Portrait of a Graduate: Preparing Students for Life After School with Lori McEwen

What does it truly mean to prepare students for life beyond school — not just academically, but as thinkers, collaborators, empathetic people, and engaged citizens?

In this episode I (host Jenn David-Lang) am joined by education leader, researcher, and consultant Lori McEwen to unpack the concept of a Portrait of a Graduate (POG). 

This portrait includes a set of skills that students must learn by the time they graduate in addition to the typical academic skills and content (skills like collaboration, communication, critical thinking, compassion, and creativity).

Lori explains what a portrait of a graduate is, why it has gained momentum across districts and states, and how it can serve as a powerful, student-centered vision for teaching and learning.

Together, Jenn and Lori explore how a portrait of a graduate can move beyond abstract “21st-century skills” to humanize learning, influence classroom instruction, and help schools create joyful, meaningful experiences for students — starting now, not just at graduation.

Walk away with MAIN IDEAs…

1 FIRST STEP: Start with questions. Ask the community: Who do they want their young people to become? Collect 3 to 5 adjectives and compile it into a community Wordle to get to a purpose for the POG.

1 PITFALL: Don’t stop with a poster of a POG! Everything doesn’t have to start immediately. Know that the portrait is aspirational — like the North Star  — and let people know that we’ll be going on a journey…

1 RESOURCE: See Lori’s website: https://lorimcewen.com/

Connect with Lori McEwen: https://lorimcewen.com/  

Connect with Jenn

Jenn@TheMainIdea.net

www.themainidea.net

Jenn’s Mastermind: https://www.themainidea.net/school-leadership-mastermind/

If you got something out of this podcast, I’d appreciate it if you’d share it with a colleague. Thanks!