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Message STRATEGIC PLANNINGINNOVATION INCUBATORCOHORT ONE

The PGCPS Strategic Planning Innovation Incubator Pilot was launched inNovember 2024 to spark creative problem-solving and foster a culture ofinnovation across Prince George’s County Public Schools. This initiativeempowered employees to submit proposals aligned with the district’sStrategic Plan and 2024–25 Focus Areas. By embracing a disruptiveinnovation mindset—and through collaboration, mentorship, and ongoingfeedback—participants transformed their ideas into practical solutions thatenhance both the educational and workplace experience at PGCPS.Over several months, eight innovators participated in the pilot, receivingprofessional development, mentorship, and structured support to design andtest their ideas using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach. Fromimproving classroom engagement to streamlining operational processes,each project reflected a strong commitment to improving experiences forboth students and staff.By the end of the pilot, 100% of participants completed their PDSA cycles,and 92% reported they would recommend the incubator to others. The pilotnot only showcased the talent and creativity within our district but alsodemonstrated that meaningful change can begin with small, simple, andsustainable actions.This report outlines the journey, key outcomes, and next steps as we lookahead to future cohorts of the Innovation Incubator.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY02

PROGRAM OVERVIEWEmpower PGCPS staff to lead innovative ideas thataddress challenges in their schools or departments.Foster a mindset of disruptive innovation—solutionsthat are simple, generate no or minimum cost,equitable, and quick to implement.Build a district-wide culture of continuousimprovement through iterative learning (PDSA cycles).Promote collaboration across departments andschools to spread impactful ideas.PROGRAM DESIGNTimeline: The pilot ran from February 2025 to June 2025. Application Process: Staff were invited to submit proposals during the months ofNovember and December 2024. Of the 18 applications received, 9projects were selected, and 7 ultimately completed the pilot.Support Model: Each innovator was paired with a mentor - either a Central Officeleader, a University of Maryland partner, or subject-matter experts.Participants attended one orientation, two innovation hours, frequentcheck-ins, and coaching sessions with their mentors and SPRM staff.An Innovation Incubator Thoughtcatcher toolkit and templatessupported innovators in documenting and presenting their work. 03

04KEY MILESTONESKick-Off & Orientation Day:Innovator Orientation: On February 5, 2025, a one-hour virtualorientation was held with the 10 selected innovators. The sessioncovered program expectations, the toolkit, and key resources. Innovatorsalso reflected on innovation and creative thinking, exploring how newperspectives enhance their work. The session concluded with a Q&Aabout the new program.Mentor Orientations: Two virtual orientations for PGCPS leaders wereheld on February 25 and 28, 2025, to identify and prepare mentors.Participants reviewed selected applications, pilot expectations, andmentorship guidelines. The sessions included role-play activities to helpmentors practice their role and anticipate potential questions.

052 Innovation Hours (Midpoint Learning)PDSA & Practices for Improvement and InnovationTuesday, March 26, 2025 – Bowie South Bowie Branch LibraryThe first in-person Innovation Hour, led by Dr. Segun Eubanks, focused on Dispositions and Practices for Improvement and Innovation. Heencouraged participants to move forward fearlessly, embracevulnerability, take risks, and view problems as part of the learningprocess. The session inspired participants to foster creativity andimagine bold, collaborative solutions. Innovators also pitched their ideas,shared challenges, and discussed how collaboration could help bringtheir projects to life. Approximately 21 people attended, includinginnovators, mentors, and strategic planning partners. KEY MILESTONESPDSA ImplementationTuesday, May 6, 2025 – JA Finance Park,Prince George’s CountyThe second Innovation Hour featuredbreakout sessions and presentations onPDSA implementation. Dr. Jean Snellspoke on Fostering Innovation throughPDSAing, and Mrs. Laura Liccionepresented on PDSA Cycles in Practice.Key takeaways included: start small, adaptideas as needed, and remember thatabandoning an idea is a last resort. 18participants attended, includinginnovators and mentors. The session wasclosed only to innovators and mentors.

06KEY MILESTONESFinal Showcase Event: PGCPS Innovation Incubator Symposium Day The final in-person session was held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, atSurrattsville High School. This event brought together students andPGCPS staff to celebrate the innovators' journeys.Innovators shared reflections on implementing their disruptive ideas,while mentors participated in a panel discussion about their experiences.Surrattsville students served as moderators and greeters, gaining insightinto district-wide innovation beyond the classroom.The event concluded with a gallery walk, where attendees visited eachinnovator's station to learn more about their initiatives. The session wasopen to other offices, which joined to support the innovators andmentors during their final presentations.

