SDP Winter Workshop 2025

Welcome to SDP Winter Workshop 2025! In this virtual workshop, you will learn alongside your cohort, plus the other active cohort in the SDP Fellowship.

For first-year fellows in Cohort 16, the theme of this workshop is "Launching Your Analytic Project", and they will learn about analysis planning, project management, and more. For second-year fellows in Cohort 15, the theme of this workshop is "Embedding and Sustaining Change", and while taking time to maximize and share the impact of their capstone work, they will shift their perspective to consider organizational factors in improvement and transformation.

We are also excited for the two cohorts to meet and learn about each other, and learn together, in specific networking sessions, as well as learning experiences that are open to participants across both cohorts.

12:00pm EST

Workshop Welcome and Cohort Social

Monday February 3, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING

SESSION DESCRIPTION: Join us as we come together to kick off day one of SDP Winter Workshop 2025! We request that you have your video on, energy up, and that you are ready to engage and learn with one another over the course of the next four days.

We’ll start the workshop with a session of fun getting-to-know-you rounds of speed-“dat(a)-ing” where we have a chance to reconnect with your cohort and meet some of your counterparts in the other cohort.

SESSION MATERIALS: None

Speakers

Rebecca Marshall

Associate Director of Programs, SDP, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard

Rebecca is the Associate Director of Programs for Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University. In this role, she manages the Strategic Data Project Fellowship, which works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to... Read More →

Winter Workshop 2025 Welcome Anchor Slides pdf

Monday February 3, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

Social

1:15pm EST

Project Management: Spinning Plates

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING

PREWORK: **No Submission Required, though one is optional**:
Skim the PMI Dictionary for an overview of some of the terms most commonly used in project management.

PMI Project Management Dictionary

**Optional: Complete the personal reflections using the guiding questions in the document attached below. The reflection will allow for you to reflect on your own experiences and will serve as the foundation of breakout group discussions.

You are not required to submit your reflection, but if you choose to, please upload here.

SESSION DESCRIPTION: Project Management is often seen as a set of checklists used to monitor task completion. However, at its best, Project Management is a way to systematically think through work progression with a framework for making difficult decisions about priorities. Join this interactive session to learn both the industry best practices and realistic adaptations for your work. All levels of management and experience are welcome and will walk away with gems!

SESSION MATERIALS:

Slides posted below

Speakers

LaCole Foots

Principal Consultant, Jodon Maclem

LaCole Foots is a systems thinker and strategic storyteller. Through her work, she helps organizations clarify their vision, align their goals, and navigate complexity with intentionality.As the founder and President of Jodon Maclem, a socially conscious strategy and evaluation firm, LaCole partners with clients to connect the dots between vision, strategy, and execution. She helps organizations ensure their strategies are actionable, their evaluations meaningful, and their project management practices aligned to drive... Read More →

Final SDP Presentation Spinning Plates 2025 pptx

Pre Work Personal Reflections docx

Supplemental Examples xlsx

PMI Project Management Dictionary PDF

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only

1:15pm EST

C15 Education Data Ethics (Day 1 Session)

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15pm - 3:45pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/93750433469?pwd=5tHeVIJvOat0amJb4Xybib2AeDOORL.1
Passcode: 162790

SESSION DESCRIPTION: The rapid pace of data innovation has not been matched by a parallel growth in the analysis of the ethical implications of our work. Data analytics has been long conceived to be value-neutral, a technocrat's endeavor. However, working with education data is ultimately a human endeavor, beset with choices that will have real implications for students, educators, and families.

The most important and challenging choices SDP fellows will face are not necessarily about coding or models, nor will they be straight-forward options between good and bad. Split over two sessions, the first half will focus on four traditional frames of ethical deliberation and apply them to common data ethics scenarios. On Day 1, SDP Fellows will attend one of the following breakout sessions and discuss implications of data ethics as it applies to specialized topics:

Ethics of Workplace Gaming (Michael LaMont)
Ethics of Experimentation (Cara Jackson)
Ethics of Privacy & AI (Marika Pfefferkorn)

PREWORK:

STEP 1: Please rank your top two choices of the above Ethics Breakout Sessions by January 24th. You will be assigned to your session by Friday, January 31st. You will need to complete the pre-reading based on the session you are assigned (if applicable) before the breakouts on February 10th.

Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/dHGhsZmUur

STEP 2: Complete by January 31st . Please accept 3 $10 Donors Choose gifts that you can distribute to any project(s) you want. Donors Choose is a nonprofit organization that allows you to donate directly to public school classroom projects. Your first step is to search Donors Choose for the projects you wish to invest in. Then, find your name in this spreadsheet and use the three assigned gift codes next to your name to make three ten-dollar donations. You can allocate all of them in any configuration (all to one project, for example), but they must be in 10$ increments. Add the name of the project you supported with each code and the link to the cause. Enjoy!

STEP 3: Complete after Day 1 Session on February 4. Complete this self-assessment and submit the copy of your responses to this folder prior to the Day 2 session on February 10.

