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By Dr. Joey Page

Austin Public Schools Superintendent

As superintendent of Austin Public Schools, I’m pleased to share that our district’s recent model for guiding the student experience—the Packer Profile—is already showing positive results.

The Packer Profile was developed collaboratively with students, families, staff, and residents in 2021-22. It is grounded in five core values that reflect our community’s shared vision for every APS graduate: a responsible, resilient, learner, communicator, and contributor ready to make a difference in the world.

Focusing on these core values is helping students develop the skills they need to navigate post-secondary education, careers, and life after graduation.

In addition to these core values, the Packer Profile is built on three key principles:

• Career Pathway Exploration: Students will leverage their interests and abilities to connect with local professionals and explore future careers and educational opportunities.

• Meaningful Learning Experiences: Core content and instruction will provide students with meaningful lessons and skills relevant to their relationships, community, and future careers beyond Austin Public Schools.

• Packer Portfolio: Beginning with the class of 2027, students will celebrate their progress by sharing a digital portfolio with the community that demonstrates their journey and growth in the Packer Core Values.

Career Pathway Exploration provides learners with valuable insight into various careers, including relevant courses or experiences to help them reach their goals. By developing real-world employment skills, this curriculum allows students to connect their academic work to their passions, career interests, and the larger community.

Our district launched the Packer Profile Seminar this year for all ninth-grade students. This new course is designed to support ninth graders through the academically and socially challenging transition from middle to high school.

By introducing students to the Packer Profile at the onset of their high school careers, the Packer Profile Seminar empowers students to develop the academic, social, and soft skills (i.e., Packer Profile core values) to thrive into their futures.

In addition to the Packer Profile Seminar, the district launched another critical resource: SchooLinks, our new college and career readiness platform.

SchooLinks is a one-stop shop for students to discover careers and scholarship opportunities, connect with industry professionals, and build their Packer Portfolio.

The platform allows students to plan their next steps with confidence and intention, whether that means college, technical training, military service, or entering the workforce.

This year, the Austin Public Schools theme of “Connection” demonstrates the importance of building solid and meaningful relationships with our work, each other, our families, and most importantly, our students. By collaborating, we can ensure our students feel supported throughout their educational journeys.

The Packer Profile is a tool that strengthens these connections, helping students build networks, skills, and a foundation that will serve them well beyond graduation.

We’re grateful for the continued support from families, local partners, and the Austin community as we strive to create an inclusive environment where every learner is supported on their path to adulthood. After all, graduating high school goes far beyond the diploma, encompassing confidence, skills, and connections to succeed in the world.

I am proud of our progress as our district continues implementing and expanding the Packer Profile. I invite you to learn more about this initiative and our broader strategic vision by visiting AccelerateAustin.org. Stay tuned for a closer look at this work in the coming weeks.