base and steps for staff

Financial Vision/Plan

Continue to maximize state and federal grants

Be creative about alternative funding sources

Create cost containment strategies

Control staff numbers with enrollment cap on programs

Develop fund balance goal with Board of Control

Incorporate a budget evaluation process with business manager

The Process

The Kishwaukee Education Consortium Planning Team implemented the following process for the creation of the

strategic plan

1) Develop Mission Statement: July 1, 2010

2) Strategic Plan Team Meeting to address mission and framework of the strategic plan: September 16, 2010

3) Seek sending schools input: September 30, 2010

4) Strategic Plan Team Meeting for reflection of input from sending schools: October 14, 2010

5) Strategic Plan Team Meeting: November 18, 2010

6) Seek Business Community Input: December 9, 2010

7) Seek Kishwaukee College Input: January 7, 2011

8) Strategic Plan Final Meeting: January 11, 2011

9) Present to Governing Board for Approval: February 16, 2011

Contributors To The Kishwaukee Education Consortium Strategic Plan

Karen Baum Lorna Bemis Oscar Benitez Paul Borek Jim Briscoe Tonda Bruch Joe Burgess Derrick Burress Deana Cada Justin Carlson Tim Carlson Tom Choice Don Clayberg Phil Colgan Michael Czaplinski Jamie Craven Tom Crouch Julenne Davey Margaret Delano Christine Demory Alex Garica Bruce Griffith

Mary Hess Karen Hoyle Jean Kartjie Christine Lewis Bonnie Lunn Travis Maguire Julie Male Eugene Massey Nick Mataragas Bill McKinley Ron Pieper Berna Popenhagen Carol Quenet Wayne Riesen Karen Schmitt Jenny Stephens Marianne Swanson Kristal Templin Julie Vassilogambros Sarah Vize Scott Wakeley Stephanie Wascher