Other Session Materials:
- Data Ethics Scenarios
- Data Ethics Workbook

Speakers

Miriam Greenberg

SDP Director, Strategic Data Project

Miriam is the Director of the Strategic Data Project overseeing the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University's efforts to build and sustain data-driven leadership and research capacity in education systems and organizations. She provides direction and support for... Read More →

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 15 Only, Select a Session

3:15pm EST

Fundamentals of Regression

Monday February 3, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING

PREWORK: ** No Submission Required **
All Fellows should read the attached excerpt from Chapter 2- Regression from Mastering ’Metrics: The Path from Cause to Effect by Joshua Angrist and Jörn-Steffen Pischke. Additionally, for those less familiar with regression analysis, I strongly recommend reading Chapter 4- Describing Relationships from The Effect by Nick Huntington-Klein

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
This session will provide an overview of regression analyses, including understanding what is happening under the hood of a regression model, determining how to specify your model, correctly interpreting results from your regression, and extensions of regression analysis. Come prepared with your capstone question—or other ongoing research question—as this will be an interactive session with time dedicated for planning your upcoming analyses.

SESSION MATERIALS:
See attached readings below.

Speakers

Elise Swanson

Associate Director of Research, Strategic Data Project

Elise Swanson is the Associate Director of Research at CEPR, where she directs the mixed methods Leveraging Technology and Engaging Students (LTES) project, which is a collaboration between CEPR, the Los Angeles Community College District, and the University of Southern California... Read More →

Chapter 2 Mastering Metrics excerpt pdf

Chapter 4 Describing Relationships The Effect pdf

Fundamentals of Regression WW 2025 pptx

Regression scenarios graphic organizer docx

Regression Practice Scenarios docx

Monday February 3, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only

12:00pm EST

Day Two Kickoff: Knitting the Network

Tuesday February 4, 2025 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Session Recording Not Available For This Session

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/97911708953?pwd=3X3R9FGEjzu3kxGWCYO8wbcKE3ylEO.1
Passcode: 189356

PREWORK: None

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

Day Two of Winter Workshop is focused on the people and community of SDP. We will break into two groups (C15 and C16) to share. This session is labeled as "general", but will split into cohort based meetings after our Day 2 kickoff and welcome.

A longstanding Fellowship tradition, each Fellow will have the opportunity to share their leadership story, also known as a Formative Experience story, with their cohort. The programming is designed to build fellowship community, support for one another, and further develop each of our leadership capacities. Sharing our leadership stories allows us to better understand what has led each of us to do the work we do, and how we continue to be inspired to make a positive difference in education.

Cohort 16
Tuesday, February 4th "Knitting the Network" (12:00 - 12:45 PM EST)
Yuzhu Xia
Andrew Jenkins
Melinda Wengrin
Karen Pineda
Benjamin Allen

Tuesday, February 11th "Capstone Session" (3:30 - 5:00 PM EST)
Abbie Barondess
Melissa Nelson
Charmaine Llagas-Mulhernn
Devyn Shafer

Cohort 15
Monday, February 3rd, "Capstone Session" (4:00 - 5:00 PM EST)
Kristin Joseph Calderone
Annie Hemphill
Trent Middleton
Tim Howarth

Tuesday, February 4th "Knitting the Network" (12:00 - 12:45 PM EST)
Chasya Hiebert
Hayley Tymeson
Jason Godfrey
Jeremy Raff
John Ezaki

Tuesday, February 11th "Cohort Session" (3:30 - 5:00 PM EST)
Zoey Liu Qiu
Kimberly Erickson
Matt Cronin
John Iko
Rain Tsong
Meghan Scrimgeour
Matt Faiello

Speakers

Rebecca Marshall

Associate Director of Programs, SDP, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard

Rebecca is the Associate Director of Programs for Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University. In this role, she manages the Strategic Data Project Fellowship, which works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to... Read More →

Sarah Blake

K-12 Fellowship Manager, Strategic Data Project

Sarah is the K-12 Fellowship Manager for the Strategic Data Project (SDP), focusing on bringing high-quality programming and support to our Postsecondary Fellowship and Institute offerings. As a new member of the SDP team in 2023, Sarah comes from a background in teaching, having... Read More →

Knitting the Network Winter Workshop 2025 pdf

Tuesday February 4, 2025 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Virtual

Social

1:00pm EST

Cost-Effectiveness, Cost-Benefit and Cost-Utility Analyses in Education

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST

**Open to both C15 and C16 Fellows for scheduling.**

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/93607364078?pwd=yune0btAXiCjLicdqECodT2wgPkr4f.1
Passcode: 420706

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK:

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Within the public sector, there is a responsibility to do the most good possible with the limited resources available. To support this mission, this session will introduce cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility analysis, demonstrating their application for educational agencies and decision-makers through real-world examples.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Yilin Pan

Assistant Professor in Economics of Educational Equity, University of British Columbia

- Cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit and cost-utility analysis- Efficiency and equity in resource allocation- Evidence use for better results and social cohesion

Atsuko Muroga

Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR)

