Tony Wagner

Tony Wagner researches education innovation at Harvard focusing on preparing students for knowledge economy. He speaks on education reform and innovation skills and creating schools developing capabilities students actually need. His work challenges traditional education assumptions. Organizations value his frameworks on teaching innovation and critical thinking and collaboration showing how schools must transform to prepare students for futures requiring different competencies than industrial-era education provided.

Tony Wagner recently accepted a position as the first Innovation Education Fellow at the Technology & Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard.  Prior to this, he was the founder and co-director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for more than a decade. Tony consults widely to schools, districts, and foundations around the country and internationally.  His previous work experience includes twelve years as a high school teacher, K-8 principal, university professor in teacher education, and founding executive director of Educators for Social Responsibility.

Tony is also a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and a widely published author.  His work includes numerous articles and five books. Speaker Tony Wagner’s latest, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change The World, has just been published by Simon & Schuster to rave reviews and will soon be available in Spanish and Chinese translations. His 2008 book, The Global Achievement Gap has been an international best seller and has also been translated into Chinese. Tony has also recently collaborated with noted filmmaker Robert Compton to create a 60 minute documentary, “The Finland Phenomenon: Inside The World’s Most Surprising School System.”

Reinventing’ America’s Schools

Starting Points for Reinvention

Educators Are From Mars; Business Leaders Live on Venus: How Are We Going To Get Down To Earth Together?

Seeing the School Reform Elephant: What Policymakers Need to Know

Seeking Higher Moral and Academic Standards: A Response to Character Education

Strategies for Building Community Partnerships

What is The Aim of Educational Reform?

Are Schools ‘Failing’?

Successful Strategies for Community Involvement

Charter Schools: Policy Implications for Educational Reform

Why School Reform: Making the Case for Change