His research includes teaching effectiveness, teacher preparation, teacher evaluation, and teacher compensation. In addition to his work with CTQ, he also consults with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and the U.S. Department of Education. His publications include Capitol Hill white papers, peer-reviewed journal articles, and pieces for Education Week and Kappan. Additionally, he has spoken on teaching quality issues across the United States and as far away as Muscat, Oman. He served as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education in both the Bush and Obama administrations, was a teacher outside of Chicago and Nashville for 12 years, and earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University, Peabody College.