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Virtual

General

1:00pm EST

Making the Case for Data & Equity

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST

** Session open for C15 and C16 Fellows **

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/92069619131?pwd=ZICpLeoFgasOP8k4Rphh7aZMxX6xpJ.1
Passcode: 226219

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK: ** No Submission Required **
1) Please be ready to discuss at least one situation/audience/context in your experience, where discussing the use of data to promote equity can trigger pushback or be misunderstood
2) Please be ready to discuss how/whether a change of governmental Administration, at the national or state level, can make your job harder or easier.
3) Please think about how you would describe your work and its importance, in two sentences, to a friend or relative who is not in your field and literally knows nothing about it.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
In this session, Joe Grady, Co-founder of the Topos Partnership, will present insights and recommendations from a number of research efforts looking at how audiences respond to ideas about using data to promote more equitable outcomes. The session will help participants craft communications that bring broader audiences into a constructive dialog about the topic – avoiding common pitfalls inherent in this complex and potentially fraught topic.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Slides to be posted

Speakers

Joe Grady

Co-founder, Topos Partnership, Topos Partnership

Joseph Grady, Ph.D. is a cognitive linguist whose academic research and publications have focused on the ways in which understanding and communication are shaped by universal metaphorical patterns. Before founding Topos, Grady taught linguistics at Georgetown University and the University... Read More →

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Virtual

General

1:00pm EST

Maximizing Impact: Perspectives on Managing Up

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST

SESSION RECORDING

PREWORK: ** No Submission Required **

Complete the Manager's Profile worksheet (estimate 30 minutes to complete)
This session will offer you the opportunity to workshop your real or anticipated “managing up challenges” (either with a direct or indirect supervisor, a lateral colleague, or another senior leader in your organization). Please note that this does not assume that you have a serious or egregious challenge, or that anyone with whom you work with is terrible. On the contrary, most people with whom we work are competent and talented in particular ways, and our job is to figure out how to optimize your collaboration and lend the most value. We are asking you to come prepared to share:

Identify a specific person or group of senior persons to reflect on in this session.
What obstacles or challenges have you faced in working with senior leaders that directly or indirectly manage you or with whom you collaborate that will have an impact on the success of your work?

SESSION DESCRIPTION: In this session, fellows will identify obstacles to working with senior leaders and learn strategies to effectively work with supervisors or other senior colleagues. We will workshop current or past challenges in executing impactful data projects and getting them to influence organizational decisions. Primarily, we will focus on individual leaders with whom you have worked or are currently working, and we will generate next steps to ensure that you are optimizing your collaboration and moving the work forward together.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Kristen Carroll

Kristen Carroll is an associate partner with Bellwether in the Policy and Evaluation practice area.Prior to joining Bellwether, Kristen served as the Chief Data Strategist at the Douglas County School System in Georgia. In this role, Kristen helped improve the district’s data infrastructure... Read More →

SDP Manging Up Workbook pptx

SDP Managing Up pptx

Managing Up PreWork pdf

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Virtual

General

1:00pm EST

Seizing High-Profile Opportunities: Communicating Data to Senior Leaders

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST

SESSION RECORDING

PREWORK: ** No Submission Required **
Write 1-3 paragraphs about an upcoming data opportunity that feels “high-stake” for you. What and when is it, and what about it feels high-stakes or high profile?
Alternatively: Write 1-3 paragraphs about the type of high-profile data opportunities you aspire to in your career. How is that different from what you’re doing now, and what do you think it might take to get there?

Submission not required. If you would like to share your work, please upload here.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
In this dynamic workshop, guided by a seasoned education sector leader, SDP Fellows will learn how to maximize their opportunities and manage risks in high-stakes situations representing their organizations alongside or in partnership with senior leadership. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, participants will learn strategies for tailoring their messaging to align with organizational priorities, enhancing their ability to capture executive attention, and navigating their unique institutional contexts effectively. With a focus on risk management, attendees will be equipped with the tools to anticipate challenges, mitigate potential setbacks, and leverage their "at bats" to drive meaningful progress in their organizations.

SESSION MATERIALS:
View the video of DC's 2023 Statewide Assessment Results

Speakers

Christina Grant

Executive Director, Center for Education Policy Research

Dr. Christina Grant is the Executive Director for the Center for Education Policy at Harvard University. Throughout her career as an educator, administrator, and executive in some of America’s largest school systems, Dr. Grant has worked to create evidence-based solutions that improve... Read More →

SDP 2025 Data Communication Grant pdf

Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Virtual

General

2:30pm EST

Break and Transition

Tuesday February 4, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm EST

Tuesday February 4, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

General

3:00pm EST

Designing Mixed Methods Studies for Education Policy Research

Tuesday February 4, 2025 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/92976939816?pwd=8cxSiAG2Et56cVq9lo2qlYVgDFC7Dq.1
Passcode: 245878

PREWORK:
Fellows should read Greene (2012), Engaging Critical Issues in Social Inquiry by Mixing Methods. Additionally, for any Fellows planning on conducting a mixed methods project, I recommend reading Headley et al. (2020), Multilevel Mixed Methods Research Designs: Advancing a Refined Definition.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

In this session, you’ll learn about the power of mixed methods research to unlock unique, nuanced insights, common mixed methods research designs, approaches to data collection for mixed methods studies, and the practical demands of conducting mixed methods research.

