In this week's episode, Pascal explains how his AI-powered platform, Themis, changes the game when it comes to restorative practices by enhancing communication and collaboration.
A Vision for Change
Recognizing the potential for improvement in existing platforms, Pascal embarked on a journey to evolve a system that would align more closely with his school's progressive values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This mission led to the development of Themis Version 1, a platform designed to manage incidents and concerns in a way that worked uniquely for his school.
Building a Foundation of Knowledge
Pascal's journey with Themis started with harnessing AI to consolidate years of accumulated school policies, guidelines, and best practices into a comprehensive, easily accessible handbook. This digital foundation then fueled the development of Themis' interactive system, a virtual assistant that guides teachers and counselors through every step of incident management.
Pascal's innovative use of AI spans multiple facets of Themis:
Building a Comprehensive Knowledge Base: AI was instrumental in consolidating years of accumulated school policies, guidelines, and best practices into an easily accessible digital handbook. This foundation ensures that all actions taken are aligned with the school's restorative approach and responsive classroom practices.
Designing the Platform: AI assisted in creating complex formulas and web graphics, accelerating the development process and enhancing the platform's usability.
Interactive Virtual Assistant: Themis features an AI-powered bot that is well-versed in the school's guidelines. Teachers and counselors can ask questions and receive immediate, guideline-aligned responses, aiding them in addressing incidents effectively.
Incident Management Workshop and AI Tutor: The platform includes an AI-driven workshop that guides educators through incident management, asking probing questions to ensure thorough understanding and appropriate action.
Automated Report Rewriting and Updates: AI helps in rewriting incident reports to ensure they are factual and unbiased, facilitating immediate communication with all relevant parties. Additionally, Themis automatically summarizes updates and sends them to counselors and teachers three times a day, keeping everyone informed in real time.
Streamlining Workflows, Empowering Educators
By automating time-consuming tasks such as communication, data collection, and report generation, Themis frees educators to focus on what truly matters: building relationships with students, engaging with parents, and crafting restorative solutions. The platform's automation capabilities include immediate notifications to counselors and homeroom teachers when an incident is reported, and automatic updates to stakeholders via email and chat.
Customization: A System Tailored to Their Needs
One of the standout features of Themis is its high level of customization. Pascal and his team designed the system to align precisely with their desired workflows and communication styles. This includes specialized modules for meeting coordination, confidential note-taking for support teams, and detailed tracking of communications with parents of all students involved in an incident.
Adoption and Impact: A Tool Shaping the Community
The rapid adoption of Themis by teachers speaks volumes about its effectiveness. Within days of its launch, educators praised its utility during faculty meetings, noting how it has become an indispensable part of their daily routines. The platform has empowered teachers to handle tier-one incidents within the classroom, fostering immediate resolution and enhancing the chances of positive behavioral change.
Data-Driven Insights for Strategic Planning
Themis offers robust data visualization tools that allow the administration to analyze incidents by time, location, grade, and more. This wealth of information supports strategic reflections, policy development, and targeted action plans, ensuring that interventions are both effective and timely.
Fostering a Human-Centered Culture
Despite the advanced technology behind Themis, Pascal emphasizes that the focus remains on students and teachers, not the system itself. The platform serves as a means to support human connections, collaboration, and his division's overarching vision and philosophy. As one counselor noted, working without Themis would now seem unimaginable—a testament to its seamless integration into the school's culture.
A Tool Shaping the Future
Echoing Marshall McLuhan's wisdom, "We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us," Pascal reflects on how Themis is guiding the school toward its desired future. While acknowledging there's always room for improvement, he is confident that the technology is supporting—not limiting—the school's journey toward optimized social-emotional learning.
Tune in for Inspiration
This episode is a must-listen for any educator seeking inspiration and practical strategies for leveraging AI to enhance student support. Tune in to discover how Pascal's commitment to customization and innovation led to the creation of Themis, a shining example of how AI can be harnessed to build a better future for our schools and our students.
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