Starting in September, the Consortium is offering both of its design thinking Act 45 courses for school leaders. Each course focuses on the use of human-centered design to find and develop ways to strengthen student growth and achievement.
The two courses are also similar in that they encourage participants – as individuals or in district teams – to apply their learning to current efforts in their school or district. Areas of focus for past course participants have included:
- Designing and refining PBIS
- Restructuring school schedules
- Addressing chronic absenteeism
- Collaborating on new curriculum
- Increasing parent engagement
The primary differences between the courses are in time (and hours earned) and delivery format.
- Leadership through Design: Enhancing Student Growth & Achievement is entirely virtual, with synchronous and asynchronous components. Participants who complete all of the requirements earn 25 hours of Act 45 credit. The fall cohort starts on September 23.
- Using Human-Centered Design to Support Student Growth & Achievement is in person, with scheduled sessions held in McKeesport. In addition to the in-person sessions, participants have homework that focuses on expanded learning, reflection, and application. Participants who complete all of the requirements earn 50 hours of Act 45 credit. The 2025-2026 cohort begins on September 25.
Feedback from past participants of both classes has been overwhelmingly positive. A middle school principal from our virtual summer session said that she was surprised at “the amount of information I can use daily in my job. I love that I feel I’m not just throwing ideas at a wall to see what sticks.”
And a participant from last fall’s in-person cohort shared the advice: “Do it!!! And, take it with some fellow administrators.”
