We've just added another page to this site: Resources We're Sharing. Our Google+ AK12DC Private Community will keep the 85+ educators, mentors and leadership team connected in a network of transparency and shared resources over the next 18 months. We are eager to bring select discussions from that community here onto the blog so we can learn from you and you from us and our process. And, we're eager gather the best resources for everyone to access. 

Please consider contacting us via email or in the comment section of this blog post if you have a resource and/or feedback to share! We will keep updating the Resources We're Sharing as we go on this journey together. Take a look at what we're already sharing with one another. Welcome!

Educators are incredible. Their passion, their motivation, their desire to make the world better for students and make students better prepared for the world is off the charts. So happy to be affiliated with such amazing people and can't wait to see what we can all do together! -Scott

Working with peers today was fantastic. I really enjoyed discussing student assessments during lunch with peers from other schools. It is fascinating to learn what other schools are doing and to gain new ideas on how I can assess differently in my own classroom.  

We are really excited here at #AK12DC to be invited to moderate tonight's "dtk12chat" on Twitter. Thanks to the leadership of @scitechyedu, #dtk12chat gathers voices around the world who are passionate about design thinking as a pedagogy and driver of innovation in education. In tonight's chat, we'll focus on some key questions to help other schools and school communities think through the possibilities, the challenges, and next steps. We at #AK12DC are aligned with a vision and partnerships to InnovateAtlanta (more about that later) and beyond!

Although we'll be going back and share the process and longer reflections on the experiences to date, here is some context for how the Atlanta K12 Design Challenge got started and what's ahead:

For 2 years, @thelovettschool and @WestminsterAtl worked with the local R.Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation and Fulton County Schools' developing charter network to define and launch an innovation partnership. It took way longer than it should, in part because we were trying to marry the less- structured independent schools with a charter network that was already deep into their first cohort and strategic planning. Design thinking was new to the public schools, and the education process (and buy-in) just took awhile. But, we got there!

Next step was to invite some of our other independent school buddies into the mix. No one said "no", and we're delighted to have Woodward Academy, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, The Paideia School, and Atlanta International School as participants!

For Bob Ryshke, the Fulton County leadership team, and me it was really important to establish common language and connect closely with the experts. This fall we  were delighted to finalize a tight partnership with @stanforddschool and a strategic d.school fellow for their new d.global initiative: @jscottsanchez! Scott's been amazing, and the d.school team is ready to help us MAKE CHANGE!

For the next 18 months, we have four goals in the initial Atlanta market: 

#1 Build capacity for design thinking as a process for school innovation;

#2 launch pathways to solving complex issues

#3 develop institutional capacity for change;

#4 establish rich connections and collaborations across schools.


Our process: 
Kickoff on November 12th: Trained 4 mentors and 11 school-designated facilitators

Design Workshop on January 14th: Teams of 4-8 per school joined us for all day workshop.

First phase between now and a March summit: Develop empathy around our users and each school’s HMW.

In March we’ll spend 2 days unpacking the HMW; then refine, brainstorm and begin prototyping.

We have 3 foundations in the wings for Phase 2: 2014-15 school year $$ challenges to support each school team.

Gotta run moderate the session. Look for more here in the next few days! And, follow #ak12dc for all the buzz!

-Laura Deisley
Co-Founder, Atlanta K12 Design Challenge
Director, Strategic Innovation at The Lovett School 

Oh behalf of the Atlanta K12 Design Challenge leadership team, I am delighted to announce today that Atlanta-based Jackson Spalding has joined us as our branding sponsor. Jackson Spalding is one of the nation's most trusted and respected marketing and communications firms, and we could not ask for a better team supporting us! Over the course of the next few weeks, we will have a senior designer working closely with us to develop our logo and related collateral. Many thanks to the Executive Team and partner Randall Kirsch for their visionary leadership and commitment to advancing educational innovation. Thank you!

Laura Deisley, The Lovett School
Atlanta K12 Design Challenge Co-Founder

Our workshop was full of energy! It was fantastic! I loved getting to know my team better, having the chance to really bond as a group, and working together to decide on our one design challenge. What a process! I also loved seeing the design challenges for the other schools. There were several chosen by other schools that would apply to Lovett as well so I am really curious and excited to see where the other teams head. Our group left the day exhausted, energized, inspired, and ready to go!

While recapping the day's events with my husband last night (and impressing him with all that was shared, learned, and accomplished--thanks to our leaders!), I informed him that several Atlanta-area schools, including public and independent schools, are involved in this project. His response? "Well, at the end of the day, who won?" Ha! One of my favorite things about the workshop yesterday was that there was not one single ounce of competition in the room. I was excited to meet and collaborate with colleagues from other schools and felt that ideas were shared openly and in earnest. New relationships were formed and existing ones were strengthened. We all came out on the winning end!

I enjoyed our large group. It was inspiration to be around educators with high energy and fantastic ideas. Collaboration is the key to success!

Empathy. Wearing the hat of the seeker rather than the knower and distributor of information. That's what I was reminded of today. The value of listening. How much fun learning can be when you are among people who are curious, passionate and committed. It was so great to step outside my own classroom (and school) and think about the design process, the importance of sharing stories, and the value of collaboration. There is no question that this process of investigating, listening, iterating and presenting ideas will yield results that are both intended and unintended. If you had been in the room with us today.............you would know why we all chose to be educators. We love learning. It was on full display.

Wow! What an amazing day with a group of very inspiring educators. Listening to stories of how design thinking has impacted students was the highlight for me. I love hearing about students and educators tackling real challenges and creating something beautiful in the process. Looking forward to learning more!