Don Smith has 20 years of professional experience in public schools. Don previously served as the Director of Teaching and Learning for the Winneconne Community School District, in Wisconsin. Prior to that, Don was the Director of Teaching and Learning in the School District of Waupaca. Don also served as the Principal at Fond du Lac STEM Academy and Fond du Lac STEM Institute, as well as the District Assessment Coordinator for the Fond du Lac Area School District (WI). Don continually leads professional development sessions centered on research based practices in instruction, assessment and grading. In 2022, Don began working full time with FIRST Educational Resources.
Matt Townsley, EdD, is an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He is a former district administrator and teacher in Solon Community School District, also in Iowa, where he led curriculum, assessment,and school-improvement initiatives, all with a professional learning community culture as the foundation. District Administration magazine named Solon Community Schools a district of distinction, and Solution Tree recognized multiple buildings in the district as Model PLCs during his tenure. Through conferences, professional development, and workshops, Matt has consulted with teachers, administrators, and parents, across the United States on the topics of assessment and standards-based grading. He is author and coauthor of multiple books, including Grading Reform That Lasts: Eight Steps to Transform Your School’s Assessment Culture, A Parents’ Guide to Grading and Reporting: Being Clear About What Matters, Using Grading to Support Student Learning, and Making Grades Matter: Standards-Based Grading in a Secondary PLC at Work.
