Summary
In my role as Director of Curriculum and Evaluation at the YMCA, I designed and launched the organization’s first-ever impact report using Hello Insight, a nationally normed survey and analytics platform that measures social-emotional learning outcomes. The purpose was to give program leaders across multiple sites actionable data on how out-of-school-time programming affected youth development. This report empowered leaders to visualize outcomes, identify trends, and shape professional development and programming priorities using real-time, site-specific and comparative data. My goal was to embed a continuous improvement model into the culture of curriculum and evaluation.
In my role as Director of Curriculum and Evaluation at the YMCA, I designed and launched the organization’s first-ever impact report using Hello Insight, a nationally normed survey and analytics platform that measures social-emotional learning outcomes. The purpose was to give program leaders across multiple sites actionable data on how out-of-school-time programming affected youth development. This report empowered leaders to visualize outcomes, identify trends, and shape professional development and programming priorities using real-time, site-specific and comparative data. My goal was to embed a continuous improvement model into the culture of curriculum and evaluation.
Challenge
Before this initiative, there was no centralized or structured evaluation system in place to measure program effectiveness or learner impact. Programming and evaluation decisions were made without data. Leaders needed a clear, accessible system that allowed them to review and reflect on site-specific outcomes in relation to regional and national benchmarks. The absence of a baseline for measuring youth experiences created a gap in both internal accountability and curriculum alignment.
Before this initiative, there was no centralized or structured evaluation system in place to measure program effectiveness or learner impact. Programming and evaluation decisions were made without data. Leaders needed a clear, accessible system that allowed them to review and reflect on site-specific outcomes in relation to regional and national benchmarks. The absence of a baseline for measuring youth experiences created a gap in both internal accountability and curriculum alignment.
Audience
The primary audience included program directors, site supervisors, and youth development staff across Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky YMCA locations. Indirect stakeholders included regional executives, the YMCA strategic planning board, and external partners interested in outcome-based reporting. The report also informed collaborative efforts between the YMCA and Hello Insight to support broader professional development planning.
The primary audience included program directors, site supervisors, and youth development staff across Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky YMCA locations. Indirect stakeholders included regional executives, the YMCA strategic planning board, and external partners interested in outcome-based reporting. The report also informed collaborative efforts between the YMCA and Hello Insight to support broader professional development planning.
Process
To develop the report, I collected student experience and engagement data from across sites using Hello Insight’s research-based survey tools. I analyzed the results against region-specific data as well as norms provided by Hello Insight, highlighting key findings in a visually accessible, narrative-driven format built in Canva. I coordinated individual debrief meetings with each program leader to review their site’s results and compare them to internal and national benchmarks. These conversations helped translate the data into actionable curriculum and staffing priorities. I also partnered with Hello Insight to schedule and facilitate targeted professional development sessions for youth development staff, ensuring they had the support to turn insights into practice. All reports, training materials, and communications were organized via SharePoint and distributed through Microsoft Outlook to ensure consistency and follow-up across sites.
To develop the report, I collected student experience and engagement data from across sites using Hello Insight’s research-based survey tools. I analyzed the results against region-specific data as well as norms provided by Hello Insight, highlighting key findings in a visually accessible, narrative-driven format built in Canva. I coordinated individual debrief meetings with each program leader to review their site’s results and compare them to internal and national benchmarks. These conversations helped translate the data into actionable curriculum and staffing priorities. I also partnered with Hello Insight to schedule and facilitate targeted professional development sessions for youth development staff, ensuring they had the support to turn insights into practice. All reports, training materials, and communications were organized via SharePoint and distributed through Microsoft Outlook to ensure consistency and follow-up across sites.
Tools Used
Canva, Hello Insight (survey platform), Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SharePoint
Canva, Hello Insight (survey platform), Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SharePoint
Solution
The final deliverable was a comprehensive, site-specific and regional impact report designed to be accessible, visually engaging, and action-oriented. It featured consolidated metrics across developmental domains, comparison tables against city and national data, and clear takeaways tailored for youth-serving educators. These reports served as the foundation for coaching sessions with site leaders and created a shared language of evaluation and instructional accountability across the network. For the first time, curriculum decisions were informed by student voices and normed performance data.
The final deliverable was a comprehensive, site-specific and regional impact report designed to be accessible, visually engaging, and action-oriented. It featured consolidated metrics across developmental domains, comparison tables against city and national data, and clear takeaways tailored for youth-serving educators. These reports served as the foundation for coaching sessions with site leaders and created a shared language of evaluation and instructional accountability across the network. For the first time, curriculum decisions were informed by student voices and normed performance data.
Impact
The report became a strategic asset for the YMCA’s youth development leadership, leading to more targeted PD, curriculum revisions, and evaluation cycles. Leaders began implementing changes aligned with their specific site data, and staff became more invested in continuous improvement efforts. The organization was able to align programming more closely with measurable SEL outcomes, supporting grant compliance and enhancing the evidence base for future funding. This measurable shift from reactive to data-informed planning demonstrated a new level of instructional coherence and strategic leadership across programs. See some of the actual data points in the document linked below.
The report became a strategic asset for the YMCA’s youth development leadership, leading to more targeted PD, curriculum revisions, and evaluation cycles. Leaders began implementing changes aligned with their specific site data, and staff became more invested in continuous improvement efforts. The organization was able to align programming more closely with measurable SEL outcomes, supporting grant compliance and enhancing the evidence base for future funding. This measurable shift from reactive to data-informed planning demonstrated a new level of instructional coherence and strategic leadership across programs. See some of the actual data points in the document linked below.
Reflection
This project sharpened my ability to translate complex datasets into practical support, an essential skill for any role supporting curriculum consultation and product adoption. Initially, I assumed the visual report alone would drive reflection and action, but during early debriefs I realized that many leaders needed additional support interpreting the graphs and connecting them to day-to-day curriculum practices. In response, I revised my approach to include side-by-side coaching during review sessions and facilitated deeper collaborative conversations that emphasized shared learning and next steps. This experience taught me the value of pairing data storytelling with structured guidance, especially when building new habits around evaluation. It deepened my confidence as a facilitator and underscored the importance of differentiated leadership support.
This project sharpened my ability to translate complex datasets into practical support, an essential skill for any role supporting curriculum consultation and product adoption. Initially, I assumed the visual report alone would drive reflection and action, but during early debriefs I realized that many leaders needed additional support interpreting the graphs and connecting them to day-to-day curriculum practices. In response, I revised my approach to include side-by-side coaching during review sessions and facilitated deeper collaborative conversations that emphasized shared learning and next steps. This experience taught me the value of pairing data storytelling with structured guidance, especially when building new habits around evaluation. It deepened my confidence as a facilitator and underscored the importance of differentiated leadership support.