from the “Study” phase was the value oftailoring sessions to each group, as everycohort brought unique perspectives. Another innovator addressed chronicabsenteeism among 9th graders byintroducing the “Level Up Milestone” system,a gamified approach to boost attendance.Data showed improvements: 92% to 93% forthe Intervention Group and 92% to 94% forthe Comparison Group. Student feedback The Innovation Incubator supported participants in using the PDSA(Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle to address real challenges in their schoolsand departments through iterative testing, reflection, and refinement.One innovator reimagined the New Employee Orientation, which hadbeen reduced to a 3-hour virtual session post-COVID. Drawing from herown recent experience, she piloted a redesigned 2-day in-personorientation, welcoming over 120 new employees, who participated and left feeling connected, supported, and better prepared. A key insight07PDSA CYCLE IN ACTION also revealed benefits beyond attendance, including strongerengagement, better grades, and improved behavior. The innovator plansto personalize the system further based on these results. These examples reflect the power of the PDSA framework in supportinglow-risk experimentation and meaningful, user-centered change.Innovators embraced learning at every step, adapting their ideas basedon real-time evidence and lived experience. You can explore morestories from other innovators here, each offering a unique lens onproblem-solving, creativity, and impact across the district.

08MENTORSHIP ENGAGEMENT Mentorship played a vital role in the success of each innovator’s journey,offering thought partnership, accountability, and strategic supportthroughout the implementation process. Mentors helped innovators refinetheir ideas, navigate challenges, and maintain focus on outcomes, oftenhelping them unlock new ways of thinking and approaching problems.For example, one innovator, with their mentor, helped narrow the projectfocus when the original idea was really broad. Another innovator, paired witha supervisor as mentor, unexpectedly found a strong partnership. Theircollaboration led to a live infographic on special education supports, whichgained wide interest across the division.One innovator expanded her approach to datacollection after her mentor encouraged her to valuequalitative data alongside quantitative metrics, usingstories, interviews, and observations to strengthen heranalysis.Another innovator, after connecting with her mentorsand participating in Innovation Hours, found new clarityon her idea. She adjusted her idea instead ofabandoning it and successfully completed the program.These few examples highlight how mentorship nurturedinnovation, sharpened ideas, and empoweredparticipants to grow as reflective practitioners andchange agents. The relationships built through thisprogram were a critical driver of each innovator’ssuccess.

09RESULTS AND IMPACTThe Innovation Incubator Pilot yielded meaningful outcomes atboth the individual and organizational levels, reinforcing the valueof investing in staff-led innovation. Participants reportedincreased confidence in problem-solving, improved collaboration,and a renewed sense of agency in shaping their workenvironments.Participation Outcomes8 Innovators successfully completed the program.92% of participants would recommend the incubator to acolleague.100% submitted a final PDSA cycle summary andpresentation.Key Survey Highlights:Based on post-program surveys:71% of respondents agreed that the incubator helped themapply the PDSA cycle effectively.77% of participants would be interested in participating in theprogram again. 94% of participants found the Innovation Hour sessionseffective in fostering innovation and collaboration amonginnovators, mentors, and guests.100% rated the experience as very good or excellent

10Each innovation aligned with one focus areas of the T26 Strategic Plan,reinforcing district-wide goals and driving meaningful progress acrossschools and departments. The following areas highlight where innovatorsconcentrated their efforts:Project Impact Areas Aligned to the T26 Strategic PlanWorkforce & Operational ExcellenceProjects in this area centered on building anorganizational learning culture. Innovatorsintroduced peer mentorship models, redesignedthe onboarding experience to strengthen staffreadiness and connection, and created a liveinfographic to improve communication andaccess to services across teams.Mental Health & WellnessOne innovator piloted a mindfulness-basedafterschool program that integrated movement,SEL enrichment, and wellness supports topromote social-emotional well-being amongstudents. Educational ExcellenceSeveral innovators focused on advancing Educational Excellence throughtargeted interventions. One disruptive idea used gamification toimprove 9th-grade attendance, engaging students through a system ofincentives and milestones. Another aimed to accelerate mathachievement by shifting student mindsets from “answer-getting” tovaluing the learning process, promoting risk-taking, reflection, andconfidence. A third project supported college and career readiness bypiloting a mobile-friendly tool that enables general education teachersto quickly access student accommodations and make real-timeinstructional adjustments for students with special needs.

11Qualitative Feedback“Understanding the PDSA and how it helped mebreak my disruptive idea into small steps.Being able to try my idea on a small scale first,and expand it next year. The study phaseallowed me to gather feedback and dataquickly to see what was working and whatwasn’t and adjust accordingly. I liked how mydisruptive idea evolved and got better witheach cycle.” - Innovator “PGCPS staff have amazing ideas that havethe potential to enhance support to studentsand staff, and if allowed to present theirideas I believe PGCPS can improve staffexperience.” - Mentor “I learned the importance of taking anidea and breaking it down into clearsteps that anyone can understand.Getting real feedback from teachershelped me improve my tool and betterunderstand their needs. Thisinnovation incubator cohort helped meto think about the importance ofaligning my tool with county guidelinesand legal requirements. It is importantto be around like-minded people. Allthe people in the cohort had brandnew innovative ideas. That motivatedme.” - Innovator

