Matt has authored multiple books including Making Grades Matter: Standards-Based Grading in a Secondary PLC at Work (Solution Tree), Using Grading to Support Student Learning (Routledge), A Parents’ Guide to Grading and Reporting: Being Clear about What Matters (Rowman & Littlefield), Grading Reform That Lasts: Eight Steps to Transforming Your School’s Assessment Culture (Solution Tree), and Extinguishing the Fires within Assessment and Grading Reform (FIRST Education Publishing). As a former district administrator and teacher in the Solon Community School District (Solon, IA), he has firsthand experience implementing and leading lasting grading reform. District Administration magazine named Solon Community Schools a district of distinction, and Solution Tree recognized multiple buildings in the district as model professional learning communities during his tenure. Through conferences, professional development and workshops, Dr. Townsley has consulted with teachers, administrators, and parents across the globe on the topics of assessment and grading.
In recognition of his leadership, Matt was named Iowa’s Central Office Administrator of the year and he was recognized as an ASCD Emerging Leader. His writing can be found in publications such as Educational Leadership, School Administrator, ASCD Express, and NASSP Bulletin. In addition, he has been featured or quoted in the following media outlets: The Christian Science Monitor, CNN.com, The Washington Post, USA Today, California and Kansas public radio, the Center for Digital Education, Education Week, Khan Academy Ed Talks, as well as presented at national conferences such as the Learning Forward Annual Conference, National Conference on Education (AASA), and the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) Annual Conference. Matt’s energetic approach to engaging audiences has earned him the moniker “The Sportscaster of Alternative Grading.”
Dr. Townsley is an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA.