Symon Hayes
Founder and Lead
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough’ we must do. ”
I lead workshops and coach educators to help them better understand their students and improve learning design. My goal is to ensure all students can participate, feel included, and reach their potential. I carefully plan workshops to promote active involvement, relevance, and a safe environment for exploring new ideas and strategies.
With over 30 years in education, I have worked as a classroom teacher for both special and general education, as an instructional coach at the school and district levels, and as a workshop designer and facilitator at various organizations like Expeditionary Learning, Envision Learning Partners, Learner-Centered Collaborative, and Eye to Eye National. My roles have included Director of Professional Learning and Senior Director of Learning Design.
My experience includes expertise in Project Based Learning, Learner-Centered Education, Universal Design for Learning, Understanding by Design, and Design Thinking.
I do this because, as an educator, I have a solid background in learning design. My experience as an instructional coach enhanced my knowledge of frameworks like Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning. I realized that my own education from ages 11 to 18 would have been more engaging and less challenging if the barriers to learning had been recognized and removed. If my teachers had understood that we all learn differently and adapted their teaching, my experience could have improved significantly.
I am grateful for the chance to work with great thinkers in education, from whom I continue to learn. With this knowledge, I advocate for students to ensure they can engage with their learning in a relevant and motivating way, reflecting their identities in what, how, and where they learn.
I also support educators and school leaders, encouraging them to grow in their understanding of creating meaningful and accessible learning experiences, so they feel confident in helping all their students succeed. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Interested in learning more about how we might collaborate? Let’s talk.