Like many large districts, DeKalb was focused on department alignment and a cohesive vision. However, communication and engagement presented challenges due to diverse spoken languages in the community. The district needed help gathering authentic feedback and accurate data to make decisions that would meet their objectives.

In 2023, DeKalb introduced the MIRACLES Framework to align district-wide efforts with the superintendent’s strategy for more equitable learning outcomes. Dr. Yolanda Williamson, Chief of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, knew they needed on-going community insights to succeed.

ThoughtExchange’s AI experience and engagement platform helped them hear from their people and optimize their plan.

DeKalb’s leadership used ThoughtExchange to gather quality data from a broad range of community members to inform the Framework’s eight focus areas—a process that could have taken months without the instant, in-depth analysis of the platform’s proprietary AI.

Using ThoughtExchange, DeKalb received feedback on one of the following tenets every other week: Motion Towards Equity (M), Improved Instructional Core (I), Relevant and Rigorous Course of Study(R), Attract and Retain High Quality Staff (A) Commitment to Accountability (C), Learning Environments that Support Student Success (L), Establish Expected Targets Driven by Results (E), and Sound Fiscal Stewardship (S).

The district asked questions like: "How is our district doing in moving towards Equity? What suggestions do you have on how we might be able to improve?"

Educational partners discussed each tenet, suggesting improvements and providing insights the district may have missed.

Dr. Williamson explains, "The feedback has been very much appreciated. It's been authentic—sometimes not so easy to hear because we all like to hear we're doing a great job. But really it's about becoming better in terms of the way we do business here as we serve our students and our community."

She adds that the genuine effort to foster two-way communication has increased community engagement.

Improved communication & engagement 

An Exchange at a town hall meeting revealed that the district wasn’t communicating as well as they’d thought. While they were releasing information in many languages, they weren’t doing so simultaneously.

With this insight, they could immediately correct the problem and improve communication and engagement efforts to ensure parents and community members could provide honest feedback on the district’s operations and initiatives.

Traditional surveys may rely on a translator, which can delay or stagger distribution, but as Dr. Williamson says, “ThoughtExchange eliminates that concern. All you have to do is click a little switch to change the language and boom! There’s no delay in getting the information out.”

Faster, more authentic feedback & accurate data

Getting authentic feedback was just one piece of the puzzle. To close the loop and accurately report back on issues raised, Dr. Williamson shares that ThoughtExchange’s AI features were a time-saver.

Advisor, our AI-powered data analysis tool, was essential for summarizing key concerns, generating talking points, and prompting actionable next steps. The district used it to facilitate discussions around results, asking questions like “What were the top 5 responses? Give me some talking points on the top 5 issues that appeared in the ThoughtExchange.”

Dr. Williamson says, “ThoughtExchange is a game changer because the outcomes extend beyond merely reporting the percentage of respondents to a question. Delving into their thoughts provides a more enlightening perspective on the given ThoughtExchange question.”