2. Defining a Mission Statement
• What is a Mission Statement?
• A mission statement is a written
declaration of a school’s core
purpose and focus.
• Why have a Mission Statement?
• To communicate what the school
is working to accomplish.
• To establish a clear message for
the community.
• Provides a template for decision-
making
• Establishes a basis for alignment.
• Shapes strategy.
• Facilitates evaluation and
improvement.
3. Drafting a Mission Statement
• Involving Staff
• Organize a committee of 4-5 staff
members.
• Having different areas/departments
represented will translate into higher
buy-in from the staff.
• The mission statement is something the
school adopts and doesn’t normally
change from year to year.
• Getting Everyone Involved
• Mission Planning Committee should
guide a staff meeting that gives
everyone an opportunity to give
input.
• The committee should bring 5-8
mission statements they believe to
be exemplar.
• As a group define what patterns emerge
throughout the examples.
• Do statements simply state a belief, or
do they express a purpose for
existence?
• Do the statements clarify what action
steps students and staff will be expected
to take to achieve mission?
• Do the statements define how staff will
help in improvement efforts?
4. Drafting a Mission Statement
• Guiding Factors
• The mission statement should be a
specific plan for driving the school to
fulfill its potential.
• Mission and vision planning should
allow school leadership to create a
plan to fulfill its mission.
• Include four factors; value,
inspiration, plausibility, and
specificity.
• Choose whether your mission
statement will be centered on your
school’s short-term or long-term
goals.
• Tips
• Avoid elaborate language & buzz
words
• Should be easily explained by all
faculty and staff
• Keep it concise! A strong mission
statement can be written between 2-
5 sentences.