Start Small, Think Big: Participants were successful when theyfocused on small, manageable changes aligned with a broader vision.Encouraging “simple, easy, no-cost, equitable, and quick” solutionshelped build confidence and momentum.Mentorships & Collaboration: Some innovations emerged as a resultof collaboration and consistent support. Mentorship and team check-ins were key in helping participants stay motivated and reflectivethroughout the process.Time is a Barrier and a Bridge: While lack of time was a commonchallenge, carving out a regular “Innovation Hour” gave innovatorspermission to pause, think, and take risks. Making time visible andprotected matters.Data Reflection Drives Progress: Using the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle helped participants see the value of reflecting on data—both quantitative and qualitative—as a tool for improvement, not justaccountability.12LESSONS LEARNEDCreative Constraints Spark Ingenuity:Encouraging disruptive thinking within schoolsystems prompted participants to challengeassumptions and reimagine what’s possible,even with limited resources.Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Results:Sharing progress, setbacks, andbreakthroughs publicly (e.g., duringpresentations and reflections) created aculture of learning and reduced fear of failure.

Allow More Time for Reflection and Planning: More time to analyzetheir results and adjust their plans thoughtfully. Clarify Expectations Early On: Some participants needed moreclarity around the scope of their projects, the use of data, and howsuccess would be measured. Offering concrete examples and a cleartimeline at the start could help future innovators stay focused andconfident.Strengthen the Program Launch: A more robust kickoff—perhapswith a short boot camp or innovation crash course—can helpparticipants better understand design thinking, the PDSA cycle, andtheir roles in the process.Invite Specialized Mentors: Creating a pool of content-specificmentors could expand the support available, some projects requiredmore targeted expertise. Foster a Community of Innovators: Some participants expressedinterest in staying connected beyond the program. Consider creatingan alumni network or innovation hub where past and current cohortscan collaborate, share ideas, and mentor one another.13OPPORTUNITIES FORIMPROVEMENT &RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURECOHORTS

14Abiola Macaulay, Ed.D.ELD Teacher, High Point HighSchoolDisruptive Idea: Pathways toPresence: Ensuring EveryStudent's SuccessNemahun Aminata Songu-Mbriwa7th Grade Special EducationTeacher, Greenbelt Middle SchoolDisruptive Idea: Support SystemTool to Streamline Access toStudentIEP Accommodations for LessonPlanning andInstructionRowland DentItinerant Crisis ResourceTeacher, Jessie B. Mason SchoolDisruptive Idea: Get the WordOut: Infographics on Topics inSpecial EducationJessica KnoxClassroom Teacher, James McHenryElementary Disruptive Idea: Heartopia: AGround-Zero StudentDevelopment InitiativeCharmelia Smith-BaxterAdministrative Secretary,Department of Capital Programs Disruptive Idea: Office AlliesAdriene Marshall, M.E.dHigh School Math Teacher,CMIT South Middle/HighDisruptive Idea: EducationalExcellence through Standards-Based Grading in MathAmy R. Warren, Ed.D.Instructional Support/Assessment Resource Teacher,DSE in John Carroll ES Disruptive Idea: Get the WordOut: Infographics on Topics inSpecial EducationBetsy WhiteDiversity Strategy Officer, Office ofEquity, Diversity & Belonging Disruptive Idea: Unified SystemicOnboardingCOHORT PROFILETo learn more, view the full profile at: bit.ly/PGCPSInnovationIncubator

MENTOR PROFILE15Amy A. Wiley, M.S. Ed.D.Instructional Supervisor,Physical Education Department of Curriculum &Instruction, PGCPSAndrea BedenbaughSupervisor, Strategic GrantsDevelopment and Management,Strategic Planning and ResourceManagement, PGCPSColin WelchStrategic Planning Specialist,Strategic Planning andResource Management,PGCPSJean Snell, PH.DAssociate Director and SeniorFaculty Specialist for the Centerfor Educational Innovation andImprovement at the University ofMarylandMichelle Blakey-TuggleCoordinating SupervisorOffice of InstructionalSupports, Assessment, andAccountability, PGCPSRandolph BarnesProfessional DevelopmentSpecialist, Office ofProfessional Learning andLeadership, PGCPSTiffanie HorsleyStrategic TransformationPartner, Strategic Planning andResource Management, PGCPSNegasti McCurdie-Wright, Ed. DGrants Development Specialist,Strategic Planning and ResourceManagement, PGCPSTisa M. Holley, Ed.D.Director, Student Services,PGCPSTo learn more, view the full profile at: bit.ly/PGCPSInnovationIncubator

THANK YOUstrategicplanning@pgcps.orgEMAILbit.ly/PGCPSInnovationIncubatorWEBSITE