Gallery: Lean Lab fellows set to disrupt KC education

Already improving education for about 2,400 area students, the Lean Lab recently set loose another group of innovators hoping to transform Kansas City education.

The Kansas City-based education innovation incubator on Friday held its Launch Day, the culminating event of its incubator fellowship. The incubator conducted a five-week ideation program that assisted 10 fellows building prototypes of projects to improve Kansas City education and student outcomes, which is then tested within area schools.

Lean Lab co-founder Carrie Markel said there’s a common theme that’s emerged in Kansas City education in recent years, and it’s one that is hurting students’ performance and future. She anticipates through the Lean Lab’s second cohort that students and education will quickly improve.

“All those who work within the (education) system have expressed a lack of time, resources, and ability to connect with others in this work,” Markel said. “We believe that the solutions from Cohort 2 will have a profound impact on our city’s schools, the effects of which will not only be immediately apparent, but will compound over time to help build a world-class city renowned for education and innovation.”

Hosted at the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator, the Launch Day event drew more than 100 people interested in witnessing the latest in education innovation.

Below are some photos of the event, and details on the projects now being tested in area schools. Enjoy!