Advancing Education through Design

Challenge
A school district sought to improve educational outcomes for underperforming schools, with a focus on delivering a better learning experience for every child, especially at-risk students.

​

Solution
Skyler led a collaborative team of students, educators, and community members to conduct in-depth research and redesign the school experience for a select underperforming middle school. By designing and piloting a “school within a school” model, Skyler’s team created a targeted, supportive environment for at-risk students, with plans to scale the successful model district-wide.

​

In parallel, Skyler partnered with IDEO to launch a groundbreaking design thinking program for educators, empowering over 200 teachers with innovative tools and methodologies. This program embedded design thinking practices into the school culture, fostering a mindset of continuous improvement and creative problem-solving across the district.

​

Impact

• Significant improvement in standardized test scores for students in the pilot program.

• Successful development of a scalable model that can be expanded to other schools in the district.

• Enhanced teaching capabilities, equipping educators with design thinking skills that drive long-term educational innovation.