CLIENT EXAMPLE

Pittsburgh Public Schools

CHALLENGE

Greenway Strategy Group initially supported Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) through a strategic planning process in 2017.   With the appointment of a new superintendent in 2023, a competitive process again resulted in Greenway Strategy’s selection by the Board of Education to design and facilitate the current strategic planning process.

PPS serves over 20,000 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 in 54 schools. The student population is 53% African American and 33% White, with 95 languages spoken representing 57 countries. 

District enrollment had been steadily declining, resulting in underutilized facilities – which have an average age of 90 years, and an inefficient school footprint that did not support equitable, quality programs and services for all students.

OUR APPROACH

  • Conducted individual interviews with each board member, funders, and key partners

  • Held focus groups with partner organizations supporting student success, district administrators, and union leaders

  • Facilitated interactive discussions with students at each 9-12 school

  • Reviewed prior student, parent, teacher, and community input

  • Conducted a review of the external landscape including population and school enrollment trends

  • Analyzed district performance regarding student success, student discipline, enrollment patterns, and staffing trends

  • Facilitated a Design Session including district and community leaders to draft a strategic plan framework

  • Gathered feedback from all stakeholder groups about the draft strategic plan framework using in-person and virtual sessions and a community survey

  • Made frequent public presentations to the Board of Education for interim updates and approval

  • Supported cross-functional Strategy Teams to strategic initiatives using stakeholder input and research on effective approaches

  • Facilitated the leadership team to select initiatives for inclusion in the plan and determine which to launch first

  • Supported design of implementations plans for those initiatives to launch first

  • Worked with district data team to identify performance metrics to assess strategic plan results

IMPACT

The PPS strategic plan is aligned to six priority outcomes for all students, which extend beyond academic achievement encompassing emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health.  The work of the plan is organized into four strategic themes:

  • Improve quality and relevance of academic experiences

  • Create safe, engaging and inclusive school environments

  • Optimize resources for equitable student experiences

  • Prioritize community outreach and access

As its first step in implementation, PPS is engaging the full community to design a comprehensive vision for leveraging the District’s footprint to enhance the entire educational landscape in Pittsburgh.  The proposed facilities utilization plan sets out to foster equity, excellence, and efficiency across the District. The proposal outlines twelve concrete recommendations to optimize facility usage, aiming to enrich the learning environment while addressing financial inefficiencies within the District.