Speakers

Elise Swanson

Associate Director of Research, Strategic Data Project

Elise Swanson is the Associate Director of Research at CEPR, where she directs the mixed methods Leveraging Technology and Engaging Students (LTES) project, which is a collaboration between CEPR, the Los Angeles Community College District, and the University of Southern California... Read More →

Greene 2012 Engaging critical issues in social inquiry by mixing methods pdf

Headley et al. 2019 Multilevel mixed methods research designs pdf

Mixed methods planning graphic organizer pdf

Mixed Methods SDP Winter Workshop 2025 pptx

Research Scenarios docx

Tuesday February 4, 2025 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 15 Only

3:00pm EST

Conducting Research and Evaluation Through an Equity Lens

Tuesday February 4, 2025 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST

Session Recording Not Available For This Session

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/93184245538?pwd=2XP9DR0X7h4bnhbaa1IMAfedop01d2.1
Passcode: 534235

PREWORK: **Submission Required**
Please complete this short survey (2-3 min) by Friday, January 31st

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X22GCX3

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
In today’s political climate, the concept of equity in education varies widely across states, shaped by differing definitions and political perspectives. Yet, equity remains a cornerstone of education in America, ensuring that all students—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, English as a second language, or other factors—have fair access to opportunities that foster academic success.

While many educators, data strategists, and leaders recognize the importance of equity, they often struggle to implement it in ways that are practical, digestible, and embraced across political divides—all while keeping the focus on students.

This highly interactive session will empower attendees with actionable strategies to conduct inclusive research and evaluation through an equity lens. Participants will engage in a dynamic simulation activity to apply equity principles directly to their Capstone projects, bridging theory and practice in real-time. Drawing on the collective knowledge and experiences of attendees, the session will offer practical tools to advance equity in education research and evaluation, ensuring that historically marginalized groups are centered in efforts to promote academic achievement for all.

Session Materials:

Slide Deck
Template to Frame Research Questions via a DEI Lens
Build Your Own Inclusive Research Project
Breakout Session Guiding Questions_Application and Scale
Asset-Based Language Resources

Speakers

Monique Ositelu

Founder & CEO, Itan LLC

Dr. Monique Ositelu is the Founder and Data Strategist at Itàn, her data consulting firm where she turns complex numbers into empowering narratives for non-profits and educational institutions. Her mission? To champion equity and boost socioeconomic mobility through strategic data... Read More →

BreakOut Session Guiding Questions Application and Scale pdf

Template to Frame Research Questions via a DEI Lens pdf

Build Your Own Inclusive Research Project pdf

Inclusive Research Anchor Slides Winter Workshop 2025 pdf

Tuesday February 4, 2025 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only

12:15pm EST

Building and Leading High-Impact Data Teams for Beginners

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST

** This session is open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

PREWORK: None

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Managing your own data projects is challenging, but as your career progresses, you may also take on the responsibility of managing people within data teams. This adds a new layer of complexity, particularly in the K-12 education sector, where navigating union and non-union employer groups can present unique challenges.
This session focuses on the strategies, tools, and leadership skills needed to build and lead high-performing data teams that consistently deliver impactful results. It is designed to help early-career data professionals gain a clear understanding of the tools, approaches, and mindset required for supervising staff effectively. By the end of the session, attendees will be better equipped to transition into leadership roles and set themselves—and their teams—up for success.

SESSION MATIERALS:

Speakers

Jeremy Raff

Director of Data Analytics, School District of Lancaster

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual

General

12:15pm EST

Clustering Uncovered: Unlocking Patterns in Complex Data

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST

** This session is open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

PREWORK: None

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Clustering is a fundamental component of data science’s machine learning toolbox. This session will explore the foundational concepts of clustering, and, through practical examples, provide insights into how it may be useful for analyzing education-related data. As part of this session, an R-based Jupyter notebook will be provided to participants as a reference if they wish to implement k-means clustering in their work.

What is clustering?

In which situations would clustering be helpful/appropriate?
How do you conduct a clustering analysis and interpret the results?
Use some examples from ETSU’s work to walk through the process

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Joe Chappell

East Tennessee State University

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual

General

12:15pm EST

Data Rich, Information Poor: Understanding How Data Focus Can Be Impacted and How to Narrow It

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST

** This session is open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

PREWORK: ** Submission Required **

Submit your own data or problem prior and we will pick a couple to use as a walk-through example of the process. submit your work to this folder here by January 31.

