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To what extent did you meet the goals outlined in your project charter?
Early in the summer, this project dragged while waiting for input from stakeholders and necessary data to analyze. However, once the data came in, the project really got underway. I am impressed with how much of an actual, tangible strategy came together. Though COVID has presented challenges to actual implementation this year, I think the plan has pieces that can be implemented this year in the remote setting and is developed to be more fully implemented next school year.

What are your 1-3 biggest takeaways from your work?
My project this summer has shown that there are people in CPS who will embrace big ideas and support innovation, as well as people who hold on to the way things are and come at new ideas with “that won’t work.” Navigating these differences has been challenging, but has been a good learning experience.

What has shifted in your perspective on the causes of and remedies for the Opportunity Gap?
The project started with an idea of who is “eligible for algebra” based on NWEA test scores, but quickly evolved to challenge that idea and look into the effectiveness of that metric and how earlier grade-level interventions would be necessary for to expand opportunity meaningfully.

What commitment will you make to closing the Opportunity Gap in the future?
This project has helped me see very clearly how my skills in policy, data analysis, and logistics planning can be leveraged to help increase student opportunity. Moving into future opportunities, I plan to look for ways to continue to bring equity and opportunity focus to the core of curricular and strategic processes.

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Thanks for a great summer! Here's my reflection on my work:

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To what extent did you meet the goals outlined in your project charter? At this point, I feel a sense of guilt about how little I feel I accomplished. I know that this is probably being too hard on myself, and I'm still coming to terms with what I was unable to accomplish. I still have some time left in the fellowship and I'd like to grow my impact by working smarter and carving time out of my work week towards strategy over mindless execution.

What are your 1-3 biggest takeaways from your work?

1) Virtual work is difficult, as are the emotional challenges of these times. It makes it all the more necessary to market your arguments and to build your projects off of collaboration. 2) My self-worth is not tied to my productivity and I have a long way to go in my un-learning of a lifetime of enculturation into what it means to be a successful professional. I will continue to work on not holding myself to white supremacist values of the workplace.

What has shifted in your perspective on the causes of and remedies for the Opportunity Gap?

I don't know if it's so much a shift, as a deepening. I've really appreciated the resources passed on and the connection between adaptive mindsets and equity. I think it's quite often overlooked  and i appreciated the spotlight on the intersection.

What commitment will you make to closing the Opportunity Gap in the future (could be a next role, volunteer work, personal commitment - whatever is right for YOU)

I am committing myself to continuing to look inward. I'm committing myself to working with intention and boundaries, and to practice adaptive and vision-oriented leadership that places the opportunity gap and local contexts/voices at the core of my practice.

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To what extent did you meet the goals outlined in your project charter?
I met 90% of the goals in my charter, the remaining goals were cut by my supervisor to save time.

What are your 1-3 biggest takeaways from your work?

Since I’m a visiting fellow and I’ve been with this organization for over a year, my biggest take way as are from EP. I learned to call out white supremacy culture, advocate for my needs as a professional, and felt supported by all of the other wonderful fellows in doing so.

What has shifted in your perspective on the causes of and remedies for the Opportunity Gap?
I’ve been able to start a new project which is a racial equity tool for analyzing and presenting data. I have more evidence for the need to education systems and the people within them to explicitly address racism equity. Supporting students experiencing poverty, diversity, and cultural competency are not going to bridge the gap for students or teachers. We need teachers who understand implicit bias and structural racism and actively work to dismantle these in their classrooms.

What commitment will you make to closing the Opportunity Gap in the future (could be a next role, volunteer work, personal commitment - whatever is right for YOU)
I commit to naming white supremacy culture and expecting my professional peers and leaders to address it and work on dismantling it.