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Earlier this summer, KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. welcomed Vanessa Vaughn as Senior Director, Content Services in our K-12 and Higher Education group to oversee content development for science and humanities subjects. Vanessa brings to KGL 20 years of experience developing high-quality K-16 content and a deep understanding of changing state and national standards.

Vanessa started her KGL tenure by contributing to the updated edition of our industry report, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Educational Content: What You Need to Know Now. I sat down with her recently to discuss her new role, content DEI in educational publishing, and how she sees the industry changing in the next five years.

MG: You previously worked for KGL predecessor, Cenveo Publisher Services as Executive Editor, Social Studies, in addition to several other prior positions in educational publishing. Would you tell us about your current role at KGL? 

VV: It’s such a pleasure to be working with so many talented colleagues from my Cenveo days again, as well as with the folks who joined the KGL team since then. As Senior Director, Content Services, I lead a team of dedicated, collaborative editorial and project management professionals who are committed to creating top-notch materials for students and teachers. I see my role as empowering and supporting them to do their very best work, and fostering strong relationships built on mutual trust and ongoing communication with our publisher partners to make every project a success.

MG: Content, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or CDEI (a term we are advocating), has become a priority for educators and publishers. Why is this important?

VV: Research demonstrates the benefits of CDEI for students and educators. Studies have found positive relationships between access to inclusive content and measurable data on student success, such as GPAs and test performance metrics. Students engage more deeply with content that reflects their own experiences, families, and backgrounds. They also hone critical thinking skills by having more opportunities to learn about the experiences and viewpoints of others.

MG: For publishers who might be struggling with how to make their content more inclusive, do you have any suggestions on how to start the process?

VV: Publishers can choose to perform a CDEI review and update as part of their established publishing plans, or to fast track certain content areas or materials for a new printing. Reviewing an existing social studies textbook against newly-established or updated DEI guidelines may be a priority even if that particular program isn’t slated for a new edition in the short-term, for example, because of the nature of the content and the intense scrutiny it often comes under. Trained CDEI reviewers can be a real asset to publishers tackling this task for the first time.

MG: Once publishers have gone through due diligence to make content more representative of the audience, are their jobs done?

VV: As US society and demographics continually change, content creators will need to be mindful of the most current best practices and expectations for CDEI. Publishers who regularly review and incorporate forward-looking principles and language into their guidelines will be more likely to produce materials that feel timely. Think about, for example, the editorial shift from the terms ‘African American’ or ‘black’ to ‘Black’ that happened in most media outlets in 2020. Soon, brand-new materials using the older preferred language may seem outdated to students and teachers.

MG: How do you see your work with publishers changing in the next 5 years?

VV: I think the big wild card we’ve all been dealt is AI. Everyone has heard of ChatGPT, but AI can do so much more. AI can provide powerful support to teachers in planning and delivering instruction, managing classrooms, and even grading. With so many rapidly changing AI tools, it’s hard to predict what exactly lies ahead, but the materials we produce with publishers will increasingly need to help educators think critically about how and when AI has a role in their classrooms and students learn to deploy its capabilities appropriately.

MG: Finally, what do you do in your spare time when you’re not helping publishers better connect with teachers and students?

VV: I love to travel, and I enjoy the process of researching and daydreaming about a trip just as much as actually taking one! I’m also an outdoors enthusiast and try to hike and spend time in nature as much as possible. Recently my husband and I spent several days walking in the English countryside which brought all that together! Unsurprisingly, I’m also a voracious reader and a fan of word games like Spelling Bee and Wordle.

Vanessa leads KGL’s team of content development experts in English/language arts, social studies, science, world languages, and higher education. Throughout her nearly 20-year career in publishing, she has been committed to helping publishers bring the highest-quality materials to all learning environments. For more information on Content DEI for education publishers, download the updated edition of our free report.

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