What they say

“Hallmarks of excellent leadership are a person’s ability to engage others in collaborative conversation, to create a safe space for idea sharing, and to foster new thinking. Gary Chapin embodies these qualities.” — Ruth Hellams, Principal (ret.), Del Lago Academy, Escondido, CA

“Gary models the very best characteristics we need in educators - depth of professional expertise paired with curiosity and humility, sense of humor, and the unique ability to offer highly practical guidance while keeping the big picture of equity and ethics clearly in view.” — Tony Siddall, Assessment for Learning Project

Biography

Gary is the co-author of 126 Falsehoods We Believe About Education (2021).

Gary has provided support to schools and districts trying to work with performance-based practices, deeper learning, competency-based cultures, challenging fundamental assumptions, portrait of a graduate, assessment audits, competency development, change management, teacher-leader sanity, etc. Clients have included Vista, CA; Escondido, CA; Jefferson County Public Schools, KY; the Essex County Learning Community, MA; Brookwood School, Gloucester, MA; the Massachusetts Consortium of Innovation in Education and Assessment.

He has been working in education since 2000, first as a teacher, then as a curriculum director, then as a Dept. of Ed. researcher, and most recently as an advocate and supporter of equity based practices such as competency-based learning, performance assessment, adaptive leadership, and collaborative cultures. His understanding of the work of education change was cemented when he heard his mentor, Chris Chamberlain say, “Our job is to make sure that the conversations that have to happen, happen.”

He has written dozens of articles and blog posts and presented at many education conferences around the nation. If you’d like to talk with Gary about he might help your school, district, and/or community, reach out to garychapin@educatingforgood.com.

Some Publications

A Conversation About Grading and How It’s Good … for Gravel with Carisa Corrow (Next Gen Learning Challenge, July 2024)

Dangerous Conversations: The Importance of Empathy, Grace, and Skill (CompetencyWorks, Nov. 2022)

Embracing Humanity on a Deeper Level (Education Reimagined, June 2022)