ABOUT THOUGHTEXCHANGE

Engaging in Two-Way Conversation

Nowadays, school districts have various ways to talk to families, but one of the best ways is to listen to what families have to say. DeKalb County School District has teamed up with ThoughtExchange to hear from students, families, teachers, and community members. ThoughtExchange is a special way for people to share their thoughts and ideas on important topics. It’s different from regular surveys because it lets everyone join the conversation and work together. ThoughtExchange can help us tackle everyday challenges and find ways to grow. It gives participants the chance to talk about specific programs and initiatives, and share other feedback about our schools and district. ThoughtExchange is used by many top organizations worldwide, including K-12 school districts, colleges, and businesses.

Through ThoughtExchange, individuals can share their thoughts confidentially and anonymously, guaranteeing that every voice is valued and diverse perspectives can emerge on topics of shared interest or concern. ThoughtExchange promotes engagement by allowing participants to respond anonymously alongside others.

How does it work?

1. DCSD asks a wide-ranging question and welcomes responses from everyone.
2. Participants anonymously share their thoughts or ideas with others in the exchange.
3. Participants use a 1-5 scale to show how much they agree with various thoughts.
4. They’re encouraged to keep returning to share more thoughts and to read and rate others’ contributions.
5. Participants can see how the group has rated the thoughts shared.
6. DCSD examines the data from the exchange and incorporates it into decision-making.

Insights, feedback, and data collected through ThoughtExchange will assist the district in comprehending the perspectives of students, families, staff, and community members on crucial issues, initiatives, and subjects. Exchanges facilitate mutual learning, the discovery of significant insights, and prompt, effective decision-making—all achieved with fewer meetings and enhanced information. This enables us to gather community input while stimulating engaging conversations.

In the DeKalb County School District, we continually seek to enhance communication and deeply value your feedback and ideas. During a ThoughtExchange, our team thoroughly reviews and considers the feedback, particularly focusing on the top-rated thoughts, to guide our future actions effectively.