The next chapter of the Portrait of a Bear officially began Thursday, August 6, as the North Royalton City Schools Portrait of a Bear Team, made up of teachers and administrators from across the district, gathered at North Royalton High School to begin the next phase of bringing the district's shared vision for student success to life.
The Portrait of a Bear Team gathered for its first meeting of the 2026-2027 school year with a clear purpose: moving the Portrait of a Bear from design to awareness and creating a shared understanding of what it means to inspire and empower every learner to become future-ready.
Over the past two years, the district collaborated with students, staff, families, and community members to develop the Portrait of a Bear, identifying six competencies that will help students thrive both inside and outside the classroom: Adaptability, Communication, Critical Thinking, Empathy, Leadership, and Learner's Mindset. Thursday's meeting focused on ensuring those competencies become part of the daily experiences of students across every grade level rather than simply remaining words on a poster.
"Our goal is to build a common language and shared understanding throughout the district," said Superintendent Jeff Cicerchi. "The Portrait of a Bear represents our commitment to preparing students not only for academic success, but for success in life."
Throughout the morning, team members participated in collaborative activities designed to deepen their understanding of each competency. Teachers and administrators completed gallery walks, identified "power words" that capture the essence of each competency, discussed common themes, and worked together to begin developing consistent district messaging about what it means to be a Bear.
Participants also explored the importance of shared language, recognizing that every member of the North Royalton community should be able to clearly explain the Portrait of a Bear. One guiding principle from the day's work emphasized that families should receive "one clear, powerful promise" about the district's commitment to students, regardless of whom they ask.
Thursday's meeting marked the beginning of a three-year implementation plan. During the 2026-2027 school year, the district will focus on building awareness and shared understanding of the Portrait of a Bear. Future phases will integrate the competencies into classroom instruction before ultimately helping students independently apply them in authentic, real-world situations.
As the school year unfolds, students, staff, and families will begin seeing the Portrait of a Bear woven into classrooms, school activities, and district communications. The Portrait Team will continue meeting throughout the year to refine messaging, develop student-friendly resources, and plan opportunities that help every Bear grow in the competencies that will prepare them for their future.
The work reflects the district's mission to inspire and empower every learner to become future-ready while bringing to life the beliefs, vision, and values that will guide North Royalton City Schools for years to come.