Harvard's Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey, award-winning researchers and authors best known for their pioneering work in adult development, came to learn about MTA's innovative approach for teaching children. In particular, they were intrigued by MTA's research-based, technology-powered system that enables teachers to more easily create and deliver high quality lessons that maximize student engagement and learning.
After observing two classes each and then meeting with several teachers, both noted the high degree of collaboration between teachers, including regular peer-to-peer classroom observations as well as on-going feedback on both the design and delivery of lessons.
"There's an exemplary culture here of teachers helping teachers improve their lessons and teaching," commented Dr. Kegan. "That's a credit to them, the administration, and the learning system that facilitates it."
Andy Fleming and Claire Lee from Core Growth Partners, an Atlanta-based consulting and coaching firm, joined Kegan and Lahey in their visit.
"We saw some great lessons being taught in the classrooms," Fleming reflected afterwards. "But we also think MTA could teach businesses and other organizations a great deal about how to live their core values everyday. This school sets an example that any organization would do well to follow."
Dr. Kegan asked questions of students to check for understanding in Alyson Fitzgerald's 3rd grade classroom. Students were mutually interdependent while learning the branches of the government.
Dr. Lahey and others from Core Growth Partners used a feedback tool to give Heather Riley, 2nd grade teacher feedback on the power of her lesson. This feedback tool was developed using research based teaching practices. MTA has a common language for
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