Charting LBUSD’s Path Forward: A 50-Day Reflection and Invitation

By Dee Perry, Board President, and Jason E. Glass, Ed.D., Superintendent

On July 1, Dr. Glass began his service as Superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District. Fifty days later, we pause to reflect on this transition and invite our community to help shape the path ahead.

Since January, LBUSD has experienced leadership changes, a new Board composition, and spirited public conversations on key issues. These moments reflect the passion Laguna Beach has for its schools. While change can bring uncertainty, it also creates opportunities to strengthen trust, build new relationships, and move forward with renewed purpose.

As a newly elected Board President and a new Superintendent, we have focused our first weeks on laying a foundation of collaboration and respect. LBUSD enters this next chapter with exceptional academic performance, strong community support, and a tradition of excellence across academics, arts, and athletics. Together, we are committed to honoring those strengths while embracing innovation to prepare students for the future.

Before the school year began, we convened district and school leaders for a two-day retreat at Thurston Middle School to reflect, reconnect, and prepare for the year ahead. As part of the Superintendent’s 100-day entry plan, we used McKinsey & Company’s “Three Horizons” model to frame our priorities:

Horizon 1 – Immediate priorities requiring attention now.

Horizon 2 – Medium-term priorities over the next 3 to 12 months.

Horizon 3 – Long-term vision for the next several years and beyond.

Since then, Dr. Glass has engaged with all staff through a district-wide keynote and begun in-depth discussions at schools to validate and expand these early reflections. This listening and learning process is ongoing, and we welcome perspectives from all who wish to help shape the future of our schools. We encourage you to share your thoughts through the Start, Stop, Keep Survey [https://bit.ly/LBUSDStartStopKeep] and to participate in engagement opportunities this fall.

Horizon 1: Immediate Priorities

Our first priority is learning how to approach challenging issues with openness, respect, and constructive collaboration. Honest conversations will help us set immediate priorities that support every student.
Board meetings have reflected the intensity of our community’s investment in LBUSD. It is natural—and healthy—for people who care deeply to disagree on finances, facilities, or policy. Our goal is to shift these conversations from adversarial to collaborative, so differences of opinion help us find common ground rather than deepen divides.

As a governance team, we are committed to respectful, informed, and transparent processes. That means providing clear background and context, encouraging questions rooted in curiosity, and creating space for diverse opinions. Whether the topic is healthcare costs, facility projects such as the pool, or future instructional priorities, our focus will be on solving problems together with students at the center.

Horizons 2 and 3: Looking Ahead

The medium- and long-term conversations are equally vital. Our students will enter a world that is fast-paced, globally connected, and shaped by artificial intelligence and constant innovation. Core academic skills remain essential, but they are not enough on their own.

LBUSD is already preparing students through our Learner Profile, which defines the competencies every graduate should embody:

Constructive Collaborator — Builds trust and works toward shared goals.

Empowered Learner — Sets goals, embraces challenges, and takes ownership of growth.

Creative Problem Solver — Approaches challenges with curiosity and resourcefulness.

Empathetic Citizen — Acts with integrity, kindness, and inclusivity.

Effective Communicator — Listens actively and expresses ideas clearly.

These skills must become the lived experience of our students - but also our staff and larger community. That requires designing learning opportunities that are personalized, authentic, competency-based, and inclusive—so every graduate leaves LBUSD ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Laguna Beach is a community that values excellence in all aspects of life. Our schools are among the best in the state because of the dedication of our teachers and staff, the support of our parents, and the active involvement of our community. The work ahead will take all of us.

We invite you to join us in shaping the next chapter for LBUSD. Share your ideas, lend your expertise, and help us envision a future that honors our traditions while embracing innovation. Together, we can meet today’s challenges, seize tomorrow’s opportunities, and ensure that every student thrives—now and for generations to come.