The  Atlanta Public Schools Department of Innovation, Improvement and ReDesign host a Design Thinking Cohort every year to help schools and clusters tackle real-world school challenges with efficient, yet empathetic solutions.  This year was the inaugural year of the Design Innovation Grant Award.  This award provides financial support to schools in various aspects of an innovation project; such as research and development, prototyping, testing, marketing, production, and professional learning.

This year they awarded $19,989 to design cohort participants who applied for the award. The majority of grantees used the funds to engage in professional learning opportunities such as conferences or project-based collaborative planning.  In particular, our own "Super Social Worker", Ms. Chatelah Brown, was granted a $1,000 award for her innovative approach to support new social workers to Atlanta Public Schools through Lunch and Learn professional development sessions.  

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Brown, her intern and design cohort in taking on the task of sharing ideas and developing stronger professionals through monthly lunch lessons throughout the district.  We look forward to the growth of this program!