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Research-Driven Leadership for Student-Centered Classrooms: Shifts That Stick
Thursday, May 14, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by Matt Hickson, Experienced Educator, Head of Instructional Leadership & Strategy, Modern Classrooms Project; and Dr. Emily Persons, Senior Director of Research & Evaluation, Modern Classrooms Project
Sponsored by The Modern Classrooms Project
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What if every student in your building had a teacher who could work with them directly, not just once in a while, but as a regular part of every class? School leaders hear a lot about student-centered instruction. They hear less about what actually makes it stick and what the research says separates real instructional change from the kind that fades after the first unit.
This edWebinar cuts through the noise. Drawing on a growing body of evidence and data from thousands of K–12 classrooms, presenters from the Modern Classrooms Project walk leaders through two of the highest-leverage instructional shifts: moving from whole-class instruction to targeted small-group and 1:1 support, and shifting from time-based to mastery-driven learning. The presenters share the measurable changes they have evaluated in how teachers use class time, how students access support, and how leaders can tell the difference between surface-level implementation and the real thing.
In this session, leaders:
- Examine the research base behind small-group instruction and mastery-driven learning and what it means for how we support teachers and design schools
- Explore real classroom data on how these shifts change teacher behavior, student engagement, and the quality of feedback students receive
- Understand what leaders can look for in classrooms, in data, and in coaching conversations
- Leave with a clear framework and tools for supporting teachers to ensure instructional shifts are sustainable
This recorded edWebinar is designed for K–12 school leaders, district administrators, and instructional coaches who want to ground their approach to instructional change in evidence and lead with confidence when it comes to student-centered learning.
About the Presenters
Matt Hickson is the Head of Instructional Leadership & Strategy at the Modern Classrooms Project, where he supports school and district leaders as they design instructional strategy and lead shifts toward mastery-based, student-centered learning. He supports innovative schools in the Bronx to Clark County, NV, and beyond. A community organizer turned school principal, Matt brings a diverse range of experience to his work: from classroom teaching and school leadership to central office roles and board leadership in both district- and community-based organizations. He was named the Durham Public Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year before becoming a principal in North Carolina. Matt’s career has centered on building the conditions where every student experiences joyful, purposeful learning—and on developing the leaders who make that possible. He lives in Washington, DC.
Dr. Emily Persons is the Senior Director of Research & Evaluation at the Modern Classrooms Project, where she supports research and evaluation efforts to assess the impact of instructional practices and programs on teaching and learning. She earned her Ph.D. in sociology from Duke University, where she studied education policy, organizational theory, and stratification. Dr. Persons also studied at Princeton University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her expertise includes research design, data and statistical analysis, and program evaluation, with experience using tools such as STATA, R, SQL, and Tableau. She is committed to using research and analysis to improve organizational decision making and effectiveness in education.
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
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The Modern Classrooms Project empowers educators to implement a self-paced, mastery-based instructional model that leverages technology to foster human connection, authentic learning, and social-emotional growth.
