Mark is a free range educator. Thanks to his experiences as a teacher, librarian, instructional coach, district administrator, university instructor, professional collaborator, and writer, Mark has a rich perspective on education and schools. With first-hand experiences designing, implementing and sustaining innovative projects and programs, he has effectively translated theory into practice both locally and nationally.
His current work includes serving as a lead advisor with the national Future Ready Librarians initiative and teaching in the School Library Certification Program at Antioch University Seattle. As a leader or facilitator, he is part of Washington State grants and projects focused on instructional collaboration, media literacy, and supporting Washington Educators of the Year. He has also served as an advisor and research interviewer with the IMLS-funded SLIDE project.
Mark has been recognized both regionally and nationally for his work.
- 2021 Washington Library Association President’s Award
- 2019 COSN Community Leadership Award for Digital Equity
- 2015 NSBA “20 to Watch” Emerging Technology Leader Award
- 2012 Washington State Teacher of the Year
- 2012 Teacher Librarian Magazine Leadership Award
- 2011 Washington State Individual Award for Influencing Instructional Leadership and Professional Growth of Educators – Washington ASCD
As an administrator, he led the successful weLearn 1:1 digital learning program in Vancouver Public Schools and translated his experiences with teacher librarians into the national Future Ready Librarian initiative at the Alliance for Excellent Education. Early success stories have been featured by Digital Promise, the U.S. Department of Education and articles in Education Week and School Administrator. He has been an active partner with Digital Promise, the U.S. Department of Education, Alliance for Excellent Education, ISTE, CoSN, and others.
As an instructional partner, he has worked with numerous districts and educational agencies to guide planning and implementation of digital services, 1:1 device deployments, and reinventing libraries and library practices. During the 2022-23 school year, he worked with the Bethel School District in Washington State to support teacher librarians. He has presented widely for international, national, state and local audiences.
As a content developer, he has created micro-credentials, open educational resources, and online courses with a variety of partners. In 2021, he received a two-year grant from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to integrate media literacy instruction into secondary core content classes. The SW Washington Media Literacy Project was featured at the 2023 NCCE Conference. He also conceived and helped develop the Washington Digital TeachKit, an award-winning professional learning resource curated and created by teacher librarians. In 2021, he developed the LIFT Framework, an OER professional learning stack designed to build educator capacity as instructional partners and coaches. The LIFT Framework was used as part of a Washington State PESB educator grant project in the 2021-22 school year.
As a writer and instructor, Mark has contributed to many professional publications. In addition to his current work with Antioch University Seattle, Mark has been an instructor with University of Washington, Washington State University and City University.
All work and no play isn’t much fun. Mark also enjoys cooking, growing vegetables, social dancing, collecting vinyl and vintage hi-fi gear and mixing cocktails.