The path to an excellent, high-quality education can be complex for students who have been historically and systemically excluded, including students of color, students experiencing poverty, students with learning differences, and multi-language learners. In 2020, Digital Promise launched the Equitable School Systems Transformation (ESST) Initiative, engaging eight K-12 school districts nationwide to address specific equity challenges within their districts through a multiyear process of system transformation. ESST gives participating districts several supports, including a clear framework for education systems change; exposure to diverse models of systems transformation from the U.S. and countries around the world; deep, customized coaching in the context of each district's Problem of Practice (PoP); and a collaborative design process to ideate, prototype, and develop solutions. Year 1 of the ESST Initiative shows that following these principles will take time, but participating districts acknowledge that the investment was worth it because they were able to begin developing deeper and more sustainable solutions to entrenched problems than they had in the past. Throughout the past year, Bellwether partnered with Digital Promise to document the districts' journey through the ESST Initiative process and capture lessons. This report provides a detailed description of the first year of implementation of ESST (2021-2022), including an overview of the processes driving Inclusive Innovation and resources from the work that may be useful to other educators. The authors conclude with key takeaways that can inform the work of other school systems seeking to use an Inclusive Innovation approach to drive equitable systems transformation around the country.