Those interested in walking through the process of narrowing their data focus can submit their data set, or a description of what their data is, along with anything they are being asked to do with the data, or any information they have about why they are using the data.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

This session invites participants to submit their data sets or describe their data challenges, providing a hands-on experience in narrowing down data focus effectively. Learn the importance of honing in on the right data parameters before diving into analysis, and discover the research-backed 6 Steps to streamline your data focus for more impactful results. Additionally, explore why data literacy and strategic thinking are crucial components to implement alongside data tools. Join us to enhance your data strategy and make informed, data-driven decisions with confidence.

SESSION MATIERALS: See below

Speakers

Justine Ingram

Data Strategist, Gilbert Public Schools

GPS Data Use Guide (Printable) (1) pdf

GPS Data Use Guide (Digital) docx

Narrow Data Focus Ingram Winter Workshop 2025 pptx

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual

General

12:15pm EST

Leveraging LLMs Right Now

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST

** This session is open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

PREWORK: ** No Submission Required **

Come with access to your LLM of choice. A paid account is not required for most use cases.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
This workshop showcases the many ways that other fellows are integrating LLMs into their day-to-day work right now. This session pushes beyond abstractions and demonstrates practical applications proven effective by fellows in our cohort. We will highlight applications across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods work. Examples include named entity recognition for user tracking, developing evaluative rubrics aligned with standards, and theorizing counter-arguments for high-stakes presentations. Participants will learn practical techniques to adapt LLMs for automating processes, generating insights, and enhancing workflows, while small-group collaboration will provide support for brainstorming and developing personalized use cases. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas and a clear starting point for leveraging LLMs in their own work.

SESSION MATIERALS:

Speakers

Kimberly Erickson

Data Analyst Specialist, Norwalk Public Schools

Val Melikhova

Senior Research Analyst, Harvard Strategic Data Fellow, Next Education Workforce at ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

Zoey Lu Qiu

Associate Data Scientist, Delaware Department of Education

Jason Godfrey

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual

General

12:15pm EST

Roadmap to Success: Building Capacity for Strategic Implementation and Progress Monitoring

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST

** This session is open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PRE WORK:
Participants should complete the brief pre-session survey here by January 29th. Responses will help inform facilitation of the session.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
The journey to impactful change begins with the end in mind, and it's helpful to have a map to guide the way. Learn about how Guilford County Schools developed and applied the Roadmap to Success framework to systemically support strategic implementation and progress monitoring. Participants will leave with proven tools and processes, including Theories of Change, Logic Models, and Progress Monitoring Plans, to foster continuous improvement. Grounded in implementation science, the session emphasizes strategic alignment and data use to prevent "initiative-itis" - a focus on busyness over productivity. Through interactive discussions and reflection, participants will explore practical applications and uncover opportunities to build systemic progress monitoring in their own contexts, ensuring meaningful and sustainable results.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Erin Philip

Strategic Data Project Fellow, Guilford County Schools

Roadmap to Success Tools to Guide Initiative Implementation Progress Monitoring pdf

Roadmap to Success Tools to Guide Initiative Implementation Theory of Change & Logic Models pdf

Monday February 10, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual

General

1:25pm EST

C15 Education Data Ethics (Day 2 Session)

Monday February 10, 2025 1:25pm - 5:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK:

STEP 1: Please rank your top two choices of the above Ethics Breakout Sessions by January 24th. You will be assigned to your session by Friday, January 31st. You will need to complete the pre-reading based on the session you are assigned (if applicable) before the breakouts on February 10th.

Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/dHGhsZmUur

STEP 2: Complete by January 31st . Please accept 3 $10 Donors Choose gifts that you can distribute to any project(s) you want. Donors Choose is a nonprofit organization that allows you to donate directly to public school classroom projects. Your first step is to search Donors Choose for the projects you wish to invest in. Then, find your name in this spreadsheet and use the three assigned gift codes next to your name to make three ten-dollar donations. You can allocate all of them in any configuration (all to one project, for example), but they must be in 10$ increments. Add the name of the project you supported with each code and the link to the cause. Enjoy!

STEP 3: Complete after Day 1 Session on February 4. Complete this self-assessment and submit the copy of your responses to this folder prior to the Day 2 session on February 10.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
The rapid pace of data innovation has not been matched by a parallel growth in the analysis of the ethical implications of our work. Data analytics has been long conceived to be value-neutral, a technocrat's endeavor. However, working with education data is ultimately a human endeavor, beset with choices that will have real implications for students, educators, and families.

The most important and challenging choices SDP fellows will face are not necessarily about coding or models, nor will they be straight-forward options between good and bad. This session will focus on four traditional frames of ethical deliberation and apply them to common data ethics scenarios. SDP Fellows will attend one of the following breakout sessions:

Ethics of Gaming – Michael LaMont, Cohort 7 on the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal

Ethics of Experimentation – Cara Jackson, Cohort 5 on when it is okay and not okay to experiment with students

Ethics of Privacy – Marika Pfefferkorn, Twin Cities Innovation Alliance to present on data sharing early warning indicator data across public agencies

Other Session Materials:
- Data Ethics Scenarios
- Data Ethics Workbook

Speakers

Miriam Greenberg

SDP Director, Strategic Data Project

Miriam is the Director of the Strategic Data Project overseeing the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University's efforts to build and sustain data-driven leadership and research capacity in education systems and organizations. She provides direction and support for... Read More →

