We Are For Good Podcast: Episode 596 Summary

Title: Transforming Education Through Cross-Sector Collaborations + The Mission of Digital Promise
Guest: Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO of Digital Promise
Release Date: January 15, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 596 of the We Are For Good Podcast, hosts Jon McCoy, CFRE, and Becky Endicott, CFRE, engage in a compelling conversation with Jean-Claude Brizard, the President and CEO of Digital Promise. The episode delves into the transformative potential of cross-sector collaborations in education and explores the mission and impactful initiatives of Digital Promise under Brizard’s leadership.

Guest Background: Jean-Claude Brizard

Jean-Claude Brizard brings over 35 years of experience in the education sector, having served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and now leading Digital Promise Global. His journey from escaping political turmoil in Haiti to making significant strides in the U.S. education system underscores his dedication to creating equitable educational opportunities.

Notable Quote:

"Nothing is worth negotiating your core values. Otherwise, you lose your way."
— Jean-Claude Brizard [25:50]

Digital Promise: Mission and Initiatives

Digital Promise is a bipartisan nonprofit organization established by an act of Congress in 2008 and launched in 2011. The organization's mission is to shape the future of learning by bridging research, practice, and technology to advance equitable educational systems globally.

Key Points:

• Golden Triangle Framework: Integrates learning sciences, research & technology, and innovation & practice.
• Community-Centric Design: Involves teachers, principals, and superintendents in the design process to ensure solutions are practical and effective.
• UGAIN Project: A recent initiative funded by the Institute for Education Sciences, focusing on integrating artificial intelligence into the science of reading across multiple school districts.

Notable Quote:

"We don't want to just talk about change. We want to be the change in this generation."
— John McCoy [01:16]

Transforming Education Through Technology

Brizard shares his firsthand experience as a high school physics teacher in Brooklyn, where he leveraged technology to revolutionize the learning experience. By introducing tools like Vernier probes and Macintosh computers, he transformed traditional "cookbook" experiments into interactive, discussion-based learning, significantly improving student comprehension and exam pass rates.

Notable Quote:

"Technology can have a real impact on teaching and learning—not as a replacement, but as an enhancement."
— Jean-Claude Brizard [09:44]

Cross-Sector Collaborations for Systemic Change

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the importance of cross-sector collaborations in achieving systemic educational change. Brizard emphasizes the necessity of building coalitions among various stakeholders, including higher education institutions, K-12 schools, nonprofits, and government entities.

Key Strategies:

• Building Trust: Collaborations move at the speed of trust; fostering mutual trust is essential for effective partnerships.
• Burning Platform: Identifying a pivotal issue that galvanizes the community to unite and take action.
• Leveraging Local Anchor Organizations: Engaging community foundations or key leaders who can spearhead collaborative efforts.

Notable Quote:

"You can only move at the speed of trust."
— Jean-Claude Brizard [15:06]

Redefining Success and Addressing Educational Attrition

Brizard discusses the need to redefine success beyond standardized testing metrics like math and reading proficiency. Digital Promise aims to focus on broader outcomes such as economic mobility, personal agency, and overall well-being. By analyzing data on educational attrition, the organization identifies systemic challenges that lead to student disengagement and seeks to address them through comprehensive, cross-sector initiatives.

Notable Quote:

"The greater end is lifelong success, economic mobility, well-being, and personal agency."
— Jean-Claude Brizard [11:42]

Philanthropy and Collaborative Funding

Drawing from his experience at the Gates Foundation, Brizard highlights the power of collaborative philanthropy. He explains how bringing together multiple funders can create a more substantial impact than isolated efforts. Examples include joint funding projects that combine resources from government and philanthropic entities to support large-scale educational initiatives.

Notable Quote:

"Different funders can come together and create a powerful lever for change."
— Jean-Claude Brizard [20:58]

Advice and Final Thoughts

As the conversation wraps up, Brizard shares invaluable advice on maintaining integrity and upholding core values in leadership roles. He recounts a poignant lesson from a mentor:

Notable Quote:

"Never negotiate your core values. No job is worth that."
— Jean-Claude Brizard [25:50]

He also emphasizes the importance of storytelling combined with data to engage and convince stakeholders, urging nonprofit leaders to connect with the hearts and minds of their communities.

Conclusion

Episode 596 offers a deep dive into the intersection of education, technology, and cross-sector collaboration. Jean-Claude Brizard’s insights underscore the importance of innovation, trust, and collective action in transforming educational systems to better serve all students. His leadership at Digital Promise exemplifies how strategic partnerships and a steadfast commitment to core values can drive meaningful and lasting change.

Engage Further: To learn more about Digital Promise and its initiatives, visit www.digitalpromise.org.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jean-Claude Brizard [09:44]: "Technology can have a real impact on teaching and learning—not as a replacement, but as an enhancement."
• Jean-Claude Brizard [15:06]: "You can only move at the speed of trust."
• Jean-Claude Brizard [11:42]: "The greater end is lifelong success, economic mobility, well-being, and personal agency."
• Jean-Claude Brizard [20:58]: "Different funders can come together and create a powerful lever for change."
• Jean-Claude Brizard [25:50]: "Never negotiate your core values. No job is worth that."

This episode serves as an inspirational guide for nonprofit professionals seeking to amplify their impact through innovative strategies and meaningful collaborations. Jean-Claude Brizard’s expertise provides valuable lessons on leveraging technology, fostering trust, and maintaining integrity to create systemic change in education and beyond.