One More Gift from the 2026 Goal Getters: The Road Ahead
The Goldies were awarded back in September, but the 2026 Goal Getters have one more gift for Digital & Professional Learning: The Road Ahead, a follow-up report that gives colleagues a clearer picture of the work ahead and practical starting points for moving it forward.
Developed in response to Destination Day 2026, the supplement to The Journey So Far builds on the event’s accomplishments, conversations, and participant feedback. Colleagues appreciated the celebration and the opportunity to learn about one another’s work. They also wanted clearer connections between the strategic plan and what they could do to advance it.
The report starts by unpacking Destination Day’s themed license plates. Each plate represented unfinished work related to the five goals examined by the 2026 Goal Getters: I.B, Growing Our Reach; I.C, Supporting Our Learners; IV.A, Sharing Our Story; IV.B, Expanding Our Impact; and IV.C, Connecting the Pieces. The plates highlighted gaps between where DPL is today and what achieving those goals would look like. The Goldies made those needs memorable, but their meaning and implications deserved more time than the event allowed.
Intermingled with photos of Destination Day fun, The Road Ahead provides that detail. It explains each gap, describes what success could look like, suggests measures of progress, and offers recommendations. Topics include coordinating employer relationships, connecting learner pathways, sharing expertise across teams, better explaining DPL’s portfolio, and using evidence to guide decisions.
The report also shares Destination Day evaluation results and lessons for future events. Its closing pages turn attention to the 2026–2027 focus goals: I.A, In-Demand Programs; III.A, Learner-Centered Experiences; and III.B, An Awesome Place to Work. A planning worksheet helps teams consider what they can own, where they need collaborators, and how they will recognize progress.The Goal Getters’ final contribution offers an invitation to every team: consider what these findings mean for your work, and identify where you can help move DPL forward.