Prince William County Public Schools

To ensure students have the habits of mind to create a thriving future for themselves and their community, every PWCS student will develop the knowledge and skills throughout their pre-K-12 experience to graduate with the following qualities:

Critical Thinker

Persona:

A critical thinker applies knowledge to everyday life situations to make independent decisions. They view the world around them objectively and question ideas through an analytical lens to determine what is true.

Behaviors:

• Achieves and applies appropriate academic and technical knowledge.
• Uses critical reading skills to analyze, interpret, and evaluate.
• Utilizes mathematical and scientific reasoning to question, observe, test, analyze and draw conclusions.
• Demonstrates productive workplace skills, qualities, and behaviors.
• Influences and communicates through strong written and verbal skills.
• Connects ideas, trends, and current events through an understanding of diverse historical contexts.

Digital Citizen

Persona:

A digital citizen uses information technology to better the world around them. They can utilize technology ethically and safely to gather data and information and apply critical thinking to make informed choices. A digital citizen engages online responsibly and ethically in society and government.

Behaviors:

• Constructs knowledge through critical and analytical use of technology.
• Uses digital tools to explore and exchange ideas safely and responsibly.
• Manages a healthy balance between online and real-world lives.
• Employs ethics, empathy, and understanding in digital experiences.

Innovator and Visionary

Persona:

An innovator and visionary brings a sense of hope, creative thinking, and encouragement to solving the problems facing society today and in the future. They have an entrepreneurial drive and a desire to make a positive difference.

Behaviors:

• Demonstrates curiosity for lifelong learning.
• Aligns knowledge, skills, and personal interests with career opportunities.
• Contributes to solutions that benefit the community, country, and world.
• Understands global challenges and the ability of the individual to affect change.
• Promotes sustainability and responsible environmental innovative practices.

Resilient

Persona:

A resilient person feels confident in their ability to manage their own lives and manage setbacks that may occur. A resilient person has the skills to overcome obstacles and adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.

Behaviors:

• Believes in their self-worth and has confidence in their own abilities.
• Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and respect for others.
• Applies healthy habits and coping strategies to persevere in the face of adverse circumstances.
• Develops connected networks of support.

Global Collaborator

Persona:

A global collaborator views themselves as citizens of their county, country and of the world. They value different perspectives and viewpoints and work in collaboration with others. They view diversity as a strength and seek first to understand, then be understood.

Behaviors:

• Acknowledges the importance and seeks out the value of diversity of opinion, experience,
  thought, and background.
• Builds connections and values interactions with others as a responsible and responsive citizen.
• Seeks culturally divergent experiences in all subjects including art, music, and language.
• Engages in constructive dialogue and debate of local, national, and global issues.
• Demonstrates the ability to work within groups to achieve goals both in-person and virtually online.