Meghan Wenzel

The Center for Educational Improvement (CEI) identifies, shares, and applies 21st century innovations in learning to guide school leaders as they improve their schools. We advise principals, teachers, leadership teams, and districts on how to implement evidence-based best practices to “fast track” academic progress and close gaps between the latest research on student achievement and what is practiced in schools. CEI also collaborates with principal mentors to design, implement, evaluate, refine, and disseminate research with the principal in mind. As we build bridges to educational excellence, CEI teams with other researchers, private companies, and government agencies. Our research includes scanning the environment to curate and share information on the latest 21st century innovations in learning. We also design and conduct our own research studies to improve education. Our research in 2014 focuses on: (1) Adding rigor to classrooms to improve instructional leadership and make learning more exciting, alive, and relevant. This includes collaborating with engineers and others for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) improvements. (2)Using neuroscience research to accelerate learning (3) Leading schools to excellence in STEM (4) Promoting Heart Centered Education (our signature approach to social emotional learning focusing on compassion, courage, confidence, consciousness, and community) to equip students with the intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills needed for success at school and throughout their lives