Lakota Elementary School

School Strategy Map

Map Name: 2025-2026 Lakota Elementary School Continuous Improvement Plan - Copy
Time Period: 6/2/2025 - 6/1/2026
Vision

To equip all students with tools and strategies to learn and succeed in a global society.

Mission

We inspire minds, shape values, and build futures.

Beliefs

Learning is important as a life-long skill. All members of the school community assume responsibility for their choices and work together to achieve common goals through active engagement, leading with integrity, and fostering respect for all.  Change is essential for continued growth and progress.


Personalized Learning
When students engage in personalized learning that reflects their strengths, interests, and goals, they are better prepared for success in college, career, or military pathways.
Healthy Minds
When students have access to supportive relationships, school-based programs, and a positive school culture, their mental health and well-being are strengthened.
Engaging Communication
When students learn to communicate effectively across various formats—oral, written, and digital—they are equipped to thrive in a 21st-century, global society.
Objectives
  • When students engage in personalized learning that reflects their strengths, interests, and goals, they are better prepared for success in college, ca
Objectives
  • (LRSE Unit) Provide training to staff to assist with addressing student social-emotional needs.
  • Provide access to relationships and programs/initiatives that support positive mental health.
Objectives
  • Equip students with the skills to communicate effectively across verbal, written, and digital platforms in academic and real-world settings.
Critical Initiative
  • Incorporate flexible grouping and pathways to allow students to progress based on readiness, not just grade level.
  • Integrate project-based and problem-solving learning experiences that empower students to apply knowledge in real-world contexts.
  • Offer students choice-driven enrichment activities that extend learning beyond core academic content, such as electives, clubs, or independent study.
  • Provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities both within the classroom and through community partnerships, internships, or field experiences.
Critical Initiative
  • (LRSE Unit) Continue to provide guidance on effective social-emotional goals and progress monitoring for students with disabilities to determine effectiveness of interventions and plans.
  • (LRSE Unit) Provide staff training to schools for mental health, behavior health, and social-emotional training as requested.
  • (LRSE Unit) Support staff attendance at school-wide and area-wide workshops to promote social-emotional learning.
  • (LRSE) Provide training and guidance in Functional Behavior Assessments and effective individualized behavior plans
  • (LRSE) Provide training and scholarship funds to schools implementing sensory rooms and sensory processing breaks for students throughout the school
  • Develop and strengthen support systems that promote student connection, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
  • Establish peer mentoring or buddy programs to build student connections and reduce social isolation
  • Implement a school-wide check-in system (e.g., digital or paper-based) to regularly monitor students’ emotional well-being and connect at-risk students with support.
  • Utilize school-based and external counseling services to address and support students’ mental health needs.
Critical Initiative
  • Embed opportunities for students to develop verbal communication skills through presentations, discussions, and collaborative group work.
  • Encourage collaboration between subjects (e.g., writing in science or presenting in social studies) to promote authentic communication across disciplines.
  • Guide students to critically analyze and create media messages, including advertisements, news reports, and social media content.
  • Integrate digital tools (e.g., email, video, collaborative platforms) into instruction to strengthen students’ communication in virtual environments.
  • Strengthen written communication through structured writing assignments, journaling, and authentic writing tasks across subject areas.
Key Measures
  • # of of flexible groups used per subject
  • % of students meeting growth targets
  • Proficiency in Rubrics
  • Student survey results
Key Measures
  • (LRSE) All SPED students have access to instructio
  • (LRSE) Document staff training provided/supported
  • (LRSE) File monitor inclusion of behavioral info
  • (LRSE) Ongoing documentation of FBAs and BIPs
  • (LRSE) School & State Suspension & Expulsion data
  • Attendance rates
  • Documentation of partnerships
  • Frequency of follow-ups or referrals
  • Participation rates
  • Peer support groups
  • Reduction in discipline referrals
  • Student survey results
Key Measures
  • Cross-curricular writing samples
  • Proficiency on writing rubrics
  • Student digital tool confidence (survey)
  • Student survey results
  • Teacher observation checklist data
  • Teacher use of digital tools in lessons
Community Sustainability
When students participate in sustainability efforts and civic engagement, they grow into responsible and active citizens within their communities.
Objectives
  • When students participate in sustainability efforts and civic engagement, they grow into responsible and active citizens within their communities.
Critical Initiative
  • Build partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and stakeholders to create authentic learning experiences and strengthen community ties.
  • Create a supportive learning environment that promotes academic success, life skills development, and readiness for future educational or workforce opportunities.
  • Engage students in meaningful service-learning projects that foster civic responsibility and community impact.
  • Implement sustainability-focused curriculum that teaches environmental stewardship and responsible resource use.
  • Recognize and celebrate student contributions to the community through assemblies, newsletters, or local media.
Key Measures
  • # of active community partnerships
  • # of recognition events or posts
  • # of student projects with partners
  • # of sustainability projects completed
  • Documentation of of service projects completed
  • Participation rates
  • Student survey results
The Strategy Map has been created in collaboration with The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and Cognia™.

All schools in North Dakota participate in a Continuous Improvement process. Continuous Improvement means examining a school’s current reality including demographics, culture, technology, finances, and academic progress, among many other factors. In addition, Continuous Improvement means looking into the future and predicting what may change – what will be different a year from now, or 10 years from now.

 

During the 2018-2019 school year, all schools in North Dakota participated in this Continuous Improvement journey. School personnel participated in training and collaborated with diverse stakeholders such as community members, teachers, parents and students to map out what the school’s priorities are, what the school’s objectives are and what critical initiatives needed to be implemented to achieve those objectives. This planning process resulted in a Strategy Map – a 3 to 5-year plan for the school.

 

It is important to note that the Strategy Map is a snapshot in time. It is documentation of what the school’s priorities were the past school year. In this case the Strategy Map below was captured and submitted on May 1, 2019. It is equally important to note that the Strategy Map below may have changed since its submittal. This is because priorities may have changed quickly depending on numerous factors. Factors can include, but are not limited to, a natural disaster, a high staff turn-over rate, or an influx or decrease of students. To obtain a copy of this schools current and update Strategy Map, please contact the local school administrator.



Please contact North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction with any questions and feedback via email to the following address: dpidashboard@nd.gov