The CFEED Annual Summit held at Valencia College not only celebrated five years of collaborative achievements but also illuminated the path ahead with deep dives into data-driven strategies in education. The summit drew together a spectrum of educational leaders who shared insights on enhancing student success through innovative data usage.
Diana Pienaar kicked off the summit with a reflective look at CFEED’s evolution. Highlighting the journey from initial concepts without a complete data architecture to managing over 250 diverse and impactful projects, she praised the team’s ability to integrate advanced data analytics that significantly boost student outcomes across partner institutions. Diana also emphasized the upcoming upgrades to CFEED’s data architecture, known as Gen 2.
Ashton Terry on the State of CFEED
Ashton Terry took the stage to discuss the recent initiatives and developments within CFEED. He highlighted how the past year has been pivotal, with CFEED fostering unity among its partners to push forward common goals for education. Ashton introduced new initiatives in the Hospitality & Tourism sector, demonstrating how tailored communication and marketing strategies, underpinned by CFEED’s robust data, are advancing this booming industry in Central Florida. His presentation not only underlined the accomplishments but also engaged the audience in a dynamic activity to demonstrate the practical applications of CFEED’s data insights.
David Smith’s Interactive Research Origin Activity
David Smith’s session opened the floor to newer audiences by reintroducing the foundational capabilities of CFEED’s platform. He detailed the evolutionary process of initiating data projects, from simple queries to complex analyses, highlighting the enhanced user interface that accommodates a wide range of educational stakeholders. David’s use of interactive tools like Microsoft Forms and QR codes exemplified how CFEED is making data access more user-friendly and proactive. This session spurred the creation of twelve new projects, significantly enriching the summit’s collaborative output.
Fireside Chat with Brandon McKelvey and Isis Artze Vega
Brandon McKelvey and Isis Artze Vega shared how CFEED’s insights have been instrumental in shaping administrative decisions at Valencia College, particularly around dual enrollment. They discussed the strategic use of data to tailor educational pathways that significantly enhance student readiness and success. The conversation also explored how having access to such data during their own student days could have influenced their educational journeys, bringing a personal touch to the discussion on data utility.
Building Support for College and Career Readiness
Danielle Malfara and Robert Palmer elaborated on the necessity of community-oriented approaches in education, particularly for college and career readiness. They shared how Orange County Public Schools and The School District of Osceola County utilize CFEED data to refine their educational strategies, ensuring students are better prepared for their future careers. This session highlighted the collaborative efforts across districts and institutions to create a cohesive support system that leverages local resources and data insights for maximal student impact.
Knight Track & Beyond by Kimberly Hardy and Angelia Smith
Kimberly Hardy and Angelia Smith provided an in-depth look at several CFEED-supported programs, including the Knight Track and Transfer Ready Scholarship. They detailed how these initiatives are structured to align closely with CFEED’s analytical findings to support student transitions from high school to college. This discussion not only highlighted the direct impact of CFEED’s data on student scholarships and course selection but also showcased how longitudinal data is used to tailor educational pathways that align with student success metrics.
Data Governance for Future Access by Braulio Colón
Braulio Colón emphasized the critical importance of robust data governance frameworks to ensure the integrity and accessibility of education data. His presentation outlined the challenges and opportunities in data management within the education sector and called for stronger advocacy to enhance state data systems. Braulio’s talk was complemented by a video presentation that illustrated successful data-driven projects across Florida, showcasing the tangible benefits of strategic data usage in academic settings.
UCF's Upward Bound Program by Diana Pienaar
Diana Pienaar highlighted the significant strides made through UCF’s Upward Bound Program, which aims to empower low-income and first-generation high school students on their path to college. She emphasized how CFEED’s college readiness model was instrumental in identifying key intervention points for these students, leading to tailored support strategies that enhance their chances of success. The program’s use of CFEED data has allowed for the proactive adjustment of educational approaches to meet the specific needs of each student, showcasing a prime example of data-driven decision-making in action.
Smart Start Program by Sabrina Gonzalez Blohm
Sabrina Gonzalez Blohm presented the Smart Start Program, which focuses on smoothing the transition for Valencia College students intending to transfer to UCF. She detailed how the program uses CFEED’s transfer readiness model to align students’ course histories with their intended majors, thereby optimizing their educational trajectories. The program, Sabrina noted, is a proactive measure that not only prepares students academically but also aligns their educational experiences with market demands, enhancing their career readiness and future job prospects.
New Learning Data by Jamie Stalker
Jamie Stalker discussed the integration of K-8 data into CFEED’s broader analytics to track early predictors of academic success. He explained how this early data helps in identifying at-risk students and allows for the implementation of targeted interventions that can change education outcomes. Jamie’s talk underscored the importance of a unified approach to data across all education levels, illustrating how CFEED’s comprehensive analytics are shaping proactive educational strategies that begin as early as elementary school.
Vision Team Roundtable Discussion Expansion
The Vision Team roundtable served as a dynamic closing session where leaders from various educational sectors reflected on the integration of CFEED’s data-driven findings into their strategic operations. Dr. Kathleen Plinske and Dr. Alexander Cartwright discussed the importance of revising educational strategies to better meet the current and evolving needs of students, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating emotional and psychological support alongside academic guidance in a post-pandemic world.
Dr. Maria Vazquez highlighted the shifts in data patterns before and after the pandemic, underscoring the need for educational systems to adapt swiftly to these changes to support student achievement more effectively. She pointed out the essential role of early data in preparing students for post-secondary success and the critical adjustments needed to bolster those preparations.
Dr. Mark Shanoff contributed to the conversation by discussing the unique challenges and opportunities within the Osceola County School District. He stressed the importance of CFEED’s insights in informing the district’s strategies, particularly in terms of enhancing dual enrollment programs and understanding the economic course requirements for students entering fields like hospitality and tourism—a booming sector in Central Florida. Dr. Shanoff expressed a keen interest in leveraging CFEED’s data to tailor educational pathways that not only prepare students academically but also align closely with regional workforce needs. He advocated for a more nuanced use of data to predict student success in specific academic and career pathways, which could significantly impact how educational programs are structured from middle school through college.
The roundtable underscored the commitment of the vision team to not only utilize the data provided by CFEED but to actively engage it in shaping future educational policies and initiatives. This collaboration aims to directly impact student outcomes across Central Florida, ensuring that educational strategies are both responsive and proactive in meeting the diverse needs of the student population.
Learn More and Connect
Stay tuned for updates as we continue to build on the successes of this year’s summit. We will keep you informed about the date and details of our next annual CFEED summit, promising even more enriching discussions and innovative educational strategies. To see how CFEED’s initiatives can benefit your institution or to get involved, visit our homepage and follow us on LinkedIn for ongoing updates and discussions about enhancing student success across Central Florida. For more information, please contact Diana Pienaar, CFEED Director at Valencia College, via email at dpienaar@valenciacollege.edu.
About CFEED
Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED) is a partnership, comprised of the Helios Education Foundation, the School District of Osceola County (SDOC), Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), Valencia College (Valencia), and the University of Central Florida (UCF), along with Midtown Consulting Group, that is engaged in a collaborative program to develop insights and create impacts for students in Central Florida.
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