Are we living our mission?
This week, I’m facilitating an IB workshop where participants are invited to unpack the IB mission statement and identify the key words that express its purpose. They then turn the lens inward, examining their own school’s mission through a set of reflective questions before distilling it into a six-word memoir — a creative challenge to express a school’s essence with clarity and precision.
In preparing for this session, I was particularly struck by the words on the website of the American International School of Ghana: “Preparing minds, transforming hearts, empowering hands.” This phrase beautifully encapsulates the holistic intent behind education — nurturing intellect, empathy, and action — and resonates strongly with the spirit of the IB mission.
Reflecting on the alignment between our school’s mission and the IB’s purpose encourages us to ask vital questions:
- How clearly do we communicate our purpose to students, staff, and families?
- Do our actions truly reflect our stated values?
- Are our students, staff, and families united in understanding what we stand for?
- What are the key messages that we are giving out, and how are they being perceived?
To ensure that the mission genuinely drives all that we do, schools can carry out a “Mission in action audit” using the following protocol:
- Classroom observations: Review a representative sample of lessons across subjects. Note how learning experiences reflect mission values such as empathy, global-mindedness, collaboration, and agency. Collect examples of student work or activities that illustrate these values in practice. Why not make a collage out of them for your school entrance?
- Environment review: Walk through the school’s physical and digital spaces. Examine displays, policies, signage, and online platforms to see how the mission is visible and reinforced. Identify areas where the environment supports or undermines the mission.
- Community feedback: Survey or interview students, teachers, staff, and parents. Ask how they perceive the mission, whether they see it lived daily, and where there may be gaps between words and practice.
- Analysis and action: Compile findings and identify patterns. Highlight strengths, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Develop a set of actionable steps to strengthen alignment between mission and practice, including professional development, curricular adjustments, or community initiatives.
This structured approach allows schools to move beyond aspirational statements and see how their mission shapes teaching, learning, and community life in tangible ways.