A service for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion needs in Pittsburgh schools

As a culmination of our 8-month project, including a deep dive into the education space as well as a full iterative design process, our team is tackling the lack of transparency and communication amongst all parties at a school to support the retention of Black educators.

Our process

An overview of the features

An in-depth view of what our intervention is comprised of

As we built up the idea of our service, our team worked up to a high-visual-fidelity prototype of the interface that we imagine being part of the overall service.

This interface, the DEI Explorer, consists of (1) a digital interface, through which three stakeholders can communicate with each other; (2) a FAME score, through which FAME can track and publicize how well schools are living up to their commitment to DEI; and (3) recommendations from FAME to administrators on how to raise their school’s FAME score.

Browsing

When first entering the site, users have the ability to browse around a map to find a particular school to learn more about. They are able to see:

Features

A map with all schools partnered and opted in to the DEI Explorer

A high-level introduction to the selected school

School Hub

On this page, users receive an in-depth view of a school.

Features

A breakdown of the school's FAME score and why the score is what it is.

A listing of the different aspects of the school’s DEI Policy, and an introduction to the various reactions and engagement that has taken place on each.

Policy

Once a policy is selected, users are able to review numerous aspects of what is listed.

Features

The policy is written on the interface using the text that is stated in existing policy documentation from the school.

Experienced educators can leave comments while aspiring educators and DEI admin will learn about how well policies work in practice by reading them.

The export button is only viewable by DEI admin and FAME staff, allowing them to see all comments left on the policy.

" ...there's this big push recently and everybody wants to, hopefully I mean, everyone wants to have a DEI program for the sake of having the program … so I think that this would be really helpful in the current climate, with a lot of brand new policies that haven't really had time to be evaluated....”
A DEI Administrator
“I think [the FAME score] would help more conversations happen about [DEI] and surround it. Because, I feel like, sometimes it's like, like I said, something you brushed under the rug kind of or avoid so having these cold, hard facts, like with the data, to support why you got this score I think is… It would just help bring it to the forefront.”
A Parent at one of FAME’s partner schools
“...[seeing other teacher’s comments] for me at least, I feel like, when you reflect. It’s always better to reflect. At each stage there’s gonna be something that you think, it could be better…”
An Aspiring educator

Use of our intervention

How our intervention is used by our primary stakeholders

While the original concept of our service was intended as an enhancement of the Teachers’ Academy and a form of professional development for aspiring Black educators, we quickly saw that we could reach far beyond this scope.

We considered the needs of three stakeholders who represent groups that have a lot to offer to each other. Our service aids these stakeholders in exchanging valuable assets with each other, with FAME as the facilitator.

Key stakeholders:

"Addy" the DEI Administrator
"Ed" the Experienced Educator
"Ash" the Aspiring Educator

Adding policies

Administrators, like Addy, use the DEI Explorer to display the various policies that are implemented at their school.

This is an opportunity for them to be transparent and open about how their school plans to deal with DEI related issues.

Providing feedback

Experienced Educators, like Ed, are able to review the listed policies and leave feedback in the form of comments and reactions.

These educators are able to reference their own first-hand experience of how these policies are actually being implemented.

Reviewing information

Aspiring Educators, like Ash, are able to browse around the DEI Explorer to find the best schools associated with FAME to teach at.

These users can read the displayed policies and the associated feedback to learn more about a school's DEI climate, aiding their decision on whether or not this school is the right fit for them.

Receiving support

While all of this is taking place, FAME is able to combine its years of knowledge with the data gathered from each policy to suggest changes to a school's policy.

By updating their school's policies with FAME's support, administrators would aid in the retention of experienced educators while also creating a more welcoming environment for aspiring educators.

Deployment in 3 stages

Making this vision for an equitable education system a reality

Our team developed a three-stage plan, through which FAME can incrementally roll out these components to the public. Through implementing this plan, FAME will be able to leverage strong partnerships and begin building up data that will provide proof of concept to DEI Explorer.

Stages

Stage 1: Piloting with a single partner school

Stage 2: Involving all of FAME's partner schools

Stage 3: Offering the service to more schools and organizations

How it works

Deploying DEI Explorer in 3 Stages