Over the last ten years I have watched QED educate students and make a positive difference in their lives, providing them with an environment of discovery and learning that best prepares them not only for their future careers, but also for leadership roles in our society. It has been wonderful the transformation of children into young men and women who are ready to go out and tackle the problems of our society. Kim Carter has assembled a talented and dedicated group of educators and staff who are dedicated to creating a dynamic and challenging learning experience for all students, no matter what their abilities, interests, or backgrounds.
QED's vision is one that should be widespread. Embracing each individual for their unique skills and creating student-focused collaborative learning are things that we desperately need more of in American education. Thank you for leading by stupendous example.
I have worked with the people from QED for many years and am always amazed at the depth of knowledge they have, and their ability to synthesize the most current pieces of research and transfer that synthesis of understanding into manageable practice for schools. I've never met more knowledgeable educators in my 30 years as an educator.
I've worked with Q.E.D. on various aspects of developing extended learning opportunities (ELOs) in New Hampshire high schools for several years. They have a deep understanding of both the philosophical underpinnings and practical realities of ELOs. They are big thinkers and I greatly value their perspective in both project planning and project evaluation meetings. Their particular gift is to haul conversations out of the weeds and remind a group of original intents, long term transformative goals, and sometimes, useful reframing of an issue. They have a vast bag of strategies and tools, and an unflagging passion for student learning. We also collaborated (Keene State College and Q.E.D.) on an ELO reference website and they were very generous in sharing all the tools they'd developed over time.
I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Kim Carter, Executive Director and her team at QED many times over the years. Kim is a nationally respected leader with a long-standing commitment to educational reform that deeply respects each learner, parent, educator, and community. She brings a rare mix of expertise in so many critical area, including educational practice, policy, neuroscience, leadership, organizational change, program development, and management. I have learned much from Kim over the years and know that collaborating with her and her team at QED has increased my productivity and the quality of my work. Kim and the team at QED make a real difference every day.
Kim and her colleagues are expert at personalized learning and democratic schooling. Well known and respected regionally and nationally, QED resources are helpful to all schools, non-profit organizations and individuals interested in learning about learning.
Chris Haskins, Rhode Island
I've worked with the fine folks at QED for a long time and have found them to be creative, positive, enthusiastic, and inspiring. They're some of the best educators I know (and I know a lot of educators) and they're committed to staying up to date on research, best practices, and new faces in the field. I work with them whenever I have the chance!
The New Hampshire-based QED foundation is quietly in the process of building the next revolution in American education. QED and their powerful demonstration schools (Making Community Connections ) are realizing the full potential of democratic, learner centered, and community-based education. In this age of test-prep and scripted curriculum, QED is a breath of fresh air. The U.S desperately needs outstanding models for 21st century progressive schools and QED is leading the way. QED is also at the forefront of applying the principles of neurodiversity to help every student construct an educational experience that is tailored to their real learning needs and designed to help them work from their strengths to address their challenges. From their remarkable Learner Sketch Tool to the more in-depth training of the Neurodevelopmental Framework for Learning, QED is focused on a student's passions and assets which are then leveraged to help them address areas of challenge that may be preventing them from reaching their highest potential.
The director of QED, Kim Carter, has helped move our district, in California, forward in the area of Competency-Based Learning. She is unbelievably knowledgeable and passionate about helping all students reach their potential. She provides an environment where students are equipped with the tools, skills, and knowledge that will prepare them for life after high school.
QED is a remarkable organization! If it weren't for QED and the wisdom of Kim Carter and Elizabeth Cardine, I could have never started the Expanded Learning Opportunities program at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island. They are brilliant, innovative, supportive, and generous. I would highly recommend them for any possible collaboration or consultation!
I first became aware of the work of QED in the summer of 2010 at an education leadership conference where I met Kim Carter, the founder and executive director. Since then, I've had opportunities to collaborate with them on projects that range from learner variability to school transformation to technology platforms. Throughout this work is a mission that informs everything they do.
The term transformational learning, isn't one that they just throw around -- it is central to how they approach problems of practice. This is true at every scope and scale of their work. District wide organizational challenges? Check. Classroom practices? Check. Professional learning programs for teachers and education leaders? Check. Digital platform to empower students and teachers alike? Check.
And because they have built and run schools from the ground up, transformed existing programs, and collaborated with numerous other organizations, they have the experience to inform their processes.
Words I might use to describe Kim and QED? Dynamic. Strategic. Intellectually curious. Empowering. Learner and learning focused. Thoughtful. Dedicated. And, at the heart of it all, compassionate.