Above Board Schools

Above Board Schools (ABS) seeks to decentralize a school system that currently allows a few privileged members to make decisions without involving the entire community.  Our solution enables emotionally intelligent discussions, gamified voting, and transparent feedback in real time.  Were this implemented globally, the educational system would innovate organically since students, their families, and the community at large would be able to contribute meaningfully in the co-creation of the learning experience.

As a strengths-based practitioner, I like to focus on the outcome I desire rather than examining the problem.  Keeping that in mind, what I would love to see in the human living system of educational organizations is more authentic input from all stakeholders in education.

Due to the pandemic, many voices have been marginalized in the interest of making decisions under duress with very little say from the people who are affected the most- students, teachers, and families.

As a result, morale is at an all-time low with teacher attrition being at an all-time high.

Student mental health is a comorbid crisis from Covid-related pivots, and something has to give.

Trust can be restored and relationships can be prepared if we begin to truly engage voices from all stakeholders as we begin to return to school.

The research of Sara Truebridge states that resilience results when: students have nurturing relationships; there are high expectations for them; and they have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.  ABS embeds all these elements in the dApp.

ABS uses smart contracts to engage all voices in education.   The dApp houses strengths-based conversations using an Appreciative Inquiry (the “other” Ai) approach and machine technology to give objective feedback regarding the emotional state of the collective, which, in turn, builds relationships among the diverse population.  When it comes time to make a decision, those who have earned badges by participating in the inclusive process cast their vote in a weighted and/or quadratic method, depending upon who is most affected in the current proposition.  Blockchain verifies all transactions, and everyone involved gets to cast their vote, establishing trust which is essential to creating a culture of psychological safety.  This robust, holistic process results in a sense of belonging and overall well being, knowing that their perspectives are solicited, honored, validated, and acted upon.

Allow me to outline a scenario where the dApp comes into play in a school system at the District level (now a decentralized autonomous organization, or DAO).  Let’s say there is a question of whether or not the district should move to a later start time.  Here’s how the process might play out:

• The District poses the question on the dApp.

• People post their initial reaction from 1-5 and why.

• Machine technology gives feedback about the collective opinion and identifies emerging themes.

• Anyone can post research and discuss.

• Voting requires a badge quiz on research. 

• Robust discussions occur both asynchronously on the dAppand in-person using Appreciative Inquiry facilitation techniques.

• Discussions might even drive class learning.

• A second round of research and discussion.

• Voting occurs.  

• Results are instantly verified via a smart contract system and appropriative funding gets allocated and distributed.

• Each stakeholder feels validated since everyone had a chance to be heard, even if the ultimate decision did not go the way they had hoped.

ABS dApp increases the engagement and interaction of learners and their families in all settings by creating opportunities to explore pressing school issues and participate in energetic conversations regarding potential decisions.  The process can be addressed in the classroom through project-based learning to research the topics in order to earn the right to cast educated votes.  This process creates a culture of inclusion so that no matter what role a person plays, their opinion matters, elevating the climate and supporting core values of equity, transparency, and purpose.

Above Board Schools is in the prototype stage because while the concept has been developed over many years with careful consideration and research, we only recently were able to gain access to a minimal viable product (MVP) to beta test with a group of stakeholders.

We are confident that once we build a more vibrant model we will be able to collect more data that supports the claims that this dApp can revolutionize the educational system.

To my knowledge, no public school system allows all stakeholders to vote in major decisions.  

While school leaders claim to be overwhelmed with committees and meetings to take on the responsibility of coming up with plans that affect the entire system, I do not see many attempts to introduce autonomy to the organization.

A collaborative voting dApp like ABS streamlines the process by housing all interaction in one place and capitalizes on the recent learning curve of Zooming and using learning management systems (LMS) through a pandemic. 

This new collective technological platform has created a space to engage all stakeholders in meaningful inclusion in communication; unfortunately, most interaction has been compartmentalized and one-directional.

Once families realize that there is an alternative to surveys and tasks forces that move at a snail's pace and lack transparency, they will demand to implement options like ABS.

Our solution is currently in the prototype stage.  However, if successfully piloted through MIT Solve connections, Above Board Schools has the potential to revolutionize the school system world-wide.

Right now, we are focusing our work to make foster relationships between educational consultants who advocate for student wellness and technology companies looking to break new ground.

We are also conducting action research to collect data that supports including all voices in education will be the one guiding principal to bring equity to schools so all stakeholders may flourish.

My business, Jennifer Ozgur Consulting, LLC est. July 2020 is a sole proprietorship.  At this time, I have no employees beyond myself; however I do partner with other consultants on different projects.  

Jennifer Ozgur  and Heidi Marlinghaus are two distinguished teachers and SEL consultants who have extensive experience in the classroom, know educational best practices, and are expanding their network every day.

Soliciting all voices in the educational system is one way to apply DEI work into the fabric of the organization.  Above Board Schools is not a program; it's a mindset.

MIT has the ethos and connections we need.

As classroom teachers, we need more support.

Any organizations who are aligned with our core values of equity and transparency.

ABS helps give voice to traditionally marginalized groups.

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I would insure that Artificial Intelligence is balanced with Appreciative Inquiry so all technology is SEL responsive and heart-centered.

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