DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD OF NIAGARA
DSBN Launches 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

It's Time to Redefine Excellence

District School Board of Niagara has launched the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, setting the foundation for what we will focus on as a school board. The Plan represents who we are, what we believe in, and what we value. It will guide DSBN's central decision-making for the next five years. These decisions directly impact the lives and futures of students, staff, families, and community members involved with our schools. The Plan acknowledges that we not only recognize room for change but embrace it wholeheartedly.

We are proud to share our vision - one informed by our community - with you.

The Plan Behind the Plan
The process of creating our Strategic Plan began in March 2022 with a single goal - to find as many ways as we could to listen. Collecting input from the people we serve and those we work alongside was vital. We cast the net as far and as wide as possible. We asked students, staff, families, and community members to share their thoughts with us and help shape the future of the DSBN - and share they did. Over 29,000 people across the Niagara Region participated, collectively contributing 25,000 ideas about what the DSBN's future needs for it to be a place that helps students learn, grow, thrive, and become their best selves.

"We listened and what we heard is that the community is passionate about not just what students will become, but who they are today and who they will be in the future," said Warren Hoshizaki, DSBN Director of Education. "They want us to create learning environments where everyone feels empowered to build meaningful, trusting relationships that encourage students and educators to be co-creators of their learning."

Feedback from students, staff, families, and community members was also essential in helping to assess if the DSBN Vision and Mission still reflected who we are as a school board and still described where we wanted to go in the future. It quickly became clear that our past Vision and Mission, "Achieving Success Together," no longer spoke to our community, nor did it capture the needs of DSBN's current environment.

So, for the first time in 17 years, we have introduced a new Vision and Mission Statement. These statements intertwine the voice of our community with our purpose while expressing our inspiration and outlook to guide the next five years.

Vision
Our Vision is the future we aspire to: Learning and Growing Together.

Mission
Our Mission describes the actions we will take to reach our ideal future of Learning and Growing Together: Within a culture of care, inclusion, and innovation, the DSBN's purpose is to inspire lifelong learning and foster relationships through meaningful connections with individuals, communities, and the environment.

Updates to our Vision and Mission also informed the theme of the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan - Redefining Excellence. This plan is founded in recognizing that change is progress. We are all unique, making our individual versions of excellence just as unique. With this Strategic Plan, excellence is not about being the best. It is about being your best. Redefining Excellence gives DSBN a clear identity, purpose, and direction.

Five Strategic Priorities
The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan consists of five strategic priorities. These priorities embody DSBN's philosophy at the heart of who we are, what we believe and how we will act. Embedded within each strategic priority are the strategic actions we will take to reach our Vision and describe what we uphold as our values and core culture. The commitments are action-oriented and inclusive of students, staff, families, and the community.

Learning
Learning and Growth
We value the uniqueness of each individual and believe everyone can excel and achieve excellence at the DSBN.

Belonging
Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights
We respect and uphold the importance of equity, inclusion, dignity, and human rights in all learning and working environments, so that individuals from all social realities and lived experiences are valued.

Thriving
Mental Health and Well-Being
We believe in cultivating learning and working communities where everyone feels safe and connected, while increasing mental health awareness knowledge and skills.

Walking Together
First Nation, Inuit and Metis Education and Voice
We value and respect the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities, families and individuals and we believe in honouring these voices.

Spaces
Learning Environments
We value caring and supportive environments that promote lifelong learning for all students, staff, and community.

"Thank you to our caring community who invested their time, talent and energy to come together, share your voices and make this new Strategic Plan possible," said Sue Barnett, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Our Redefining Excellence Strategic Plan came together from the hard work, dedication, and contributions of the individuals on the Strategic Plan Working and Ad Hoc Strategic Plan Committees. Their efforts have been invaluable in bringing together the perspectives of our students, staff, families, community members and stakeholders.

Learn More
Watch an engaging and informative video and read the full 2023-2028 Strategic Plan on our Redefining Excellence website: https://redefining-excellence.dsbn.org/