Located in rural Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin, Norris School District operates two schools: Norris Academy and NAVS (Norris Academy Virtual School). The district is dedicated to transforming education through an innovative, learner-centric model that emphasizes personalized, community-based learning. We are committed to "changing lives through the power of learning" and "building leaders at all levels".

The Norris Ecosystem: Changing Lives Through Learning

Norris fosters a dynamic learning environment that immerses students in a community-based ecosystem, providing access to diverse resources and partnerships. This approach ensures authentic, relevant experiences aligned with each learner’s hobbies, talents, interests, and career aspirations. The Norris Ecosystem emphasizes experiential learning, service, internships, and mentorships, fostering civic responsibility and community contributions. By forging school-community partnerships, Norris prepares learners for success in various aspects of life. Additionally, learners build lifelong support within their community, enriching it in a diverse and vibrant way.

At Norris, learners are empowered to ignite their interests and have high levels of Learner Agency by actively participating with purpose to build a deep understanding of self and to co-design plans and pathways that unleash their uniqueness and develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to pursue their passions and interests through experiential community-based learning. Learners are given the autonomy to become Socially Embedded, self-aware, self-directed, capable learners who confidently act with purpose to achieve their desired outcomes. They are Dynamic Leaders who take the initiative to advocate for their needs, serve, and influence others in positive ways. At Norris, each learner’s curiosity is ignited as they become resilient Solution Seekers who think deeply to creatively solve problems related to practice and inquiry. These Norris practices exemplify how Norris “Changes Lives through the Power of Learning” and “Builds Leaders at all Levels” throughout the Norris learning ecosystem to equip learners to navigate an unpredictable future.

At Norris, learning is viewed in four dimensions: academics, employability, citizenship and wellness. At the heart of our learning model is the Learner Profile. The profile represents a fluid picture of who each learner is and who they want to become. The profile is created as learners engage in diagnostic assessments, surveys, and self reflections across all four dimensions . This process helps learners develop a deep understanding of self so that they can design a learning journey that helps them realize their future success. The profile is used to confer with members of their learning network to establish Plans (goals) using a multidimensional competency framework and Pathways (learning experiences) that identify when, how, and where experiences on their learning journey will take place. Finally, learners reflect on their learning experiences, identify growth, and make adjustments to their Plans and Pathways. Throughout the process learners are expanding their learning network by leveraging educational, vocational, behavioral health, and community resources to self advocate and realize their goals. This cyclical process empowers learners to build confidence in who they are and who they want to become while deepening learner agency (ownership) and self-efficacy (worth).

Norris also offers an array of personalized professional services that build the capacity of individuals and educational organizations to take the next steps in the iterative development of responsive enduring practices that are the fibers of a learner-centered culture.  These services utilize the District Macrocosm as the "framework" for development and it's unique design process as the "engine" to develop leaders at all levels.

We hope this website provides you with the information you are looking for.  We always welcome inquiries and visitors to learn and explore more about Norris.

On behalf of the entire Norris team,

Johnna Noll

Norris School District Executive Director