ASCD Faculty Bio

Steven Levy

Steven Levy is a consultant for Expeditionary Learning Schools. He works with teachers to design curriculum and improve instructional practice, and he conducts workshops in project-based learning throughout the country. Levy has taught every grade level from kindergarten through college in 28 years of teaching. He was recognized as the 1992–1993 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and honored by the Disney American Teacher Awards as the national Outstanding General Elementary Teacher in 1994–1995. In 2001, Levy was the recipient of the Joe Oakey Award for his national impact on project-based learning. He received the John F. Kennedy Prize for the teaching of history, and his project, “Lexington, USA” was highlighted by the American School Board Association. Levy and his 4th grade students were designated "Conservation Heroes" by the National Park Service for their study of the effects of a local bike path on the environment and the community. Levy has written various articles for educational journals, and his book, Starting From Scratch, was published by Heinemann in 1996.

Other publications include:

Building a Culture Where High Quality Counts. Chapter in Assessing and Reporting on Habits of Mind. Art Costa and Bena Kallick. ASCD (2000).

To See the World in a Grain of Sand. Educational Leadership (November 1999).

The End of the Never-Ending Line. Educational Leadership (March 1999).

The Power of Audience. Educational Leadership (November 2008).

The Voyage of Pilgrims (Videotape, 1992). Levy’s 4th grade class tells the story of what they learned when they walked into an empty classroom on the first day of school. The video describes a yearlong project where inquiry and engagement lead to knowledge and skills. Available from Steven Levy. Contact slevy@elschools.org.

On the Path. (Videotape). This video documents the study of how the construction and use of a bike path affected the community, the environment, and Levy’s 4th grade class, who published a book of their research. Available from Steven Levy. Contact slevy@elschools.org.

Expeditionary Learning is a model for comprehensive school reform. The model emphasizes project-based learning, active pedagogy, and literacy integrated across the curriculum. Character growth and teamwork foster a culture of respect, a passion for quality work, and a dedication to high achievement. See www.elschools.org for more information.