Beth Grzelak, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) is the Instructional Design Lead for The U, Ford Next Generation Learning’s asynchronous learning hub, and a Community Coach. Since joining Ford NGL in 2016, she has served in an Academy Coach-like role for Powered by Ford STEAM Academies in southeast Michigan, trained more than 200 teachers and administrators in project-based learning, and trains folks in Ford NGL’s Community-Connected Learning (CCL) continuum. Beth also serves as a community coach in various communities across the United States and Scotland, providing the opportunity to compare the implementation of the Ford NGL transformation process in very different contexts.
Before joining Ford NGL, Beth began her teaching career using project-based learning and the teacher team structure, two elements central to Ford NGL’s community-connected transformation model. Then, as the director of the University of Michigan’s teacher education program, she worked in the nexus of K-12 school districts, preservice teacher education, state departments of education, and national education organizations, which required both systems-level and strategic thinking. That work led to her interest in student voice and social justice and equity issues. As she pursued her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, she had the opportunity to mentor more than 175 building and district-level administrator interns, which cemented her research interests in the role the building leader has in developing and supporting meaningful student voice at the high school level.
When not supporting our amazing Ford NGL communities, you will find Beth adding yet another book to her Goodreads “Want to Read” list, cheering on her kids in all their endeavors, and enjoying listening to her husband play the bagpipes.
