"Our Mandate is Excellence" and it shall be achieved by:

1.  Promoting student achievement in preschool through college by:

·        Using scientific research to identify and implement the best instructional practices

·        Differentiating instruction based on needs

·        Accessing programs demonstrating effectiveness with similar populations and  replicating activities locally

·        Maximizing daily instructional time in preschool through college

·        Planning and delivering a knowledge rich curriculum

·        Empowering and equipping site level Professional Learning Communities

·        Providing targeted and strategic interventions for at-risk students

 2.  Maximizing student well-being by:

·         Ensuring the physical and emotional safety of students

·         Integrating the 40 Developmental Assets Framework into all levels of the organization

·         Providing local access to families for community health, social services and educational programs

·         Providing services for children and parents from birth through adulthood

·         Identifying and serving underrepresented populations in existing services

 3.  Promoting organizational unification and programmatic alignment by:

·         Implementing an on-going visioning process

·         Committing human and material assets to maximize alignment of services

·         Pursuing kindergarten through high school unification

·         Disseminating research findings and programmatic success to all stakeholder groups

 4.  Ensuring organizational improvement through staff accountability by:

·         Ensuring high quality performance through the use of existing evaluation systems

·         Engaging in frequent observations and visits of staff during working hours

·         Training managers and administrators in progressive discipline

·         Providing targeted and strategic staff development

·         Gathering data from multiple sources including 360 degree feedback and community surveys

NUSD Hedgehog:  Serving the whole child through broad-based educational experiences and through comprehensive services for the entire family.