person smiling and looking off camera with others around

Over the past several months, the Strategic Plan Guiding Coalition has engaged in an inclusive design process to co-create the next five-year strategic plan. Beginning with empathy interviews with students, staff, families and community members, the Coalition sought to understand the diverse experiences, challenges and hopes of individuals across the district. These insightful conversations serve as the foundation for efforts moving through the design process.

Drawing on the themes and insights learned from these interviews, the Coalition crafted a single problem statement that will guide the next phase of design. After thoughtful deliberation and collaboration, the Coalition formed consensus on the following problem statement:

“Each member of the diverse BSD community wants to feel heard, valued, and affirmed so that they can feel empowered to do their best work, but there is not yet an organizational culture that helps each individual experience a sense of belonging and support.”

Using this problem statement as a compass, the Coalition is now poised to delve into identifying root causes for the problem. The root causes will serve as the cornerstone of the strategic plan heading to the next phase of work. The Coalition will prioritize and strategize concrete actions to address the challenges at hand.

Follow the strategic planning timeline for developments that will shape the future of the district.


The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.