Monday February 10, 2025 1:25pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 15 Only, Select a Session

1:30pm EST

Ethics Day 2 Breakout: Ethics of Workplace Gaming (Michael LaMont)

Monday February 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST

** Note this session is for C15 Fellows. Please indicate your preference for your breakout session here. Fellows will be assigned a breakout session **

SESSION RECORDING:

PREWORK: ** No Submission Required **

Wrong Answer, New Yorker
Optional: The Long‐Run Effects of Teacher Cheating on Student Outcomes
Optional: Black Lives and the Spectacle of the Atlanta Cheating Scandal

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Ethics of Gaming – Michael LaMont, Cohort 7 on the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal

Examine the case of the cheating scandal in Atlanta (and others). What happens when you discover something that looks suspicious in the data? What risks do you face when you discover a colleague is doing something fishy? What should you do?

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Michael LaMont

Chief of Staff, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

Michael LaMont is the Chief of Staff for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. He was previously the Executive Director of the Data and Information Group in Atlanta Public Schools (APS). His group was responsible for the management of the complete life cycle of student data for APS... Read More →

Monday February 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 15 Only

1:30pm EST

Quantitative Program Evaluation Tools for Educational Contexts

Monday February 10, 2025 1:30pm - 3:15pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK:
Fellows should read chapter 5- Identification from The Effect by Nick Huntington-Klein.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
In this session, you’ll review the fundamentals of causal inference and learn about common quantitative research designs that, given the right circumstances, can produce causal estimates. We will in particular discuss the key assumptions that must be met to support identification so you leave equipped with the knowledge needed to conduct your own rigorous research as well as to be a critical consumer of research literature/causal claims. Come prepared with your capstone question or other research question for ongoing work, as this session will be interactive and will include time for you to plan your upcoming analyses.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Rachel Worsham

Senior Research Analyst, Harvard CEPR

Rachel Worsham is a Senior Research Analyst at the Center for Education Policy Research. Prior to joining CEPR, Rachel was a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the North Carolina Education Futures Initiative at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rachel began her career... Read More →

Elise Swanson

Associate Director of Research, Strategic Data Project

Elise Swanson is the Associate Director of Research at CEPR, where she directs the mixed methods Leveraging Technology and Engaging Students (LTES) project, which is a collaboration between CEPR, the Los Angeles Community College District, and the University of Southern California... Read More →

Chapter 5 Identification The Effect pdf

Monday February 10, 2025 1:30pm - 3:15pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only

1:30pm EST

Surveys as Conversations: Principles and Applications

Monday February 10, 2025 1:30pm - 3:15pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK: ** Submission Required **

Please submit one survey item that you wish to focus on. It may be your own work, something your organization has produced, or something from the wider field. Submit to this folder.
Consider the larger survey that this item is embedded within and write 2-3 brief sentences about the survey’s strengths and how it might be improved. Please include what you aim to assess with this tool (e.g., teacher satisfaction, student engagement, school climate).
Please submit 1 & 2 with a link, screenshot, or other upload of your survey or survey item.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
In this session we'll frame surveys as “conversations” designed to better understand and take the perspective of constituents in your school community. Through that lens, we will discuss key principles of effective survey design, including how to decide whether to use an off-the-shelf survey, adapt an existing measure, or develop your own from scratch. Surveys adhering to best practices not only yield reliable data and actionable insights that form the backbone of sage institutional decision-making, but they can help foster stronger relationships within the community when respondents feel heard. By contrast, traditional surveys (that are often riddled with substantial measurement error) can cost schools in dollars, morale, and credibility as they often result in misguided policies and interventions.

After discussing these key principles, we will then apply them to a variety of survey questions. To that end, we ask that you prepare for this session by reflecting on surveys already in use in your organization. If possible, please share an item with us that you would like to improve, think is pretty good already, and/or would like feedback on.

Your survey may be selected for us to workshop collectively during the session. If you would prefer your visual not be used in the presentation or if the survey cannot be made public, please just let us know in your submission.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Hunter Gehlbach

Professor of Education, Johns Hopkins

SEL/Social & motivational aspects of schooling/Social perspective takingSurvey designEnvironmental educationOpen Science

Gehlbach&Artino(2018) pdf

Monday February 10, 2025 1:30pm - 3:15pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only, Select a Session

3:30pm EST

Principles of Effective Data Visualization

Monday February 10, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK: **Submission Required**:

Submit a visual to this folder and read about a critique tool.

Please find one visual (one chart/graph/table, or one element of a larger dashboard) that you wish to reflect upon. It may be your own work, something your organization has produced, or something from the wider field.

Consider the visual, and write 2-3 brief sentences about what are the strong elements of the visual, and what you think may be improved. Please submit these sentences with a screenshot of the visual itself, by January 31. You may upload these together or separately.

Note, please make sure that any sensitive data in your visual is redacted. Your visual may be referenced or discussed in the session. If you would prefer your visual not be used in the presentation, please state this in your submission.

