The Personas

There are two recommended ways to use the personas–within an organization (e.g., a team of school district leaders) or across organizations (e.g., districts, regional service centers, educator preparation providers, state agencies).

If you are having a conversation within your organization, it is recommended that you talk to people who share the experiences of the personas you select. For example, if you choose the “Paraprofessional” persona, talk to paraprofessionals at your organization through focus groups, interviews, etc. in order to understand their experiences, pain points, and barriers to advancing their careers by becoming teachers. If you are having conversations across organizations, first think about who has relationships across the state and can effectively bring together all the appropriate entities. The goal of these conversations should be how to work together to support individuals who are coming into the education profession or transitioning jobs. This is especially important because a common pain point for candidates is when information is siloed or when information is being handed off from one organization to the next.