a five-year strategic plan focused on student skills, authentic engagement, strong relationships, and thoughtful stewardship of facilities and resources. “We spent a lot of time realigning our mission and vision and identifying our four core pillars,” Davis explains. “Each of our staff members, families, students, and community partners has a purpose and a stake in our schools, and that inevitably leads to pride. We show up every day knowing why we’re here and what we’re working toward.” Those four pillars—student skills, engagement, relationships with families and community, and pride in facilities and resources—sit at the heart of El Dorado’s work. They also reflect the character of the broader community the district serves: close-knit, direct, and deeply committed to trust. A CULTURE BUILT ON TRUST AND CONNECTION As Director of Community Engagement and Recruitment, Kimberly Koop sees that culture up close every day. In a smaller city like El Dorado, school, business, and civic life are intertwined. Administrators sit on the chamber of commerce board. Parents run local businesses. Teachers serve in civic groups. Students volunteer at community events and nonprofits.The connections are as natural as they are intentional. “We’re fortunate that everything here is integrated,” Koop says.“We have parents who are business owners, teachers who are on civic boards, students out in the community volunteering and job shadowing. We try to capitalize on those relationships and foster them from school onward.” The district pushes information out in many directions—a monthly newsletter that goes to parents, staff, and a growing list of community subscribers; content shared through the chamber to local businesses; and a steady stream of stories and updates on Facebook and Twitter. But just as important as the channels is the tone. “Our community really values transparency, honesty, and trust,” Koop notes.“We try to model those values back. Sometimes trust can be a struggle in any 339 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 EL DORADO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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