Dr. Erick Montenegro
Dr. Erick Montenegro
Dr. Erick Montenegro shared having folks realize that there's a stronger narrative through data storytelling is incredibly valuable, especially with leadership. I always tell schools and colleges that a data point can be manipulated depending on who uses it and in what context. But if you provide a story, you put somebody's face to that, and you give a clear example of what that looks like and the impact you had. It's much harder to turn that away. It's much harder to deny on face value.” commented Dr. Montenegro.
Dr. Erick Montenegro shared having folks realize that there's a stronger narrative through data storytelling is incredibly valuable, especially with leadership. I always tell schools and colleges that a data point can be manipulated depending on who uses it and in what context. But if you provide a story, you put somebody's face to that, and you give a clear example of what that looks like and the impact you had. It's much harder to turn that away. It's much harder to deny on face value.” commented Dr. Montenegro.
Dr. Montenegro started working on a new evaluation and assessment model to support Pell eligible schools and shared some insights about improving the process:
Dr. Montenegro started working on a new evaluation and assessment model to support Pell eligible schools and shared some insights about improving the process:
If evaluations are super positive it can be a sign that the “nice factor” is at work: no one wants to say what really needs to be said. People need time to take new assessment models in, to process and share their thinking and observations and grow as a community to encourage people to feel safe enough to say what they were really thinking. Dr. Montenegro “knew we had a winning formula when people asked for the sessions to be longer and wish[ed] they had more time for data analysis and theory.”
If evaluations are super positive it can be a sign that the “nice factor” is at work: no one wants to say what really needs to be said. People need time to take new assessment models in, to process and share their thinking and observations and grow as a community to encourage people to feel safe enough to say what they were really thinking. Dr. Montenegro “knew we had a winning formula when people asked for the sessions to be longer and wish[ed] they had more time for data analysis and theory.”
Dr. Montenegro likes to begin a session by asking people to define equity. He believes this helps break down barriers and fear when people start to talk about the various interpretations and experiences with a word that means so many things to different groups of people. And often those are “soft avenues to have conversations about structural racism, power, oppression, privilege, opportunity, [and the] lack of opportunity because they’re working through their own words and definitions. It allows for shared meaning making. It tends to take the vulnerability away and allows for more fruitful conversations,” argues Dr. Montenegro. It fosters group listening and sharing across experiences and helps inform a better understanding of how words shape experiences.
Dr. Montenegro likes to begin a session by asking people to define equity. He believes this helps break down barriers and fear when people start to talk about the various interpretations and experiences with a word that means so many things to different groups of people. And often those are “soft avenues to have conversations about structural racism, power, oppression, privilege, opportunity, [and the] lack of opportunity because they’re working through their own words and definitions. It allows for shared meaning making. It tends to take the vulnerability away and allows for more fruitful conversations,” argues Dr. Montenegro. It fosters group listening and sharing across experiences and helps inform a better understanding of how words shape experiences.