For 10 years, I worked for American Institutes for Research (AIR) as a senior technical assistance consultant whose work was almost completely funded by grants or contracts. At the senior level, the nature of the job was that I had…
Creating a school district strategic plan is a mission-critical process that shapes the future of your schools, your students, and your community. Every year districts face increased accountability, tighter budgets, and growing demands for equity and innovation. That’s why your…
Baseball has always been a game filled with tradition. The theatrics of opening day, the ceremonial singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, the hallowed walls of the Baseball Hall of Fame…it’s a pastime steeped in nostalgia. There has…
This year I started a new adventure. After a 17 year career holding multiple jobs within the education sector, I ventured out on my own and became an independent educational consultant. I want to take the time to share my…
The national teacher shortage is a well-documented crisis, with causes ranging from policy barriers to shifting workforce dynamics. While some solutions require action at the state or federal level, such as changes to licensure requirements or pathways into the profession,…
Our data-driven education systems are changing. Actually, let’s be honest here: everything is changing. Over the past few years, advancements in artificial intelligence have started a technological revolution that hits every corner of our lives. In schools, we shouldn’t bury…
I’m a firm believer in a data-driven education system. But what can (and usually does) happen is the increased insistence on data usage in schools results in what I would call a data overload. When this happens, schools see an…
Mathematician Clive Humby famously said, “Data is the new oil. Like oil, data is valuable, but if unrefined it cannot really be used.” In the modern era, data usage is essential. From finance to healthcare to government to technology, data…
Ever tried making a decision as a group and felt like you ended up with less clarity, not more? You’re not alone. Collective decision making can be messy, time-consuming, and often dominated by the loudest voices in the room. To…
The concept of data literacy in education could use a little explaining. In order to implement a data-driven education system, the educators themselves must be knowledgeable of how to properly collect, analyze, and use data to improve schools. It’s not…
