Equity is at the center of the work of knowledge brokering.
For the Education Knowledge Broker Network, equity – as it should be in all education work – is not “a consideration” or “a topic” or an add-on of any sort – it is the lens through which we must view and assess what we do. Far too often, we measure educational outcomes in ways that in and of themselves are not especially meaningful – test scores only matter if we think those tests are assessing things that matter, and even more concrete outcomes like postsecondary success arguably only matter if that success leads to life outcomes that matter for the individuals and/or society.
So what matters? If people are all different, with different skills and interests, different experiences, different cultural and geographic contexts, and different values (among many other differences), how can we possibly do system-level or even classroom-level work that is intended to serve and support students and communities? The answer is not for us to decide what should matter, but instead for us as knowledge brokers to work to construct a system in which all students have the possibility – the opportunity – to make that decision for themselves.
In a real sense, opportunity is what matters. Opportunity does not mean that all students value the same things. Given a full range of opportunities, students may make very different choices. What brings happiness, fulfillment, or a sense of success to one individual may have absolutely nothing in common with that of another. We cannot tell individuals what they should value. We couldn’t possibly know. What we can do is strive to contribute to the creation of a system in which everyone has the ability to make those choices for themselves.
Regardless of your take on specific educational issues, it is inarguable that right now that is not the case.
Equity is a very difficult word to define, but opportunity is easier to recognize. For knowledge brokers, the challenge lies in how to apply the complex concepts of equity to real situations in order to increase opportunity – and “success,” whatever that may mean – for more students. And we won’t sugar-coat it: that is very hard to do. With apologies to John F. Kennedy, we do not do these things because they are easy. We do them because they are hard.
It is difficult to teach equity work. It is difficult to broker equity work. However, we do have resources: many people, every day, are working to do this better, to put these ideals into practice as best they can. They, and we, will make mistakes. They, and we, will struggle and fret and think and sensemake and puzzle through the challenges of this work. Equity work is naturally messy, and there may be no better way to improve our own than to have the rare opportunity to hear others who are thinking about and puzzling through these issues share their experiences, thoughts, and challenges with us. That kind of access is a rare opportunity indeed, but incredibly impactful when we can find it.
Today we at the Network want to share exactly that. As a start to an equity conversation that will underlie the work of this network, five CREATEd Fellows – current education professionals participating in a year-long knowledge brokering fellowship with the opportunity to study, read, discuss, and collaboratively work to understand what knowledge brokering looks like and how it operates – have been willing to share their stories and insights into the place of equity in the work that they do. Two of these brokers – Isabel and Kim – will also participate in our upcoming Centering Equity in Knowledge Brokering panel on Tuesday, August 13 at 4pm ET, where they will continue to share their experiences and where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their own challenges and ideas, and continue the conversation around equity.
We thank Diane, Tanisha, Isabel, and Kim for their willingness to share their work with us, and we are very excited to present their stories and insights.
Diane Hsieh
Research Scientist, Search Institute
Who I am and what I do: Hi! My name is Diane, and I am a Research Scientist at Search Institute, which is an applied research non-profit organization that focuses on positive youth development. Prior to Search Institute, I got my PhD from the University of California-Irvine, School of Education, where I studied adolescents’ STEM motivation and out-of-school time participation.
How I am a knowledge broker: I’d say 70% of my work involves “typical research” tasks such as data collection, data analysis, academic writing, etc. The other 30% of my work is about translating research to support practice, which includes writing practitioner-facing reports, developing resources/activities, hosting partnership meetings, etc. I think knowledge brokering happens when I go back and forth between that 70% and 30%. .
In my work, equity looks like: I think equity is part of my work in many ways. From the very start, equity looks like asking asset/strength-based research questions as opposed to deficit-based or questions that came from a savior mindset. Then, equity looks like having the right people on your team, including people whose voices are often marginalized in the context of your research question; for example, through participatory approaches (example lessons learned from a project with LGBTQ+ youth, and a project with Black and Latina/o youth on math engagement). I’ve also been thinking about equity in the research process; for example, research often takes a long time, how can we engage participants in a more humanizing way? Finally, I think equity is a big thing in terms of research dissemination. I’ve enjoyed writing practitioner-facing reports or blog posts for its more immediate and wide impact.
