Building a New Accountability System for Truly Student-Centered Education

Originally published in The 74, April 2, 2024 If state leaders are serious about making sure every child succeeds, they must change their assessments tools to improve teaching & learning. Nearly a quarter-century ago, educators and policymakers developed an accountability system for public education built around end-of-year state assessments. These tests — which have been the…

Building Bridges to the Future

Originally published in STEM Magazine, March 11, 2024 How Engineering Consulting Services’ Virginia Office Forges STEM Learning Partnerships The Chantilly, Virginia, office of Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) is working with Cognia, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization providing schools with accreditation and certification services, to help educators adopt or expand quality STEM practices and processes. Both Cognia and…

Cognia Acquiring CenterPoint Education Solutions

Originally published in EdWeek Market Brief, February 29, 2024 Assessment and professional development provider Cognia has agreed to acquire fellow nonprofit CenterPoint Education Solutions, the organizations announced, as part of Cognia’s efforts to expand its assessment programs. CenterPoint, based in Washington D.C., offers curriculum-based, interim assessments along with aligned professional learning in mathematics, English/language arts, and…

Futures literacy leadership: Leading in the age of disruption

professional learning communities for teachers

Originally published in K-12 Industry Dive, October 9, 2023 In the ever-evolving landscape of education accelerated by rapid, disruptive societal change, the need for visionary and transformative leaders has become more critical than ever. Leaders must possess the ability to cultivate a positive educational culture that fosters academic excellence while preparing their students for an increasingly…

5 steps to transform your district for success

professional learning communities in schools

Originally published in District Administration, July 8, 2021 Our district was in the bottom 5% of districts in South Carolina and had been taken over by the state. Here’s how we turned it around. When I joined Allendale County Schools in Fairfax, South Carolina, as superintendent in 2018, all our schools were performing in the bottom…

To keep a strong military, help spouses secure the home front

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Originally published in The Hill, April 16, 2023 As the U.S. military struggles to recruit and retain service members, Congress and the administration are weighing a range of options to help combat chronically high unemployment rates among military spouses, which hovers around 22 percent. The rationale is that military life is hard enough without financial stress…

The Vital Connection Between School Performance, Regional Economic Success and National Security

leadership in education

Originally published in Defense Opinion, March 3, 2023 The struggle of U.S. public schools to gain back learning losses students suffered from the COVID pandemic is especially important for those communities near military installations due to the economic benefits put at risk. That’s because the U.S. military takes into consideration the quality of local public schools as…

Vermont students to take new standardized test in the spring

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Originally published on MSN, November 10, 2022 Vermont students in grades three to nine will be taking a new state exam in 2023, with an emphasis on equity. Annual testing, in addition to regular in-class exams, helps educators and state leaders keep track of how Vermont students are achieving in the classroom. Cognia is replacing the…

Ivey named first Cognia “STEM champion”

Originally published in Alabama Political Reporter, October 27, 2022 Gov. Kay Ivey in 2020 created the Alabama STEM Council to expand STEM education opportunities in the state. Gov. Kay Ivey was named the first ever STEM Champion Wednesday by Cognia, a nonprofit accreditation organization responsible for accrediting many of Alabama’s public schools. Dr. Andre Harrison,…

What we can do to ensure a quality education for military children

Originally published in Military Times, October 24, 2022 Military leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of K-12 public schools around military installations. At an Association of Defense Communities annual forum, Gen. David L. Goldfein, then Air Force chief of staff, called it the number one issue for airmen. Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the…