Portraits of Educators: Districts Strengthen Staff Identity and Capacity
December 18, 2025
Spotlight on Milford Exempted Village Schools & Winnetka Public Schools
Milford Exempted Village Schools (Ohio) and Winnetka Public Schools (Illinois) both engaged the Portraits of Educators service to define the qualities their staff must embody to support the district’s vision. Through collective input and design work, each district created shared, observable skills for educators and leaders that reinforce their Portrait of a Graduate.
The Challenge
Milford Exempted Village Schools:
Milford aimed to align what staff do with their
broader vision for students. They already had
their Portrait of an Eagle guiding student-facing
work, but wanted a matching Portrait
of a Staff Member that expresses what
professionals in the district should model.
The effort needed to be internally driven,
authentic, and reflect staff commitments.
Winnetka Public Schools:
Winnetka, with an established Portrait of a
Graduate and a strong progressive education
tradition, saw the need to articulate educator
attributes: the behaviors, mindsets, and
capacities that educators must hold to make
the district’s vision a reality in instruction.
Key Impacts
- Both districts now have a common language and observable attributes for what excellence among educators, staff, and leaders looks like. This helps align expectations and performance.
- In Winnetka, the educator attributes are being used to inform hiring, recruitment, professional learning, and strategy. The unified graphic makes the educator’s expectations visible and tied directly to student outcomes.
- Milford’s process was internal and collaborative. The district reports that staff feel invested because they helped define this resource.
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµDistrict Services
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµoffers a customizable menu of district consulting services to help ensure alignment across staff and community, and ultimately improve learning outcomes for all children. From creating a community-driven Portrait of a Graduate to designing strategic plans and measuring what matters most, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµmeets you where you are and supports you every step of the journey.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement