A Vision Shared: How Anaheim Union High School District Redefined School Identity Through Community Collaboration
When I reflect on my time as Chief Academic Officer at Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD), one of the initiatives I’m most proud of is our districtwide commitment to hosting Visioning Days—full-day, community-centered events at every school site designed to reimagine what school could and should be for every student.
OBJECTIVES
- Encourage inclusive school identity work to support readiness
- Showcase AUHSD’s districtwide Visioning Day initiative
Why Visioning Days?
Too often, our school improvement conversations are driven by metrics and mandates that don’t tell the full story. Visioning Days flipped that narrative. Our priority was to gather the lived experiences, hopes, and values of our communities and bring them to the table—literally. At each event, several hundred participants gathered and worked through structured, research-based protocols rooted in appreciative inquiry and equity.
The question guiding the day was both simple and profound: What kind of school do we want to become—for every learner, starting now and into the future?
Conversations That Mattered
Throughout the day, we built trust through storytelling, reflection, and real conversations. Parents shared dreams for their children. Students spoke about what truly helps them learn. Educators examined how their efforts aligned—or didn’t—with the skills students need to thrive beyond graduation. Every voice mattered.
We anchored our work in frameworks like Dr. David Conley’s Four Keys to College and Career Readiness—Think, Know, Act, Go—to move beyond content knowledge alone and embrace a more holistic view of readiness. These conversations weren’t abstract. They were deeply personal, informed by lived experience, and grounded in a commitment to equity.
From Vision to Identity: The Maxims Process
After Visioning Days, each school took the insights, values, and aspirations that surfaced and entered the Maxims process with Inflexion’s support. Maxims are not slogans; they are powerful, student-centered commitments that reflect both who we are and who we want to be.
Each school’s Maxims became their shared vision—guiding decisions, instruction, and culture. They were built with and for the community, based on real feedback and values. The goal is to embody a set of beliefs and promises that students can see, feel, and experience every day.
What are maxims?
Maxims are statements that act as a school’s core drivers to equip and empower every student to pursue their passion, interests, and aspirations. They are used to highlight the areas of hidden strength already within a school. They can also be used as aspirational statements to reinforce the promises your school makes to the community. Maxims should be displayed widely and built into the daily curriculum, as a whole or in part, to familiarize your students and staff with them and embed them into the school culture.
More Than a One-Time Event
At AUHSD, this wasn’t a one-off initiative. Visioning and Maxims were part of a long-term strategy to ensure every student graduated ready for life—not just tests. And importantly, this work didn’t end with documents or wall posters. We wove the Maxims into hiring practices, professional learning, classroom instruction, and even graduation ceremonies.
This wasn’t just a day of talking points or inspirational posters. It was a bold step in rewriting the story of our schools—with students, families, educators, and community members at the center.
The impact? Stronger school cultures, more engaged students, and a renewed sense of purpose across our district.
The world doesn’t change one person at a time. It changes as networks of relationships from among people who share a common cause and vision of what’s possible.
Margaret Wheatley
What We Learned
This journey reaffirmed that real school transformation starts with listening. When communities feel heard, when students see their voices reflected in the identity of their schools, and when educators are empowered to act on a shared vision—transformation is not only possible, it’s inevitable.
Key Elements of a Visioning Day
START WITH BELONGING AND CONNECTION
In order to build trust and help folks shift into an open-minded collaborative space, it is crucial to begin with community building. Consider using an opener that inspires authentic connection. Don’t be afraid to spend some time on activities that help the community connect, it will be worth it later in the day.
INTRODUCE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Appreciative Inquiry is a strengths-based approach to organizational change that focuses on identifying what’s already working well, envisioning what’s possible, and building on existing assets to co-create a better future. Rather than beginning with problems or deficits, appreciative inquiry invites people to reflect on their best experiences, values, and aspirations.
ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE LEARNING
There are a lot research-based definitions of student readiness to demonstrate the importance of a holistic vision for readiness. In Anaheim, the 5Cs are an important framework. David Conley’s 4 Keys and P21’s Framework for 21st Century Learning are also excellent examples. Have folks read and react to one or more of these frameworks.
REFLECT ON WHAT STUDENT READINESS MEANS
Have folks think about not only what they have learned students need to know and be able to do, but also what they have already found to helpful in their own life. This reinforces the need for a holistic vision of readiness. We recommend a Future Readiness Protocol.
MAKE IT FUN AND ENGAGING
In Anaheim folks engaged with the protocol If Your School Was an Animal. This protocol helps people engage in collaborative, out of the box thinking when describing their school, and also helps create a sense of camaraderie among students, staff, and families.
OFFER TIME AND SPACE FOR REFLECTION
Allow time for participants to process what they’ve heard, connect it to their own experiences, and surface insights that might not emerge in fast-paced discussions. Reflection makes space for quieter voices, deeper thinking, and emotional resonance—especially important when addressing complex topics like identity, equity, or student readiness.
MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP LATER WITH ANY OUTCOMES
Following up after a community engagement event is essential to demonstrate that participants’ time, voices, and insights matter—and that their contributions lead to meaningful outcomes. Without follow-up, even the most powerful conversations risk feeling performative or disconnected from real change. Clear, thoughtful communication about how input is being used builds trust, reinforces accountability, and sustains momentum. When people see that their involvement leads to action, they are more likely to stay invested, participate again, and become champions of the work.
As Chief Program Officer at Inflexion, I now help other districts take on this powerful work. And I carry with me the lessons of AUHSD: Equity begins with voice. Identity is shaped by values. And when schools define success together, every student benefits.
About the Author
Manuel hopes to foster meaningful dialogues that support school leaders in transforming education for all students. In his view, the most rewarding role in education is that of a teacher, finding joy in those moments when students experience enlightening breakthroughs. He encourages patience, intentionality, and kindness in supporting others.
Connect With Inflexion
Stay in the Loop
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
This work by Inflexion is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Responses