At the October 26 Board of Education meeting, Board President Sklansky and Superintendent McIntyre welcomed a special group of students invited by their principals and teachers for District 102’s first-quarter district-wide Portrait of a Graduate recognition.
The evening began with student honorees leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Each student was then called by name to receive a handshake, a personalized certificate, and a commemorative keychain celebrating their dedication to the district’s core values.
The Portrait of a Graduate defines the essential skills, values, and characteristics District 102 aims for all students to develop by the time they graduate. Focusing on whole-child success beyond traditional academics, the framework ensures students are well-prepared for college, future careers, and life.
Originally created in 2015 through D102’s strategic planning process—with extensive input from teachers, parents, students, and community members—the framework was recently updated during the district’s 2026 planning process. The revised framework features seven key components, visually represented as interconnected puzzle pieces:
Perseverance: Staying the course through challenges.
Adaptability: Thriving in a changing world.
Collaboration: Working effectively with others to reach a goal.
Kindness: Understanding and supporting others.
Integrity: Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Creativity: Approaching the world with an innovative lens.
Critical Thinking: Analyzing information to make informed decisions.
This roadmap actively shapes curriculum, instruction, and assessment across District 102 to equip every learner for real-world success. Moving forward, the quarterly recognition program will continue to honor five outstanding students from each school across the district who model these core traits.
District 102 congratulates our first-quarter honorees and looks forward to celebrating more exceptional students throughout the school year!