Problem to Solve
CESA 6 set out to modernize its 4Schools suite to better support teachers and administrators across Wisconsin. Over time, the applications had been built separately, each with its own design patterns and workflows. This led to fragmented experiences across the suite, where each application felt different and required educators to relearn patterns instead of focusing on their students.
The challenge was to redesign these tools into a more unified and intuitive suite while still addressing the unique needs of each application. This meant creating a consistent design language across the platform while ensuring that each app, from content management to student development to event scheduling, delivered the specific functionality educators needed in their day-to-day work.
My Role
As Lead UI/UX Designer, I was responsible for:
- Designing user flows, interfaces, and shared patterns that made tasks simpler and ensured consistency across applications.
- Collaborating with CESA 6 project managers and engineers to align design with technical feasibility and ensure smooth implementation.
- Incorporating feedback from teachers and administrators into design decisions to keep the tools grounded in real classroom and administrative needs.
Streamlining Website Management for Districts and Schools
CMS4Schools gave districts and schools a way to manage websites, but the system was inconsistent and hard for non-technical staff to use. Educator feedback showed the need for a system flexible enough to reflect each school’s community, yet simple enough for staff to update with confidence.
I redesigned the application to make publishing more intuitive, shaping user flows and interactions that simplified content management while creating patterns flexible enough to meet the needs of different districts. Teachers could manage class notes, assignments, photography, and calendars within the same system, reducing reliance on technical staff and improving communication with parents and students.
Supporting Special Education Data Tracking
The IEP (Individualized Education Program) process in Wisconsin was complex and overwhelming, making it difficult for educators to confidently manage required information. SEEDS4Schools already provided a digital system for tracking this data, but its workflows were cumbersome and unintuitive, leaving educators frustrated.
I redesigned the application to simplify data entry and reporting through clearer interaction patterns, guided by educator feedback on what needed to be visible at a glance versus captured in detail. I also introduced an auto-fill feature that carried over repetitive student information throughout the application. As a whole, the redesign gave educators more confidence and reduced the burden of compliance by making the system more accurate and efficient to use.
Simplifying Scheduling With a Central Calendar
Calendar4Schools gave districts a central calendar, but the application had become outdated and difficult for staff to use. Its workflows were unintuitive, making routine updates cumbersome and limiting how effectively schools could keep staff, students, and parents informed.
I redesigned the system to make it easier for staff to update and maintain calendars, simplifying tasks like posting events, assignments, and lunch menus to ensure information stayed accurate and current. By connecting the calendar with CMS4Schools, updates flowed seamlessly, making it easier for staff to keep calendars up to date and improving communication between schools and their communities with timely, reliable information.
