Context: TEA will host an Insight to Impact Dashboards (I2I) training on how to get the most out of the Employment and Retention Dashboard. To ensure that the lesson sticks, we created a fun, interactive “treasure hunt” for EPP staff to practice finding actionable insights about their respective programs.
Goal: Access dashboards to locate specific data points, interpret what they mean, and identify at least one way you could apply the insight to strengthen your EPP.
Skills: Since practice makes perfect, here’s a tiny challenge for EPP staff who want to get more familiar with their data. The idea is to offer a new mini challenge after each dashboard training event so EPP staff can get into the habit of playing more with their data.
Prizes: Those who complete the treasure hunt and email TEA will not only be featured in the EPP Newsletter but also receive a prize (in addition to a hard-earned high-five)!
How to Play (5-10 minutes)
- Open the Insight to Impact Dashboards.
- Answer each question by finding the value in the dashboard and writing/typing it down in the blank fields below.
- Copy and paste the answers to the questions above and email them to Stefan.Swiat@tea.texas.gov to receive your recognition and prize!
Ground Rules
- Use only data available in the dashboards—no guessing.
- Review the filter you used (e.g., school year, route, certification type, etc.).
- If you get stuck, try changing one filter at a time to see what updates.
Mini-Challenge: Employment and Retention Dashboard
- Choose one characteristic (e.g., certification route, certification role, location, subject, race/ethnicity, gender). What subgroup has the highest employment and/or retention value (choose one metric), as available?
Characteristic chosen: ____________________
Metric chosen (employment or retention): ____________________
Highest subgroup: ____________________ - Identify a shift over time: Compare the 2024 year to the 2023 year: what noticeably increased or decreased (employment and/or retention)?
Metric selected: ____________________
Shift observed: ____________________ Evidence: ____________________ - Of 2022 and 2023, which year had more women teachers employed?
Year: ____________________ - How many of your 2021-22 candidates were retained after two years with a standard certificate in Texas classrooms? Yes: ______ No: _____
- Are your candidates remaining in the field of education after three years at a higher rate than the state average? Yes: ______ No: _____
*Inside Scoop: You need to use the state dashboards for No. 5