The School District of Jefferson is a student-centered organization which meets or exceeds the

needs and expectations of its students, parents, and community. The District is recognized

locally, statewide, and nationally as a district where “student learning and achievement” and

“outstanding character development” are paramount.

The culture of the District is one in which all students are challenged to attain a maximum level

of performance commensurate with their individual abilities. Student learning is individualized

through early and formative intervention to ensure that high performance is encouraged and

rewarded. Poor effort and failure are not acceptable options.

The District is a recognized leader in the use of innovative, research-validated teaching and

learning methodologies. Using extensive collaboration among staff, students, and parents,

professional learning communities are a vital part of the learning experience. The staff is among

the “best in class” in quality of preparation and delivery of services, as evidenced by student

performance and professional credentials. The number of certified staff attaining the highest

level of professional certification (Wisconsin Master Teacher or National Board for Professional

Teaching Standards) increases annually. Overall student performance, as measured by No Child

Left Behind (NCLB) and state and district standards, improves annually. In addition, other

measures of outstanding student performance, such as the number of National Merit scholars,

Kohl scholars, Advanced Placement students, and students who score above national norms on

the ACT college admissions test, continue to increase.

The district is a place where quality is pervasive and self-evident. The community and others

recognize the district’s exceptional quality and thereby generously support the need for essential

physical and fiscal resources. A formal “Continuous Quality Improvement” process is deployed,

which ensures that high-quality systems and processes are initiated and maintained. These quality

measures are used by the district to gain a competitive advantage in securing external supplemental

resources.

The School District of Jefferson is synonymous with excellence. It is a place where hard work

and exemplary character are expected and modeled by students and staff. Character and work

ethic are valued as much as intelligence, social aptitude, and athletic ability.

This is the Jefferson Way.