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«Back to all edWebinarsBuilding Bridges Between Standards and Instructional Excellence
Thursday, August 27, 2026 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kelli Hopfinger, Former Educator, Current Math Curriculum Development Manager, Modern Classrooms Project; and Tom Marlowe, Former Educator, Current Math Curriculum Development Manager, Modern Classrooms Project
Moderated by Samantha du Preez, Former Educator, Current Senior Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, Modern Classrooms Project
Sponsored by The Modern Classrooms Project
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Every time a state adopts new standards, the same problem crops up. Instructional coaches and curriculum coaches start over, and teachers are left to break each standard into its parts largely on their own. Admin and classroom educators are not always chasing the same goal, either. Leaders want proof that students met a standard well enough to show it on a state test. Teachers are asking a different question: Did my students grow?
The standards themselves do not always help. The language can be vague or pull in two directions at once, and even state offices are not always certain what their own standards mean. Experienced teachers fill the gap with judgment built over years. New teachers do not have that judgment yet, and they rarely have the protected time to build it from scratch.
This edWebinar gives school and district leaders a working model for standards deconstruction and mapping. Together, we will deconstruct and consider three different standards mappings, alignments, and manipulative options, in addition to the success criteria to support educators in successful deconstruction.
Leaders will leave with a clear answer to a question their teachers are already asking: Where do I start? This edWebinar will be of interest to elementary through high school district and school leaders.
About the Presenters
Kelli Hopfinger is a former high school math teacher and curriculum specialist with over 12 years of experience in mathematics education and curriculum design. Guided by the belief that every child is a “math person,” she is passionate about creating accessible, equitable instructional materials that empower all students to succeed. Kelli focuses on designing high-quality, mastery-based resources that support diverse learners and equip educators with tools that enable meaningful learning. Kelli holds a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida. She is deeply committed to supporting educators through a thoughtfully designed curriculum that prioritizes clarity, flexibility, and student-centered learning. Kelli currently lives in Florida and enjoys spending time adventuring with her family, getting lost in a good book, or relaxing by the pool when she’s not working.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Tom Marlowe brings 15 years of experience as a high school math teacher in both public and private school settings. Throughout his teaching career, Tom developed a strong commitment to student-centered instruction, with a particular focus on mastery learning. At Hawken Upper School, he co-led the math department’s transition to mastery-based assessment practices. After 15 years in the classroom, Tom moved into the EdTech space, where he has worked as a curriculum alignment specialist and math curriculum designer. In these roles, he has focused on ensuring instructional materials are coherent, standards-aligned, and grounded in best practices that support equitable and effective learning experiences for students. Tom earned a B.S in mathematics and a B.S. in adolescent to young adult education from The University of Dayton, and an M.A. in mathematics from John Carroll University. Outside of work, Tom enjoys traveling, going to concerts, and spending time in the workshop, woodworking.
About the Moderator
Samantha du Preez is a former educator with experience teaching in California, Arizona, and South Korea. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for The Modern Classrooms Project. She earned her bachelor’s in English and journalism from the University of Arizona and her master’s in curriculum and instruction from the American College of Education. Although she has since left the classroom, she continues to empower educators, improve access to quality educational opportunities, and impact education.
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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.
