Strategic Plan

Skokie School District 68 is proud to introduce One Vision, One Future, our 2026–2031 Strategic Plan (available below).

This plan represents more than a roadmap for the next five years. It reflects the voices, experiences, ideas, and aspirations of our entire learning community. As reviewed at the May 2026 Board Meeting, the strategic planning process began in 2025 and included broad engagement with staff, families, Board members, administrators, and community partners. Our intended outcome was clear: To ensure that this plan reflected each and every member’s input from our learning community as we set the course for the next five years with “One Vision, One Future.”

A Collaborative Process

The development of the 2026–2031 Strategic Plan followed a structured and inclusive process designed to listen, learn, and build a shared vision for District 68.

• Summer 2025 - The Board of Education approved proposals for Strategic Planning Services in June 2025 and, in August 2025, approved Studer Education as the District’s strategic planning partner.
• October 2025 - A representative Strategic Plan Steering Committee was formed, bringing together Board members, staff, parents, a community partner, and administrators to guide the process.
• November 2025–March 2026 - The District engaged the learning community through surveys, focus groups, and data collection, including the incorporation of findings from the 2025 Equity Audit.
• February 2026 - The Board of Education received an update on the progress of the strategic planning process.
• Spring 2026 - A draft of the Strategic Plan was developed and shared back with staff for additional feedback and refinement.
• May 2026 - The finalized Strategic Plan was presented to the Board of Education. On May 21, 2026, the Board formally approved the 2026–2031 Strategic Plan as presented.

What We Heard

The feedback from our learning community affirmed many of the strengths already present in District 68 while also identifying opportunities for continued growth.

Among 159 staff responses, 78.2% indicated that the Strategic Plan is either Well-Aligned or Strongly Aligned to the needs of Skokie School District 68.

Feedback highlighted several important strengths:

• A strong focus on the whole child, including academic achievement, social-emotional development, and wellness
• A clear commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices
• An emphasis on staff voice, morale, and professional growth
• A coherent and understandable structure for implementation

Our community also identified areas where we must continue to focus:

• Clarity of implementation, including actions, timelines, and measures of success
• Consistency across schools
• Communication and transparency
• Stronger family and community partnerships

These areas of focus have been incorporated into the Strategic Plan’s outcomes and implementation steps. They will help ensure that our plan is not simply a document, but a living framework that guides our work every day.

From Vision to Action

With the Strategic Plan approved, our focus now turns to implementation.

Our next steps include:

• Development of annual SMART Goals aligned to the Strategic Plan’s Pillars and Priorities — Completed in Summer, 2026
• Incorporation of SMART Goals into a District Scorecard — Completed in Summer, 2026 (available below)
• Alignment of the District Scorecard with School Improvement Plans — In Progress
• Alignment of the District Scorecard with Department Goals — In Progress
• Alignment of the District Scorecard with Leadership Goals — In Progress
• Providing ongoing updates to the Skokie 68 community about the Strategic Plan — Ongoing
• Reporting quarterly to the Board of Education on progress — In Progress

This intentional alignment will help us move from broad priorities to measurable action and ensure that our schools, departments, and leadership teams are aligned and working together toward shared goals.

Our Commitment to the Community

One Vision, One Future is a commitment to moving forward together.

We recognize that meaningful change takes time, collaboration, and continued engagement. As we begin implementation during the 2026–2027 school year, we will continue to listen, communicate progress, celebrate successes, and use data to guide our decisions.

Most importantly, this is a plan created with our community and for our community. Every voice that contributed to this process helped shape the direction of District 68, and every member of our learning community has a role in bringing this vision to life. So, thank you for your support and involvment ahead.

Together, we will build on our strengths, address our opportunities for growth, and create an even stronger future for every student in our District.

Thank You

Special thanks to Dr. Reginald L. Todd of Studer Education for supporting the facilitation of the strategic planning process, and to the members of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee for their time, input, and thoughtful consideration in helping shape the future direction of Skokie School District 68:

• Kenya Austin • Edgar Estela • Jeremy Glickman • Lisa Goyco • Dr. Scott Grens • Greg Hanson • Richard Kong • Elisa Leporini • Emily Lonigro • Dr. Kennetta Perry • Dr. Christie Samojedny • Garima Sharma • Janna Simon • Lauryn Sullivan 

Thank you, also, to everyone across our learning community who shared their perspectives and helped make this plan possible.

WE ARE 68!

One Vision. One Future. Together.