Portrait of a Talbot

Portrait of a Talbot

At Hampton Township School District, we are committed to providing our students with the tools they need to succeed in the modern world. That is why we have established a Portrait of a Talbot - a comprehensive framework that outlines the essential skills, knowledge, and attributes our students need to succeed in college, career, and life.

The Portrait of a Talbot serves as a shared vision that guides the development of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and learning experiences for our students. By establishing a clear and shared vision of what a successful Talbot looks like, we can ensure that our educational programs are aligned with the evolving needs of society, economy, and workforce.

Our Portrait of a Talbot includes competencies that reflect academic content areas and 21st-century skills. These competencies are designed to help our students become critical thinkers,  effective communicators, and collaborative team members that demonstrate empathy, a learner's mindset, and perseverance. By focusing on these competencies, we believe our students will be well-prepared for college, career, and life success.

We are proud of our work to establish our Portrait of a Talbot, and we are committed to continually improving our educational programs to better serve our students. Through our shared vision, we can ensure that our students have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

• conquering challenging tasks by inviting diverse perspectives.
• enriching their learning and others by building collective commitment for a shared goal.
• understanding that working together generates solutions greater than any individual could accomplish on their own.
• embracing and incorporating feedback from team members and others to solve problems.

A Talbot demonstrates empathy by...

• listening for understanding.
• caring for the interests of others and the greater good.
• understanding others’ feelings, experiences, differences, and perspectives.

Communication

• listening effectively to decipher meaning and context to understand other perspectives.
• articulating thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written, digital, and non-verbal skills in a variety of forms and contexts.
• engaging in respectful exchanges of diverse ideas and perspectives.

Learner's Mindset

A Talbot demonstrates a learner's mindset by...

• embracing curiosity and wonder to experience new ideas.
• demonstrating flexibility and growth mindset to accept and learn from failure.
• developing a positive attitude to foster the enjoyment of learning.
• possessing the desire to actively seek new knowledge and continue learning.

• verifying the validity of information, finding truth in differing claims, discerning fact from fiction, and asking questions.
• applying disciplined thinking that is clear, logical, open-minded, and informed by evidence.
• evaluating and creating solutions that are mindful of the impact on other parts of a system.
• improving the quality of one's own thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing ideas and                        information.

• persisting in overcoming adversity and achieving goals.
• exhibiting resiliency and determination in achieving success despite difficulty, opposition, or failure.
• accepting that setbacks are a part of success and being able to adjust and move forward.
• reflecting on successes and setbacks to guide future decisions.

For more information, including learning progressions, newsletters, and resources, visit our Portrait of a Talbot website here.

Strategic Plan

In 2022, Hampton Township School District embarked on a strategic planning journey that involved a committee of 45 stakeholders, including teachers, school board members, administration, and community members. The development of our strategic plan was a collaborative effort, and we started by gathering valuable insights from surveys conducted with teachers, students, and families. This data was analyzed using human-centered design strategies during the strategic planning sessions to ensure that we were meeting the needs of our community.

In addition to the survey data, the committee participated in various informative presentations. Bill Flanagan of the Allegheny Conference presented an overview of our region's economic and employment market, which helped us better understand the needs and demands of the future of work. We also heard from Gregg Behr, the executive director of the Grable Foundation, on whole-child learning, which emphasized the importance of considering all aspects of a student's development.

Our strategic plan was developed with the goal of creating a solid foundation that will help our students develop the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world. As a result of this collaborative effort, the committee developed nine pillars of our strategic plan. These pillars will guide our efforts to align the District's goals and objectives with the needs of the 21st century.

Pillars for Success

Whole-Child Learning We recognize that relationships with adults and peers are at the core of the school experience. We celebrate and incorporate students’ unique interests during daily interactions and collaborate with families and the community to nurture academic and social-emotional development. We create enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences that allow learners to take risks, grow from mistakes, and develop problem-solving skills.

Innovative Learning Experiences

Community Partnerships

We engage in meaningful work within and beyond our immediate community to foster opportunities to support learning experiences for both learners and staff. We strategically collaborate with businesses, foundations, educational institutions, and arts organizations to promote vital connections between classroom learning and future pathways for our learners

 

Talbot Pride

We are passionate about pursuing excellence in academics, arts, and athletics. We empower staff, families, and learners by engaging the entire school community. We are all a part of the same team, recognizing and valuing how our strengths contribute to our success.

 

Effective Communication

We believe in sharing the successes, challenges, and news in our schools and the District. Through various media, we will streamline external and internal communication for our stakeholders and the greater community.

 

World-Class Teaching and Learning

We continuously seek opportunities to enhance instructional practices and innovate our curriculum. We provide appropriate support for all learners to achieve success. We create individualized pathways that include opportunities for students to take ownership and have a voice in their learning. We support the ongoing professional development of our faculty and staff.

 

Future-Driven Learning 

We are dedicated to providing learning opportunities for a constantly changing future. Learners engage in authentic, real-world experiences integrated with high-quality academics. We prepare students with the skills and competencies necessary to be successful in their futures.

 

Tradition of Excellence

We are committed to continuous improvement in providing a world-class learning environment. We recognize our fiscal responsibility to our stakeholders and partner with the community in investing in our learners. We strive to instill a willingness to grow academically and personally so our learners are prepared to make a positive difference in the world.