Adam has been exploring how people learn ever since he was diagnosed with both ADHD and a specific learning disability in second grade ('82). At Twenty-One Senses, Adam unifies his expertise in student-centered instruction, neurodiverse learning & development, and nonprofit management to lead training and one-to-one coaching programs that empower parents, teachers, and other caregivers to embrace their children's differences with compassion and positivity.

Enhance program performance for nonprofit clients by supporting the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based, data-informed products and services (e.g. educational programs, assessment systems, staff and leadership training, learning technologies, etc.). Collaborate with board and staff leaders to measure cost per outcome achieved, then realign resources to maximize mission fulfillment and increase social return on investment. Provide grant writing services as a loss leader to fund large-scale, long-term program design, program evaluation, and strategic planning projects. Sample of clients and partners: AltSchool.com; Contemporanea.us; Pearson; Make Every Vote Matter; Project Exploration; PluralCulture.org; SRI; UC Berkeley; Harvard Univ.; Northwestern Univ.; Loyola Univ. Chicago; Chicago Public Schools; Noble St. Charter Network, others

Led strategy, fundraising, finances, and programs at $1.4M nonprofit focused on engaging low-income latino parents in their children's education beginning at birth. Measurably increased mission fulfillment by coaching staff of 15 to collaborate more effectively, adopt new performance metrics, and iteratively improve program designs. Brokered a multi-year, multi-institution partnership and secured $300K+ in grant funding to replicate our unique family engagement model at other San Mateo County agencies. Collaborated with board experts to refine high-level brand strategy, resulting in improved ability to articulate, prioritize, and evaluate the mission/vision. Professionalized operational and governance infrastructure by introducing multi-year budgets and forecasts, accrual basis accounting, an upgraded donor database, health insurance for employees, level-based employee promotion system, yearlong board and committee calendars, and a Policy Governance® approach.

Servant-leader of nonprofit corporation with $4M revenue and 350 students on Chicago’s South Side. Oversaw tenfold (10x) increase in annual individual giving from $30K to $300K (FY12 to 15) and threefold (3x) increase in total enrollment and revenue during a six-year period of steady growth (FY09 to 15). Built consensus among diverse stakeholders for long-term strategy to maintain a single campus model and remain focused on the local community rather than expanding. Supported school leaders to engage with families and community partners, provide a safe and supportive environment for all learners (including 21% who receive special education services and 1-in-5 who are homeless), hold expulsion rates at or near zero, and deliver above-national-average academic growth for approx. 66% of students.

Led growth-to-profitability for $1.6M education department with 63 employees at a $14M nonprofit by aligning internal stakeholders and external partners around shared values of strategic planning, systematic evaluation, and data-driven decision-making. Beat department net revenue target by $399K (25% of overall budget), delivering +$100K net profit to institution when department was budgeted for -$299K net loss. Empowered, trained, and supported teams of formal and informal educators to use design thinking to scale-up effective programs while maintaining quality and controlling costs, resulting in: Tripled (3x) school group revenue and attendance; 33% expansion of Space Explorers Afterschool Club to 27 Chicago public middle schools; 25% expansion of teen internship programs; 56% increase in revenue and attendance for summer camps; 43% increase in revenue and 25% increase in attendance for adult evening programs; More than doubled (2.4x) daily visitor interactions with floor interpreters.

Planned, funded, and managed $7.3M in partnership grants/contracts between Loyola University and Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Measurably improved project-based inquiry instruction for over 120 CPS teachers, leading to statistically significant gains in concepts, skills, metacognition, and social-emotional learning for approx. 6,500 CPS students. Designed an integrated system of curriculum materials, formative and summative assessments, instructional coaching, and professional learning for teachers and administrators that scaled-up from 2 to 11 urban public high schools. Created and taught a semester-long "capstone" science course for CPS high school seniors, engaging students in an open-ended, project-based search for exoplanets using authentic data from NASA's planet-hunting Kepler Mission. Co-authored book chapter defining best-practices for helping teachers adopt project-based inquiry and debunking harmful myths about low-income students: "‘These kids can’t do inquiry’ - Another urban legend."

Consulted with deans and faculty across the university to create or re-design courses, measure learning outcomes, implement classroom technologies, train faculty, and collaborate on grants and funded research.

Principal Investigator for NASA’s Mid-Atlantic Region Space Science Broker program. Facilitated strategic partnerships between NASA and the education community. Directed the design of NASA instructional materials, including "e-Missions," distance learning simulations in which students students use teamwork, problem-solving, math, and science skills to navigate a complex and evolving problem-based scenario.

Designed instructional materials to make the research on learning, instruction, and assessment usable for classroom teaching. Evaluated alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in k-8 science curricula as a contractor to Chicago Public Schools.

Designed curriculum, assessment, teacher training, and learning technologies for a 36-week high school environmental science textbook. Developed innovative performance evaluations to assess student's decision-making skills.

Participated in designing a new space sciences wing for the museum with interactive exhibits and programs focused on encouraging conversations and promoting personal connections to current events and discoveries. Led outreach programs both on and off site including K-8 classroom activities and adult astronomy retreats.

Initiated the daily program “Mars Pathfinder Update” – featured on local TV and radio news – in response to public demand for information about NASA's first Mars rover. Scripted an original, interactive, and all ages planetarium show on the life-cycles of stars. Performed live planetarium shows with a focus on audience interaction and participation.