(Harlan, Ky.) – Harlan Independent School District is proud to announce significant progress in the development of its Portrait of a Learner (PoL), a locally developed, community-informed vision that defines the essential skills, knowledge, and dispositions every student needs to thrive in an ever-changing world.
The Kentucky Portrait of a Learner initiative aligns with the Kentucky Academic Standards while emphasizing the broader competencies needed for success in the 21st century. The Portrait of a Learner is designed to clearly articulate what success looks like for students—both in school and beyond graduation. Grounded in local values and goals, the PoL serves as a guiding framework to ensure that teaching and learning experiences are purposeful, relevant, and connected to the real-world.
Through the Portrait of a Learner process, a school district aims to:
Clarify what matters most for student success
Design learning experiences that reflect real-world demands
Strengthen partnerships across schools, families, and community organizations
Align instructional practices with Kentucky Academic Standards while intentionally developing future-ready skills
By naming and nurturing these broader competencies, the Portrait of a Learner brings coherence and shared purpose to the learning journey. It also creates a common language for educators, parents, students, and community members to describe what it means for graduates of Harlan High School to be truly prepared for life beyond the classroom.
To develop this vision, the district conducted three collaborative stakeholder meetings that included parents, students, educators, administrators, community members, and local partners. Feedback and dialogue from these sessions were instrumental in shaping the draft Portrait of a Learner, ensuring it reflects the priorities, strengths, and aspirations of the community it serves.
“The Portrait of a Learner is not just a document—it is a commitment,” said Jennifer Parsons, Superintendent of Harlan Independent School District. “It represents our shared belief in developing the whole child and preparing our students with the skills and dispositions they need to succeed in college, careers, and citizenship.”
Superintendent Parsons added, “I am deeply grateful to the many community members who took the time to engage in thoughtful dialogue and share their perspectives throughout the Portrait of a Learner meetings. We had over thirty people at each of our meetings and their voices, experiences, and commitment to our students were essential in shaping a vision that truly reflects our community’s values.”
Mayor Joe Meadors participated in each of the three community meetings and noted, “This process gave our community an opportunity to define what success should look like for students at Harlan. Being part of the conversations helped ensure that the skills we value—critical thinking, collaboration, and communication—are reflected in how our schools prepare students for the future. It was encouraging to see educators, parents, students, and community members working together with a shared purpose for our kids.”
The district will continue refining the Portrait of a Learner through ongoing community engagement and looks forward to using it as a foundation for instructional decision-making, curriculum design, and community partnerships, with the goal of releasing the final Portrait of a Learner prior to the 2026–2027 school year.
More information about the statewide initiative can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education’s website: https://www.education.ky.gov/school/innov/Pages/Portrait-of-a-Learner.aspx