Amplifying Impact with East Central Educational Service Center  

Strategic Planning for Mapt Solution’s 2024 Transformation Challenge Winner

East Central Educational Service Center (ECESC) provides resources, support and collaborative solutions to enhance the impact of services provided to the 14 counties, 38 school districts, 4,500 teachers and administrators and over 70,000 students in east central Indiana.

“As we prepare to launch new services and opportunities to the students and educators in our 14 county region, we look forward to working with Mapt as strategic thought partners to align our systems and maximize the impact of existing and new programming!”

- Pat Haney, ECESC Executive Director 

ECESC’s Challenge 

In 2024, ECESC was experiencing a period of growth and change unlike any other in its 36-year history. The organization positioned itself well to contribute in meaningful ways to key future-ready initiatives across the state, but needed a clear strategic plan to establish relevant goals, ensure alignment with the needs of member districts and maximize its opportunities moving forward.

The Process

The ECESC team and the students they serve dream big – and so do we. Mapt worked alongside ECESC’s leadership to chart a strategic plan for the organization’s future, including clarifying ECESC’s vision and goals, leveraging new facilities for maximum impact and partnering with member districts and staff.

Phase 1 – Discovery & Landscape Review

Mapt engaged diverse ECESC stakeholders including staff, member districts and community partners to gather insight and feedback across the broad spectrum of individuals served. Additionally, Mapt reviewed other educational service center models both in Indiana and across the nation to identify best practices and areas for enhancement.

This work culminated in a current state review and strategic assessment, which provided a comprehensive review of ECESC current landscape, highlighting its strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. The included stakeholder insights and proposed strategic focus areas provided a foundation for thoughtful planning and informed decision making as ECESC entered into the strategic planning phase of work.

Phase 2 – Strategic Planning

After the discovery phase, Mapt incorporated findings and key decisions from ECESC’s leadership into a multi-year strategic plan to help the ECESC team achieve their goals and amplify their impact. 

The strategic plan outlines a clear path to empower districts, educators, and communities through innovative services and impactful partnerships. Focused on aligning education and workforce needs, fostering collaboration, and demonstrating measurable outcomes, the plan positions ECESC to drive meaningful progress across East Central Indiana.  

ECESC’s strategic plan focuses on:  

  • Strengthening organizational resilience to ensure sustainability.  

  • Delivering high-impact programs that align with workforce needs.  

  • Maximizing membership engagement to enhance value for districts.  

  • Driving regional connectivity to strengthen the pipeline between schools and careers.

Phase 3 – Implementation Support

Finally, Mapt created a roadmap to guide ECESC’s first year of implementing its new strategic plan. The roadmap offers a focused and actionable path to bring the strategic plan to life, prioritizing operational alignment, targeted program delivery, and meaningful partnerships. With the strategic plan and implementation roadmap in place, ECESC is poised to empower schools, strengthen workforce connections, and deliver clear value to the communities it serves while contributing to the organization’s long-term growth and impact. 

The partnership concluded with a Transformation Challenge celebration, during which Mapt provided $25,000 in funding to help ECESC kick off their transformation. 

“At ECESC, we believe that every student’s strengths and interests serve as the blueprint for a future of success and impact. In the same way, the Mapt team has partnered with us to uncover our own strengths and opportunities, guiding us in shaping our blueprint for success. Their unwavering support and expertise have been invaluable at every step of the journey, making them indispensable partners in our mission to serve the students and communities of our region.”

- Pat Haney, ECESC Executive Director