How I have used what I have learned as a fellow to address issues of equity: The fellowship’s module on communication stood out to me. It encouraged me to consider more diverse formats for communicating research. There were also concrete resources for making research outputs more accessible (e.g., data visualization best practices, tips for conveying key messages), which I really appreciate as they are very relevant for my work. During our small group discussion, other fellows shared ideas for gathering practitioner feedback/input after an output is disseminated– I appreciate those ideas and am exploring ways to do so in my current projects.
One equity success and one equity challenge in my work: Success: As mentioned, I am grateful to be on a few participatory action research projects and learning to work closely with practitioners and youths. I think the biggest success is when those practitioners and youth co-researchers let us know that they genuinely enjoyed the collaboration.
Challenge: For me, I think equitably allocating the budget is a challenge. Also, I wonder what are some equitable ways (beyond financial stipend) to compensate practitioners and youths for their involvement?
One more thing to know about equity in my work: There are probably a lot of equity challenges that I don’t even know to look out for. For example, I realize that as an able-bodied person, I am often insensitive to some equity challenges related to accessibility. One thing that I find very helpful and valuable is to engage in positionality reflection every once in a while, especially at the start of a project.
Tanisha Brandon-Felder
Director of PreK and Elementary Success, Highline School District
Who I am and what I do: Hello, I have been in education for over 25 years. As a classroom teacher (Elementary and Middle School), a Director of Equity, and most currently as a Director of PreK and Elementary Instruction,. I have always seen my work as advocacy for equity. I am a mother, daughter, wife and avid reader.
How I am a knowledge broker: Knowledge brokering means being in communication with students and families about what meets the needs for their child’s academic goals and helping create partnerships with educators and students towards effective learning opportunities.
In my work, equity looks like: Examining the conditions in our Iinstruction and learning contexts and ensuring we are creating bridges and not boundaries.
How I have used what I have learned as a fellow to address issues of equity: I have! Really understanding the impact of messaging channels and ways to speak to various stakeholder groups has been powerful. My fellowship gave great input on an info graphic I designed that is now being used as the foundation of the equitable literacy work we are doing in our district.
One equity success and one equity challenge in my work: One equity success has been peeling back the layers of the technical lens that have been traditionally used to address literacy and opening up adaptive possibilities as we lean on research from scholarships of color.
One equity challenge has been the mindsets that need to shift to make this equity implementation possible. One more thing to know about equity in my work: I understand the ultimate barometer for equity lies in the experiences of our students. When students feel affirmed, valued and excited to learn, we are winning. One more thing to know about equity in my work….it is not a choice. It is a moral and ethical obligation that educators do right by students who have been pushed to the margins of my system. The students are my non-negotiable WHY.
Isabel Lopez
Postdoctoral Fellow at Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education (CICESE)
Who I am and what I do: Hi everyone! My name is Isabel Lopez. I hold a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Originally from Mexico, I am fluent in both English and Spanish, having spent half my life in both the U.S. and Mexico. As a former Fulbright Scholar, I am deeply committed to international research. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at CICESE, focusing on evaluating and developing AI-based educational technologies in Mexican schools.
How I am a knowledge broker: The best way to describe myself is as a translational researcher in education. This means creating research that is directly applicable to policy and practice while building relationships with the communities my research impacts. It also involves literally translating research into different languages, adapting it across various educational policy settings, and making it accessible to parents, children, teachers, nonprofits, etc.
In my work, equity looks like: Working across different policy settings in various cities, states, and countries has made me realize that disparities are a constant presence. While they manifest differently depending on the context, they are always there. In any project I engage with, I begin by examining the context, exploring past history, current culture, and data to identify which students are being overlooked. I then do my best to address these disparities. This might involve leading data-focused reflections on potential students being overlooked, working to acquire resources for underprivileged schools, or simply listening and reflecting. Regardless of our position as research brokers, there is always an opportunity to incorporate equity work and reflection.
How I have used what I have learned as a fellow to address issues of equity: One of the most valuable skills I have developed in this fellowship is successful facilitation. Leading conversations on equity in a way that highlights everyone’s perspectives and opinions, while also keeping the group focused on actionable steps, is fundamental to effectively addressing these issues.
One equity success and one equity challenge in my work: One of the biggest challenges I face, which is likely common in most equity work, is advocating for tangible actions to advance an equity-centered agenda.
Success often comes in small but significant steps: a policy-maker who finally understands, a resource reaching the person who needs it most, or a well-designed, equity-focused research product. I’ve experienced all of these moments in my career.One more thing to know about equity in my work: My understanding of equity challenges and issues is constantly evolving. I will never be an equity expert, nor do I aspire to always get it right. To paraphrase Shrek, equity, much like Shrek, is like an onion with layers upon layers. Even if you think you’ve reached the center, there is always something more underneath.
