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When in a position to design change, team members reflect on what each individual brings to the process (talents, values, experiences, identities, motivations, biases) and what impact that might have on the design process.
Cedar Rapids Community School District used its existing district vision for teaching and learning as an important anchor for its process to design near-term change. This helped the district advance progress on its current plans toward a goal that...
As it started a design process to improve teaching and learning, Mastery Charter Schools first described their ideal future for teaching and learning for students with a special focus on the most marginalized. They envisioned confident, independent...
When designing change, teams should start with a clear definition of and commitment to why change is necessary.
Data from across four districts shows that no design team feels like they’ve got everything “right” in their district when it comes to equity and resiliency in teaching and learning. Major disruptive events – like the move to remote schooling as a...
When designing change in a district, it is essential that leaders hear directly from students, families, teachers, and classified staff (i.e., those most impacted by teaching and learning). This guide from the Stanford d.school provides in-depth...
Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) knew the data: there were stark academic outcome gaps across demographic groups in the district. To explore the root causes of these gaps, CRCSD conducted interviews with affected students and teachers,...
Mastery Charter Schools’ redesign sought to integrate blended learning and culturally-responsive teaching. Translating that model into specifics would require input from a variety of stakeholders: students, teachers, and families. The design team...
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District’s redesign focused on deepening personal relationships and students’ feelings of connection within the school community. To figure out how to realize this vision, the design team planned group empathy...
When designing change, teams ensure that stakeholders – students, families, teachers, and classified staff – are the primary sources of input for what change is necessary and what change might look like through direct interviewing.
Cedar Rapids Community School District has a well-defined Profile of a Graduate, or clear depiction of what a graduate of the district should know, feel, think, or believe; the profile focuses on ensuring that all Cedar Rapids graduates are ready...