Thomas Murray
- Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools®
- Named the "2018 National/Global EdTech Leader of the Year," by EdTech Digest
Travels From
District of Columbia
Thomas Murray Speaker Biography
Tom Murray serves as the Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools®, a project of the Alliance for Excellent Education, located in Washington, D.C. He has testified before the United States Congress and has worked alongside that body, the US Senate, the White House, the US Department of Education and state departments of education, corporations, and school districts throughout the country to implement student-centered learning while helping to lead Future Ready Schools® and Digital Learning Day. An ASCD best-selling author, Murray serves as a regular conference keynote, was named the "2018 National/Global EdTech Leader of the Year," by EdTech Digest, the "2017 Education Thought Leader of the Year," one of "20 to Watch" by NSBA in 2016, and the "Education Policy Person of the Year" by the Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2015. His best-selling book, Learning Transformed: 8 Keys to Designing Tomorrow’s Schools, Today, co-authored with Eric Sheninger and published by ASCD, was released in June 2017. His most recent book, Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime, was released in October of 2019.
Prior to moving to his role in Washington, D.C., Murray served as an elementary teacher, middle school teacher, middle school principal, elementary principal, and at the district level in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He is most passionate about creating cultures of innovation where teachers are empowered to create the types of learning experiences today's modern learners need to thrive.
In addition to his role at Future Ready Schools®, Murray works directly with school and district leaders for administrative retreats, opening convocations, and professional learning days. He’s the husband of a school counselor and dad of two children, all of which are far more important to him than anything shared above.
As an author, Murray has released, or been a part of, five books:
- Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime (IMPress, 2019)
- 10 Perspectives on Innovation in Education (Routledge, 2018)
- Learning Transformed: 8 Keys to Designing Tomorrow's Schools, Today (ASCD, 2017)
- Education Write Now (Volume 1, Routledge, 2017)
- Leading Professional Learning: Tools to Connect and Empower Teachers (Corwin, 2015)
Murray is also one of the cofounders of #edtechchat, a weekly educational technology Twitter forum, where hundreds of educators from around the world discuss topics related to the effective use of educational technology. You can connect with Tom on social media.
Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime
Recent work in the learning sciences has helped paint a detailed picture of what it is kids need to thrive. Grounded in relationships, and built upon a culture for learning, personal and authentic experiences respect the hidden stories within each child and are learner-centered by design. These experiences are filled with moments of awe, and the learning is inherently relevant and contextualized. Appropriate levels of flexibility in pace and path are granted so that agency can develop, while authentic feedback ensures fidelity in the learning process. To support the personal and authentic experience, spaces and tools are leveraged in evidence-based, meaningful ways. The work is hard, but our kids are worth it!
Learning Transformed: 8 Keys to Designing Tomorrow's Schools, Today
With all that we know about how students learn, the nature of the world they will face after graduation, and the educational inequities that have existed for centuries, maintaining a traditional, one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and learning is tantamount to instructional malpractice.
Course creators and co-authors Eric C. Sheninger and Thomas C. Murray guide participants through nine unique modules, which outline their eight keys—each a piece of a puzzle for transforming the K–12 education system of teaching and learning—to intentionally design tomorrow’s schools so today’s learners are prepared for success and stand ready to create new industries, find new cures, and solve world problems.
Course Outline:
Module 1: Vision for Change
Module 2: Creating a Culture of Innovation
Module 3: Redesigning the Learning Experience
Module 4: Return on Instruction
Module 5: Designing Learner-Centered Spaces
Module 6: Making Professional Learning Personal
Module 7: Leveraging Technology
Module 8: Collaborating and Engaging with the Community
Module 9: Leading the Charge
Each module is complete with a self-assessment, content delivered by Tom and Eric, independent readings, videos of transformation in some of today’s leading schools, podcasts, reflection and action items, as well as a myriad of additional tools and resources to support your school or district’s transformation. Join Tom and Eric as they teach each section, provide over 50 videos in action to show what redefined experiences look like in today’s leading schools, and earn your Learning Transformed badge!
Creating Future Ready Schools [Admin] (through Future Ready Schools)
Leading with Purpose [Admin]
We Went 1:1, Now What? [Admin]
From Research to Practice, Creating the Learning Spaces Kids Need [All]
Tech Tools for Student Engagement and Teacher Effectiveness [Teacher]
Digital Citizenship in Every Classroom [Teacher]