You should also read one of the two articles linked below. Each article represents a different way of reflecting on how well data visualizations accomplish their goal. The Few article is more holistic or big picture in its approach. The We All Count blog post is more recent and zooms in on one more specific aspect of a data visualization—its legend—as a way to reflect on its effectiveness. Please read the one article you feel suits you best (though you may read both if you desire):

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
In the workshop session Principles of Effective Data Visualization, we'll discuss some key principles of effective data visualization, and through this build a common language for what makes an effective visual. We will then apply these lessons to our own visuals and those of our peers. Though this is a non-technical session, it will nonetheless be hands-on through feedback and dialogue.

Speakers

Rebecca Marshall

Associate Director of Programs, SDP, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard

Rebecca is the Associate Director of Programs for Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University. In this role, she manages the Strategic Data Project Fellowship, which works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to... Read More →

Monday February 10, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only

12:00pm EST

Interest-Based Social Option: Charty Party

Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Join us as we engage in some fun networking games and activities. In addition to having some fun, these activities are designed to further build upon the connections we’ve made with one another, bringing us closer to appreciating the commonalities we share, and celebrating the unique skills and personalities we each have. Based on your ranking from our survey, we’ll endeavor to place you in one of your top selected activities. This activity is: Charty Party

Have you played Apples to Apples? Do you like explaining graphs to others? If you said yes to either—or both—of these, Charty Party is the game for you.
This game will balance pedantry and laughs with some friendly competition as we all strive to apply the funniest or most accurate labels to graphs, and then vote on them! This game will be played in teams, and the winning team will receive bragging rights and a (virtual) trophy.
The session will start with an explanation of the rules and a practice round, so come whether this is your first time or you’re an old pro.

You'll want to have access to the following resources during the session (all will be explained):

Speakers

Rebecca Marshall

Associate Director of Programs, SDP, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard

Rebecca is the Associate Director of Programs for Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University. In this role, she manages the Strategic Data Project Fellowship, which works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to... Read More →

Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

Social, Select a Session

12:00pm EST

Interest-Based Social Option: Escape Room

Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

Dive into an exciting virtual escape room experience that will test your creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills! Collaborate with fellow participants as you explore intriguing virtual environments, unravel complex puzzles, and uncover hidden mysteries—all from the comfort of your own space. This engaging and interactive session is designed for participants of all skill levels, encouraging you to think critically and work together to beat the clock. Join us for a thrilling adventure—are you ready to escape?

Web links and other materials to be posted!

Speakers

Sabrina Correia

Program Assistant, Strategic Data Project

Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

Social, Select a Session

12:00pm EST

Interest-Based Social Option: MURDLE, She Wrote

Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Join us as we engage in some fun networking games and activities. These activities are designed to further build upon the connections we’ve made with one another, bringing us closer to appreciating the commonalities we share, and celebrating the unique skills and personalities we each have.

This activity is: MURDLE, a logic puzzle collaborative game.

Channel your inner Angela Lansbury and bring your best reasoning skills to help solve the MURDLE of the day. We will warm up with a whole group effort by solving a mini practice puzzle. Then, each detective squad will breakout to dissect the puzzle of the day to identify clues and eliminate red herrings. We only have 60 minutes, can we solve the mystery?

Want to check it out ahead of time? Explore the MURDLE webpage to get familiar with the format and explore the features. A new puzzle is uploaded each day, and increases in difficulty throughout the week. Refrain from peaking at the puzzle ahead of time the day of our session!

Select this session for a fun, non-competitive puzzle solving experience with your fellow logic and deduction lovers.

Speakers

Sarah Blake

K-12 Fellowship Manager, Strategic Data Project

Sarah is the K-12 Fellowship Manager for the Strategic Data Project (SDP), focusing on bringing high-quality programming and support to our Postsecondary Fellowship and Institute offerings. As a new member of the SDP team in 2023, Sarah comes from a background in teaching, having... Read More →

Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

Social

1:15pm EST

Managing Teams

Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST

** Session open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK: https://forms.gle/4CmDgUvecHxg4q5d8 (submit by Friday 2/7)

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."

This quote from Henry Ford summarizes well the challenges and payoff to working on or leading an exceptional team, even though a lot has changed about the way we work since the assembly line days. In this session, you’ll learn about several frameworks for cultivating a high-performing team and practice applying them to your own team management, through both positional and personal power. The session will focus on developing a clear "diagnosis" that will position you to better understand and address challenges your team is currently facing and will help you think through next steps to determine possible "treatments". This session is appropriate for anyone who wants to take a more active role in leading their team, regardless of role: team members, soon-to-be managers, or new and existing team managers.

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Elise Lenthe

Principal Consultant, Lenthe Strategic Data Services

Managing Teams Handout SCARF pdf

Managing Teams Handout 6 Characteristics pdf

Managing Teams Handout Team Function pdf

Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

General

1:15pm EST

Navigating (Micro)Aggressions in the Workplace

Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK: None

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

This session is designed to help support and empower fellows who are committed to reducing identity-based aggression in the workplace. Microaggressions, which constitute subtle, everyday acts of discrimination, and macroaggressions, involving overt and explicit acts of prejudice, are both forms of identity-based violence that harm us all. By participating in this session, you will learn from a senior leader about the role we each play in building a workplace with high levels of fluency and awareness in how to navigate identity-based obstacles across lines of difference.

