Educators as Designers The Hidden Architecture of Learning

"Gaona Ellis's wisdom and insight offer a way of thinking about problems that empowers teachers to create their own contextually appropriate solutions, with and for the students on their school's cold margins. It balances idealism with realism-and UDL theory with practical design methodology-acknowledging teachers' exhaustion and time poverty while offering genuinely streamlined processes." - Matthew Savage, director, The Mona Lisa Effect

"Jim's solutions-based book validates teacher expertise while providing a roadmap grounded in design theory-one that empowers teachers, departments, and schools to intentionally create learning environments that work for all students. This insightful work pushes our thinking in all the right ways, toward a meaningful process for transformative change." - Mark Overmeyer, Teacher, writer, and educational consultant

"Throughout this book Jim takes readers seriously as professionals. Numerous examples from classrooms past and present allow educators to see themselves as current and potential designers. The thoughtful structure will enable teachers at all levels to locate opportunities to develop, test, and implement workable interventions adapted to their specific context." - Sherri Spelic, elementary physical education specialist, American International School Vienna

"This book is a warm, personal invitation for educators to remember the joy, creativity and intention at the heart of their work. With a generous and hopeful voice, Ellis reminds us that teaching is an act of design, where educators thoughtfully shape learning experiences that honor their students, their communities and themselves." - Andratesha Fritzgerald, author, speaker, and CEO of Building Blocks of Brilliance