Case Study: Marysville School District strengthens public trust through large-scale community engagement with ThoughtExchange

Marysville School District strengthens public trust through engagement

Marysville School District, a diverse Washington district serving over 11,000 students across multiple elementary, middle and high schools, faced eroding public trust as statewide “failing” labels and flawed policy left families uncertain about school quality. District leaders, including Superintendent Dr. Becky Berg, needed a way to reach a broad, diverse community—beyond small town‑hall turnouts—to increase transparency, rebuild confidence, and include parents, military families and other stakeholders in big decisions.

The district used Thoughtexchange’s digital engagement process to scale participation, engaging 2,062 people who contributed 5,751 thoughts and cast 71,676 stars to prioritize community input. That virtual conversation broadened the public voice, validated teachers, clarified priorities for diverse students, strengthened trust and accountability, and led to better, more inclusive decision‑making for the district’s strategic direction.

Marysville School District

Becky Berg

Superintendent