You will also learn:

Practical techniques for deciding how to respond to tensions caused by identity-based lines of difference.
The important role of being an ally in spaces where you are in the majority and
How to use these moments to push beyond the impediment or obstacles they pose, towards the collective learning and growth of your colleagues in the workplace.

This session is for:

Fellows who may be experiencing obstacles in their agency that are based on their identity.
Fellows who are allies and champion inclusive workspaces for the overall enhancement of the work environment.
Leaders interested in creating equitable environments and growing their teams’ fluency in navigating lines of difference.

Speakers

Christopher Leake

National Senior Vice President, Teach For America

Resources from presentation on Navigating Microaggressions docx

SDP Microagression (1) pptx

SDP Microagression pptx

Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

General

1:15pm EST

Weathering Organizational Transitions

Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

** This session is open to both C15 and C16 fellows **

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted

PREWORK: **No submission required**

Approximately 30 minutes
The pre-work presents an opportunity to reflect on the transitions taking place or upcoming within your organization. This pre-work is best done over time, with a period of at least two days between journaling your reflections (to promote passive processing between and during reflection time).

If spacing your pre-work out in this way is not possible, given other demands of your time, here are the three prompts you will consider during this workshop. Each prompt should take no more than 10-15 minutes to reflect on. Your reflections are your own, you will NOT turn your reflections in to SDP. Instead, bring your reflections with you to the session at Winter Workshop.

Take 10 minutes in a quiet spot to sit down with your notebook and pen. Write down the organizational transition challenge you are facing. Write down what the transition means for you. Write down how you feel about that transition.
Take 10 minutes with your notebook. Re-read the sentences you wrote about the transition challenge you are facing. Re-write the challenge in 1-3 sentences so you may explain it in about 1 minute to a trusted friend. Re-read your feelings about the transition. Has anything changed since you wrote your challenge and your feelings two (or so) days ago? Have you learned anything new about what this transition could mean for you?

If you finish before 10 minutes has passed, add any additional thoughts you have related to this organizational transition.

3. Finally, please take 10 minutes to read the attached article- Six Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Working together and in organizations gives us the knowledge, resources and motivation to accomplish the ambitious data work we undertake. It’s also true that working with others or in organizations can be the source of many of our biggest barriers (personal or otherwise) to achieving our goals.

The session for fellows in their first year is designed to help you weather the changes and challenges that may arise in your respective organizations, irrespective of the forms they take. We will offer you our advice for staying anchored in the midst of challenges, will collectively action plan around some common challenges fellows face, and we will workshop some of your own challenges with your peers.

Speakers

Lydia Killos

Senior Advisor, Special Projects, Strategic Data Project

Lydia Killos earned her Ph.D. in Community Psychology from the University of Virginia, where she also served as an IES Fellow with the Department of Education. She is a proud SDP Cohort 10 alumna and is pleased to continue working with the SDP team to support our current fellows... Read More →

Weathering Organizational Transitions pdf

6 Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty pdf

Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

General

3:30pm EST

C15 Cohort Session & Workshop Closing

Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted (Leadership Stories will not be recorded)

PREWORK: ** Submission Required**

Advising Feedback: Please take a few minutes to reflect on the support that SDP is providing you in the development of your capstone and your progress in your fellowship. We ask that you review and complete the attached survey of your experience with your Faculty or Technical Expert Advisor, as well as your experience with SDP staff, and submit your response to this brief survey by January 31, 2025. Thank you in advance for sharing your valuable feedback.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Round out the workshop with another round of Leadership Stories and exploration into lessons learned throughout the capstone process and fellowship. Additional topics may include sustainability planning for your agency and work. More to come!

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Rebecca Marshall

Associate Director of Programs, SDP, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard

Rebecca is the Associate Director of Programs for Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University. In this role, she manages the Strategic Data Project Fellowship, which works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to... Read More →

Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 15 Only

3:30pm EST

C16 Capstone Session & Workshop Closing

Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST

SESSION RECORDING: To Be Posted (Leadership Stories will not be recorded)

PREWORK: None

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

Round out the workshop with another round of Leadership Stories and exploration into "what's next" after the capstone proposal submission process. Fellows will explore past projects and have dedicated work time in small groups. More to come!

SESSION MATERIALS:

Speakers

Sarah Blake

K-12 Fellowship Manager, Strategic Data Project

Sarah is the K-12 Fellowship Manager for the Strategic Data Project (SDP), focusing on bringing high-quality programming and support to our Postsecondary Fellowship and Institute offerings. As a new member of the SDP team in 2023, Sarah comes from a background in teaching, having... Read More →

SDP C12 Capstone Summaries 3 pdf

Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Virtual

Cohort 16 Only