Setting the Stage: While there is broad agreement that education in the US needs reform, there is less agreement on what reform looks like, and contentiousness in the debate. Given the long-standing challenges involved, how do you get the three constituencies (Teachers Union Leaders, School District Superintendents, and School Board Presidents) to have a productive conversation on reform? At a conference sponsored by The US Department of Education and the Ford Foundation, SCC was asked to help create a climate for productive debate and action.

Playing the Part: Develop a series of short, custom-written sketches that used comedy to take on the many sacred cows at the conference and get participants laughing (good naturedly) at the challenge. Our scenes included a faux motivational speaker leading painfully bad team building exercises with Second City actors “planted “ in the audience, as well a group therapy scene. By portraying sensitive topics in a light, honest way, we got all the attendees to “lower their guard” long enough to give others’ ideas a chance.