Data + Reflection!
the Untapped Powerhouse of School Improvement
In a world where educators are swamped with numbers, reports, and pressure to perform, we often miss a critical truth:
We don’t grow just by experiencing — we grow by reflecting on experience.
– John Dewey
This was the heart of Dr. Laureen Adams-Tutu’s session at #LAITISLC2025: a compelling call for schools to move beyond passive data collection to active, mindful reflection that transforms data into action.
Why Reflection and Data Must Work Together
Reflection helps us pause. Data shows us patterns. But together, they give us clarity.
Dr. Adams-Tutu presented a powerful case for synergy — not just collecting data or “checking reflection boxes,” but using both to:
Understand what’s really happening in classrooms and school culture
Improve teaching and learning in real-time
Foster equity by elevating overlooked voices (students, families, teachers)
The 3 Levels of Data: Which One Are You Using?
Satellite Data – Test scores, attendance, broad overviews
Map Data – More focused insights like reading levels or rubric scores
Street Data – The goldmine of context: student voice, lived experience, informal feedback
Street data helps us uncover equity gaps, behavioral trends, and social-emotional needs that numbers alone can’t.
A Simple Framework to Use Immediately
Dr. Adams-Tutu introduced the “What? So What? Now What?” framework for analyzing data with clarity and purpose:
What? → Describe the data objectively. What do you see?
So What? → Why does this matter? What insight does it reveal?
Now What? → What action should be taken based on this insight?
This simple tool can be used with staff, students, or even parents to make data conversations meaningful — not mechanical.
Protocols That Shift Mindsets
The workshop also modeled protocols that promote social-emotional safety, equity of voice, and deeper analysis. These protocols help teams:
Listen without judgment
Share insights vulnerably
Turn reflection into transformation
Pro tip: Structure matters. When looking at data, use time-boxed roles and prompts to keep the conversation intentional and productive.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
We’re in a time when:
Teachers are burnt out
School leaders are overstretched
Data overload leads to analysis paralysis
But when schools combine the logic of data with the wisdom of reflection, they move from surviving to innovating.
"It doesn’t matter how much data you have. It’s whether you use it successfully that counts."
— Bernard Marr
Your Next Steps as a School Leader
Audit what kind of data you currently collect. Is it just test scores or does it include street data too?
Use the “What–So What–Now What” framework in your next staff meeting.
Create structured reflection spaces for your team — short, consistent, safe.
Model the mindset: Be curious. Be honest. Be growth-minded.
Final Reflection
Data tells you what happened.
Reflection helps you understand why it happened.
Together, they help you decide what to do next.
Let’s stop treating data and reflection as separate tools. Let’s harness them as a unified engine for school improvement.
Because in education, clarity isn’t optional — it’s mission-critical.
Love and Light
Dr. Abimbola Ogundere
Founder, LAIT AFRICA
Written with insights from Dr. Laureen Adams-Tutu’s session at LAIT ISLC 2025
💌 For more, follow her work at laureenadams.com
#SchoolLeadership #DataInEducation #ReflectivePractice #StreetData #EducationalEquity #LAITISLC2025 #SchoolImprovement #LeadershipDevelopment