Throughout graduate school, (ED.D. 鈥�85) taught children because, she says, 鈥淚 like to apply what I learn.鈥� Borders holds four advanced degrees, including three from TC. A 鈥渢eacher first鈥� (she鈥檚 taught all grades), she鈥檚 led research, served as a CTB/McGraw-Hill national measurement consultant and Baltimore schools assistant superintendent and chief, led accountability and professional learning for the U.S. Department of Defense schools and headed $50 million education development projects abroad.
鈥淚鈥檝e challenged myself to experience different education sectors for deeper learning. Every position I鈥檝e taken has given me the opportunity to impact more students and education leaders.鈥�
Borders ultimately found her 鈥渉eart and soul鈥� in evidence-based research and 鈥渂ringing great research into the classroom to accelerate learning.鈥�
Borders came from humble beginnings in Omaha, Nebraska 鈥� a first-generation College student whose family 鈥渟acrificed everything鈥� for her education.
Earning a scholarship from , she double-majored in cognitive psychology and human development. 鈥淓ducators need rigorous research from other fields,鈥� she says. Teaching in Appalachia, she spotlighted child abuse, arranged doctor visits and took students to New York City and Washington. While believing in equity and excellence in learning, high-quality content and collaborative learning, she ultimately found her 鈥渉eart and soul鈥� in evidence-based research and 鈥渂ringing great research into the classroom to accelerate learning.鈥� Recently, she鈥檚 assumed leadership of Learning Forward, the leading developer and supporter of education leaders鈥� professional learning, and joined TC鈥檚 Board.
鈥淭C is such a part of me. I want to apply what I鈥檝e learned.鈥