Matt Townsley
@mctownsley.bsky.social
K-12 educational leadership and grading author and researcher.
[opinions are my own]
[opinions are my own]
Drawing upon school and district experiences, our book identifies common barriers and provides strategies to prevent, contain, and overcome the “fires” that can derail grading reform efforts.
Sample chapter 👉 resources.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
📕 firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
Sample chapter 👉 resources.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
📕 firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
November 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Drawing upon school and district experiences, our book identifies common barriers and provides strategies to prevent, contain, and overcome the “fires” that can derail grading reform efforts.
Sample chapter 👉 resources.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
📕 firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
Sample chapter 👉 resources.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
📕 firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
Every time a new group of kids comes I put exactly one of these plastic trinkets in there. It’s an experiment to see if a kid will grab a piece of candy or the trinket. #Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Every time a new group of kids comes I put exactly one of these plastic trinkets in there. It’s an experiment to see if a kid will grab a piece of candy or the trinket. #Halloween
📢 Our 3rd annual conference is designed for administrators, teacher leaders, and building/district leadership teams who are getting started with or taking their next step with grading reform.
Save the date!
Save the date!
October 25, 2025 at 12:06 AM
📢 Our 3rd annual conference is designed for administrators, teacher leaders, and building/district leadership teams who are getting started with or taking their next step with grading reform.
Save the date!
Save the date!
Year 8, back at it
August 22, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Year 8, back at it
In our 2021 study, the majority of HS students’ (61.5%) final grades were inflated when homework and employability points were included in the grade compared to grades based solely upon students’ performance on summative assessments.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
August 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
In our 2021 study, the majority of HS students’ (61.5%) final grades were inflated when homework and employability points were included in the grade compared to grades based solely upon students’ performance on summative assessments.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
Featured in AASA School Administrator's *Best of 2024-25* summer issue:
"Dousing the 🔥s of Grading Reform"
🔗 www.pageturnpro.com/AASA/112547-...
"Dousing the 🔥s of Grading Reform"
🔗 www.pageturnpro.com/AASA/112547-...
July 27, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Featured in AASA School Administrator's *Best of 2024-25* summer issue:
"Dousing the 🔥s of Grading Reform"
🔗 www.pageturnpro.com/AASA/112547-...
"Dousing the 🔥s of Grading Reform"
🔗 www.pageturnpro.com/AASA/112547-...
When educators are not able to connect initiatives and programs, grading reform may be perceived as "one more thing".
Instead, integrate:
SBG & PLC 👉 solutiontree.com/making-grade...
SBG & SEL 👉 sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Instead, integrate:
SBG & PLC 👉 solutiontree.com/making-grade...
SBG & SEL 👉 sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
July 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
When educators are not able to connect initiatives and programs, grading reform may be perceived as "one more thing".
Instead, integrate:
SBG & PLC 👉 solutiontree.com/making-grade...
SBG & SEL 👉 sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Instead, integrate:
SBG & PLC 👉 solutiontree.com/making-grade...
SBG & SEL 👉 sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Educators from around the state of Iowa (and beyond) gearing up for two years of graduate coursework and internship experiences.
Principal prep program cohort orientation today! #UNIEdLead
Principal prep program cohort orientation today! #UNIEdLead
June 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Educators from around the state of Iowa (and beyond) gearing up for two years of graduate coursework and internship experiences.
Principal prep program cohort orientation today! #UNIEdLead
Principal prep program cohort orientation today! #UNIEdLead
Based on real school experiences, our book highlights common barriers to grading reform and offers practical strategies to prevent, contain, and overcome the 🔥 that can derail the process.
🔗 www.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
🔗 www.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
June 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Based on real school experiences, our book highlights common barriers to grading reform and offers practical strategies to prevent, contain, and overcome the 🔥 that can derail the process.
🔗 www.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
🔗 www.firsteducation-us.com/extinguishin...
Discover a clear road map for implementing a standards-based grading system at the secondary level.
On sale right now for $29.99 + free Prime shipping.
a.co/d/6sAHOyf
On sale right now for $29.99 + free Prime shipping.
a.co/d/6sAHOyf
June 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Discover a clear road map for implementing a standards-based grading system at the secondary level.
On sale right now for $29.99 + free Prime shipping.
a.co/d/6sAHOyf
On sale right now for $29.99 + free Prime shipping.
a.co/d/6sAHOyf
June 20, 2025 at 12:41 AM
"Joost Vander Pieplenwinkel" and other actors will be participating in tomorrow's #UNIEdLead Day in the Office (DITO XVIII) role play activity for aspiring school leaders. Photos to come!
