Why the Modern Classrooms Project exists

When Kareem and I launched the Modern Classrooms Project in 2018, we were both teaching full-time. Since then, we have committed ourselves to sharing our innovative instructional model with teachers across the world so they can better meet their students’ unique needs.

Now, as we reach 25,000 educators in 120+ countries through our free online course, and prepare to train over 1,200 teachers from all 50 states through this year’s Summer Institute, we believe it is important to step back and define more clearly what we do, what we hope to achieve, and what values will guide us along the way.

With the support and input of our talented and committed team, we are proud to share with the world the mission, vision, and values that inform the work we do.

Mission

The Modern Classrooms Project empowers educators to build classrooms that respond to every student’s needs. We lead a movement of educators in implementing a self-paced, mastery-based instructional model that leverages technology to foster human connection, authentic learning, and social-emotional growth.

Vision

Every day, in every classroom, every student will be appropriately challenged and supported.

This will happen when:

• Students learn at their own paces, building authentic understanding as they go.

• Teachers adopt instructional practices that meet each student’s academic and social-emotional needs.

• Technology facilitates more meaningful human interaction.

When teachers build Modern Classrooms that use technology to meet every student’s needs, our learners develop deeper content mastery and greater self-worth, while our educators become happier and more effective.

Values

Every student deserves a responsive education. Every student is unique; every student can truly learn. Our classrooms must simultaneously empower the student who is ahead, the student who is behind, and the student who is chronically absent. When we respond meaningfully to each student’s academic and social-emotional needs, there is no limit to what any student can achieve.

Teachers drive impact — in the classroom and beyond. Empowered teachers reshape the trajectories of their students’ lives, inspiring communities in the process. We respect each teacher’s professional expertise and offer an approach that any teacher can use to enhance learners’ academic and social-emotional growth. In supporting individual teachers worldwide, we spark a movement to transform teaching and learning.

Change starts every day. What students and teachers need are techniques that work NOW. We are relentless in our efforts to develop actionable solutions to immediate needs, and deeply committed to continuous improvement. We are redesigning instruction from the ground up.

There is always more to learn. Every interaction, critique, and discussion presents an opportunity to improve. We are humble and open-minded enough to learn from each student, teacher, and stakeholder we encounter. Rigorous evaluation and frequent reflection are central to everything we do.

This movement belongs to all of us. To better serve every student and teacher, we cultivate an intentionally diverse and inclusive community of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Education impacts every person, and every person has something to contribute. We are all in this together.