Kim Rank
Director of Special Projects and School Improvement, Chester County (PA) Intermediate Unit
Who I am and what I do: I am currently overseeing all school improvement for Chester County including TSI, A-TSI, and CSI designations; as well as; Director of Special Projects, which I am currently overseeing a Structured Literacy grant. I supervise and support internal curriculum supervisors and work directly with six CSI designated schools as their school improvement facilitator. Prior to working in the area of school improvement, I was a Supervisor of Special Education for 10 years. Having this background has provided me with the understanding and knowledge of how to meet the individual needs of students among diverse groups while positively impacting the system as a whole using the Pennsylvania Continuous Cycle of Improvement as a framework to assist schools and districts.
I completed my Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Letter of Eligibility from Drexel University in June of 2017. I am married with three grown children and a granddaughter who is 10 months old. I enjoy traveling, doing CrossFit, and spending time outdoors.
How I am a knowledge broker: In my role as a school improvement facilitator, it is critical that I assist schools and districts bridge the gap between research and practice, build capacity, support data-driven decision making, sustain improvement efforts, and ensure appropriate and effective evidence-based strategies are chosen and implemented as prescribed.
In my work, equity looks like: In my work with school improvement, equity is at the forefront of everything we do. Through the school improvement process, schools can be designated for their all-student group (CSI) or for one or more student groups (A-TSI or TSI) as needing improvement in meeting growth or achievement thresholds. As a school improvement facilitator, I work with schools to identify resources and research that will address disparities in their student outcomes and promote inclusion. This includes completing a root cause analysis to identify the cause and selecting evidence-based strategies that will support diverse learning needs, promote culturally relevant pedagogy, and facilitate professional development that supports all backgrounds and ensures all students have access and opportunities to be successful in their educational environment.
How I have used what I have learned as a fellow to address issues of equity: I have integrated what was learned through the Fellowship to advance educational equity in my school improvement work by taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach and utilizing the Pennsylvania Cycle of Improvement Framework. As I work with schools, we start by gathering and using data to identify strengths and areas of needs, which includes looking at all student and individual student group data and setting measurable goals and targets. We then choose evidence-based strategies that are aligned to their school demographics and are recognized as a tier 1 or 2 rating according to ESSA. Action plans are developed and include the implementation to meet individual student needs (e.g., personalized learning plans, flexible groups) and facilitate professional development and create professional learning communities to share best practices. As a school improvement facilitator it is my role to advocate, promote and support practices that are inclusive and equitable while engaging the school community to refine strategies through gathering feedback and revising plans as needed to ensure all students have access to an effective learning environment.
One equity success and one equity challenge in my work: One equity success I saw this past year with working with a middle school designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) school was through the implementation of Restorative Practices (RP), which has led to significant reductions in disciplinary referrals, improved academic performance, enhanced school climate, and strengthened relationships among students and staff. For example, during the 2023-24 school year, the 6th Grade Center decreased from 2,000 discipline referrals to 673 for the year and increased on the state assessment in both ELA and Math.
One equity challenge I had this past year was ensuring all plans within a school system were aligned. Last spring in working with a school developing their CSI plan, the team did not take into consideration the corrective action plan they were on for special education or their overall induction and professional development plans. By mid-fall it was obvious groups were not working collaboratively but in isolation. Meeting with the school improvement team, we discussed the need to expand our team and include stakeholders from special education and other areas to ensure we were addressing all student groups, and our plans were cohesive in nature. We did incorporate this into our planning process moving forward. One more thing to know about equity in my work: The Pennsylvania Cycle of Improvement framework. Within the “Set the direction” phase school teams need to agree upon a shared vision for learning which includes all students and define the purpose of the improvement process. During the “Assessing needs” phase, data, both quantitative and qualitative, is gathered and analyzed to identify trends and reveal patterns of inequity. Student performance data, such as discipline, attendance, and academic; is broken out by race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other demographics. Surveys and focus group data is gathered from teachers, parents and students to gain insight into their experiences and perceptions. All this information is used during the “Create the plan” phase to develop goals and action plans that meet the needs of all learners and address inequities. This is reflective in their action steps and professional development plans and monitored within the “Implement the plan” phase. As schools are implementing their plans, we are always moving in and out of the “Monitor the plan” and “Adjust the plan” phases to ensure what is in place is working for all students and if not, make revisions as a result of the data.