Inside that classroom, I met the students who would shape me as much as I shaped them. Jonathan, a second grader who had attended so many schools he hadn’t learned the alphabet. Sammie, who came to school hungry but stayed for the joy of learning. Darrell, a boy with autism whose humor still makes me smile. Jocelyn, who showed me the quiet strength of caring for others. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to watch many of my former students flourish—Chelsey, who became a teacher, and Richie, who took the stage as a professional trumpet player.

These children—and millions like them—became the reason I get out of bed every morning. They inspired me to dedicate my life to a simple but powerful mission: helping people use research and data to solve problems and build thriving communities.

Beyond the Classroom

What I learned in those early years as a teacher has guided every step of my career. Schools, nonprofits, and businesses all wrestle with the same challenge: how to make good decisions in the face of limited time, limited resources, and big stakes.

I believe that improvement isn’t reserved for struggling schools or organizations. It isn’t an abstract policy idea. It’s not the enemy of innovation or creativity. Real, lasting improvement comes from an intentional mindset—doing what’s best not because we think it’s right, but because we know it’s right.

That’s what evidence does: it takes the guesswork out of growth.

My Work Today

Over the years, I’ve helped classroom teachers, nonprofit directors, business leaders, and policymakers learn how to put research and data to work. As a teacher and professional learning facilitator, I empowered colleagues to make instructional shifts that improved student outcomes. At the Bluegrass Center for Teacher Quality, I helped design and study models of professional growth. At the Kentucky Department of Education, I worked on statewide policies to make research more accessible and actionable. Today, as a consultant, speaker, and trainer, I help leaders across sectors use evidence to solve problems, accelerate improvement, and create a culture of intentional success.

Why This Matters

Whether you’re running a school, leading a nonprofit, or guiding a business, the truth is the same: your challenges aren’t unique. Others have faced them before, and solutions exist. By learning to ask the right questions, study the right data, and draw on the right research, you can unlock answers that make your organization stronger.

Together, we can learn what makes high-performing organizations thrive—and share those lessons widely so that students, families, and communities everywhere have a future bigger than we can even imagine.