Systems of Resilience: Critical Factors for Decision-Making in Dallas ISD

“Data isn’t a hammer, it’s a flashlight showing the way.”
– Cecelia Leong, Attendance Works.

Moderated by Cecelia Leong of Attendance Works, the July 12, 2022 GLR Learning Tuesday Learning Loss Recovery Challenge webinar explored what makes a school district resilient in the face of various challenges that cause lagging reading proficiency, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lauren Day, Kelsey Clark and Nicole De Santis of BCG — a consulting firm that specializes in utilizing data to improve student outcomes and learning models — shared a behind-the-scenes look at the comprehensive data repository they developed for Dallas Independent School District. They shared insights on how districts can use data to develop strategic insights, question what’s working and proactively iterate based on real evidence.

Six years after BCG brought that approach to Dallas, Elena Hill, Ed.D., of Dallas Independent School District shared how the system helped glean predictive models that provided actionable insights, as well as automated reporting that helped guide decision-making efforts across the district during the pandemic. The decision to engage in this early learning initiative was easy to make, but it was more difficult to make happen — and so they learned it is important to have a team in place with the heart and mind to do the work.

“With a clear vision, you can always change the plan or approach but never the goal.” – Elena Hill, Ed.D.

Angela Whitelaw, Ph.D., noted that Memphis-Shelby County Schools had just begun the initial phase of their data project with BCG. She shared how Memphis-Shelby County would be using data to develop one clear vision that applies district-wide, with data-driven strategies and community support to drive faster and more resilient growth for early learners.

Belinda Walters-Brazile, Ed.D., from Marietta City Schools discussed her district’s approach for leveraging data to create a strong infrastructure. That infrastructure helped to minimize the impact of the pandemic on learning loss and set students up for success and getting back on track. She emphasized the importance of being consistent and using the data to guide the course.