June 18, 2025 at 10:06 PM
"Joost Vander Pieplenwinkel" and other actors will be participating in tomorrow's #UNIEdLead Day in the Office (DITO XVIII) role play activity for aspiring school leaders. Photos to come!
Kicking off day two of #UNIEdLead summer seminar on-campus with de-escalation techniques (yes, prepping for Day in the Office tomorrow!). #AspiringPrincipals #1UNI
June 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Kicking off day two of #UNIEdLead summer seminar on-campus with de-escalation techniques (yes, prepping for Day in the Office tomorrow!). #AspiringPrincipals #1UNI
Day one of #UNIEdLead summer seminar was a success on Tuesday! Topics included Iowa school finance 101 and school administrator wellness.
June 18, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Day one of #UNIEdLead summer seminar was a success on Tuesday! Topics included Iowa school finance 101 and school administrator wellness.
Gratifying when a former student (and current school leader) reaches out to say “look what came in the mail today…your book”
Sure the peer-reviewed empirical stuff is needed, but seeing authored resources in the hands of practitioners is the impact I value the most.
Sure the peer-reviewed empirical stuff is needed, but seeing authored resources in the hands of practitioners is the impact I value the most.
June 18, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Gratifying when a former student (and current school leader) reaches out to say “look what came in the mail today…your book”
Sure the peer-reviewed empirical stuff is needed, but seeing authored resources in the hands of practitioners is the impact I value the most.
Sure the peer-reviewed empirical stuff is needed, but seeing authored resources in the hands of practitioners is the impact I value the most.
Ready for the 2nd annual leadership-focused standards-based grading conference in Cedar Falls, IA! #UNISBGConf25
June 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Ready for the 2nd annual leadership-focused standards-based grading conference in Cedar Falls, IA! #UNISBGConf25
Wrapped up the day at Northern Cass in North Dakota.
200+ educators excited to personalize learning for their students!
200+ educators excited to personalize learning for their students!
June 11, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Wrapped up the day at Northern Cass in North Dakota.
200+ educators excited to personalize learning for their students!
200+ educators excited to personalize learning for their students!
📢 Grading reformers and their critics all want the same thing!
In light of recent national media headlines focused on K-12 classroom grading, this may be worth a (re-)read:
🔗 www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
In light of recent national media headlines focused on K-12 classroom grading, this may be worth a (re-)read:
🔗 www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
May 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
📢 Grading reformers and their critics all want the same thing!
In light of recent national media headlines focused on K-12 classroom grading, this may be worth a (re-)read:
🔗 www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
In light of recent national media headlines focused on K-12 classroom grading, this may be worth a (re-)read:
🔗 www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
I'll be speaking at Northern Cass Personalized Learning Institute '25 on Jun 11 - 12, 2025. I would love to see you there!
Register here: whova.com/portal/regis... #NCPLI25 #NCPLI
Register here: whova.com/portal/regis... #NCPLI25 #NCPLI
May 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I'll be speaking at Northern Cass Personalized Learning Institute '25 on Jun 11 - 12, 2025. I would love to see you there!
Register here: whova.com/portal/regis... #NCPLI25 #NCPLI
Register here: whova.com/portal/regis... #NCPLI25 #NCPLI
Article 4: @plthomasedd.bsky.social offers an overview of the problems created for administrators by the Science of Reading movement and a series of approaches for school administrators to address individual student needs and support teacher professionalism.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
May 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Article 4: @plthomasedd.bsky.social offers an overview of the problems created for administrators by the Science of Reading movement and a series of approaches for school administrators to address individual student needs and support teacher professionalism.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
Article 3: The aim of this study was to fill this research gap by examining the associations between workplace spirituality, job stress, and happiness at work.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
May 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Article 3: The aim of this study was to fill this research gap by examining the associations between workplace spirituality, job stress, and happiness at work.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
Article 2:
This study introduces and validates the RIGOR Walk framework, a research- and practitioner-informed tool designed to define, observe, and enhance rigorous learning environments across classrooms.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
This study introduces and validates the RIGOR Walk framework, a research- and practitioner-informed tool designed to define, observe, and enhance rigorous learning environments across classrooms.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
May 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Article 2:
This study introduces and validates the RIGOR Walk framework, a research- and practitioner-informed tool designed to define, observe, and enhance rigorous learning environments across classrooms.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
This study introduces and validates the RIGOR Walk framework, a research- and practitioner-informed tool designed to define, observe, and enhance rigorous learning environments across classrooms.
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
Article 1: Teachers’ and Principals’ Perception of Organizational Climate in Preschool: A Case of the Czech Republic
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
May 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Article 1: Teachers’ and Principals’ Perception of Organizational Climate in Preschool: A Case of the Czech Republic
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...
🔗 www.ojed.org/JSARD/articl...