In this case study, we explore how one project within the EALA Community of Action sought to find a way to better understand the mindsets of leaders in regard to learning differences and disabilities. And after 36 hours, walked away with the means and a plan to turn a free customizable surveying tool and a digital library of resources for school leaders into a reality.
Setting the Stage for Action
In January 2023, 22 participants were invited to participate in the first-ever in-person Community of Action convening. Participants came from organizations across many different education sectors: from direct service providers and school and district innovators to edtech and non-profit personnel. The one commonality – each participant could bring a critical perspective on real-world problems in education and the tenacity and innovation to propose actionable solutions to come out of the convening.
EALA also invited five individuals with extensive experience and expertise in education, philanthropy, and acceleration to provide guidance and coaching throughout the event.
After a day full of fast-moving and productive sessions, participants formed groups, cultivated their ideas, and prepared to present their proposals for participatory funding. In this unique participatory funding model, the members of the community of action would have the sole responsibility to decide which groups received funding, empowering them to take ownership of their ideas and bring them to fruition.
A Group Is Formed
After participants self-selected groups based on the four identified focus areas, three individuals gathered at the “Leader Commitments” corner of the room. Thus, though not yet named, the project team Buzzfeed for Belonging was formed.
Sam Drazin, CEO of Changing Perspectives, stood as a team leader. Not only is Sam a non-profit founder and previous teacher, but his experiences as a school programming leader made him an invaluable member of the Buzzfeed for Belonging team.
Riley Mulcahy, founder of the RILEY Project and communications lead at Compass High School, helped the team stay actionable as the team resources lead. With his connections to experts across the space and access to learning disability resources, he helped his team define the problem of practice and form a solution that connected to his work at the high school and his non-profit organization. Riley adds, “As we consider the metrics that drive change, it is crucial that we prioritize inclusion. With the education landscape constantly evolving, it is essential to approach these metrics with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity, especially when it comes to students with learning differences. This mindset is vital in ensuring that all students can be reached and supported.”
Crystal Eldridge, a program strategy associate at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), brought a policy and an implementation focus to the team. With her background in strategy and experience with the connection of school programming and policy decision-making, Crystal was the final piece this team needed.
Sam led his group with a key driving question, connecting both the dots of project management and their focus area of leader commitments. “One of the things that I was able to contribute is being able to help my group say, ‘Okay, here is the end goal – how do we get there? How do we divide up roles and responsibilities’? A large part of what I do in my job, working directly with schools and districts, is helping leaders buy into inclusion and dismantle the barriers that prevent it. Rather than putting up walls for inclusion, I help them take down the walls for inclusion. Whether it’s at the school level, district level, county level, or state level, I always start by thinking about what do these leaders need to be successful in their work, and what do they need to take on an opportunistic perspective rather than a barrier or an obstacle perspective?”
Defining a Problem of Practice
As a group, the Buzzfeed for Belonging team identified one key problem of practice within their focus area: Leader Commitments. “School leaders face a problem that needs to be addressed: students who learn differently and students with disabilities are not being adequately served in our education system. Marginalized students and their families are often left to find solutions on their own when navigating the obstacles presented by a complex educational system without holding the community, specifically school leaders, accountable.”
From there, with the help of their coach, they named their first step: “The first step in addressing this issue is understanding the mindset of school leaders, teachers, and students. A mindset shift is the first step in creating communities where all students feel like they belong and can succeed academically.”
An Impactful Solution
Together, Sam, Riley, and Crystal grappled with what solution would make a real difference in the mindset shifts of leaders. They returned to Sam’s key question, what do leaders need to be successful? What do they need to shift their perspective?
Sam noted the disconnect between what leaders knew to be happening and how students were feeling. Riley brought up the current changes in social-emotional learning and overall sense of belonging resulting from distance learning. Crystal questioned how to make these items relevant, not only from a policy perspective but also from a leadership perspective.
Ultimately, the team landed on data-driven decision-making as the key lever of change. “By implementing intentional metrics to gauge the understanding of learning differences and disabilities within a school community, school leaders will have access to valuable information on their community’s efforts to create a greater sense of belonging for all students,” says team Buzzfeed for Belonging.
Participatory Grant Selection
The next day, the Buzzfeed for Belonging team pitched their full idea to the rest of the Community of Action. “A free customizable surveying tool and an associated digital library of resources for school leaders to understand the needs and experiences of students with learning differences as well as their current values, understandings, and their teachers’ mindsets and comfortability around inclusion.”
The EALA Community of Action provides up to $150,000 in participatory grant funding for selected projects. It is up to the participants, and their groups’ project pitches, to determine who and how much to fund. Buzzfeed for Belonging was one of two projects selected for full funding by the rest of the Community of Action members.
What’s Next
The Buzzfeed for Belonging team emerged from this Community of Action understanding that in order to create inclusive communities where all students feel like they belong and can succeed academically, we must first understand the mindset of school leaders, teachers, and students and use data-driven decision making as a lever for change. Their proposed survey will benefit all learners, especially those who are marginalized, by giving school and policy leaders the information needed to make informed decisions that contribute to the growth of inclusive environments. They see the proposed resource development as a roadmap for school leaders to expand their knowledge and take action.