SUSTAINABLE ACTION PLANNING FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE
An Introduction to the Pyramid Lite
Workshop Overview
Are you an educator or school leader trying to engage your community in making change?
This one-day workshop will teach you a strategic planning process called ‘Pyramid Lite,’ whose roots in participatory decision-making and systems thinking practices lead to sustainable outcomes. This process used by UN agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies can now be used by your school and classrooms!
In this engaging, day-long workshop, participants will come together to create a sustainable action plan to address a central challenge of their choosing in their community. This workshop invites diverse stakeholders—including sustainability teams, administration, students, parents, and community members—to learn about sustainable changemaking and collaborate on actionable steps.
This workshop is also available online. Click here for more information and upcoming courses.
Learning Outcomes
In this workshop, you will…
• Analyze their community as a system. Learn a structured process they can use to make sustainable systems change.
• Gain new tools for their systems thinking toolbox.
• Apply their learning to reflect on a “Central Challenge” in their context.
• Connect with like-minded educators working as agents of sustainable change.
• Explore real-world examples of tools in action from Compass Educators around the world.
• Receive personalized feedback to support their learning.
• Create an action plan for initiating systemic change in their community.
Who should participate?
This course is ideally suited for sustainability teams aiming to build consensus and collaboration on new projects. It's a valuable opportunity to engage both administrators and students, showcasing the importance of a diverse stakeholder group in driving impactful change.
Additionally, the workshop welcomes administrators, board members, school leaders, and education teams interested in spearheading sustainable initiatives. Pre-existing committees, student councils, eco-schools, and other groups committed to creating sustainable change will find this workshop particularly beneficial in achieving their goals.
What will you take away from this course?
• A deeper understanding of systems, systemic change, and systems thinking.
• A step-by-step process for making systemic change in your community.
• An array of useful strategies for change-making.
• New systems tools that can be used to support powerful student learning.
• An action plan for bringing systems change to your community.
Time Expectations
This workshop is hosted by a school or organization with 5 hours of content. Contact [email protected] for information about hosting a workshop at your school or organization.
Certifications
This workshop can be supplemented by an asynchronous follow-up course that leads to Level 2 "Compass Educator" certification.
1-1 Facilitator Support
This course is unique from many online courses because of the focus that we place on supporting our participants in their learning journey. Every participant will be assigned a mentor/facilitator whose educator experience most aligns with theirs. Your facilitator will accompany you throughout, providing personalized feedback and the opportunity to dive deeper based on your context.
Questions? We’d love to hear from you.
F.A.Q.
This workshop is ideal for sustainability teams, administrators, educators, students, parents, and community members who are interested in driving sustainable change in their school communities. Both formal and informal school groups—like eco-committees or student councils—will benefit.
No prior experience is required. The workshop introduces the tools and concepts in a practical, accessible way and supports all participants in applying them to real school contexts.
Participants will leave with a toolkit of practical systems thinking strategies, a collaborative action plan draft, and experience using the Pyramid Lite process for planning sustainable change in their community or school.
Yes! The workshop is designed for intergenerational collaboration. Including students, teachers, and leaders in the same session models the inclusive, participatory approach needed for meaningful and lasting change.
The workshop helps deepen alignment, build shared language, and surface new ideas to strengthen or expand current efforts. It’s especially useful for energizing teams and building momentum around ongoing projects.
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