Dr. Z, as he is affectionately known by his students, is a school principal, author, and consultant specializing in middle school education, personalized learning, and educational leadership. He has worked with schools around the world and has been published in and featured by outlets such as Edutopia, The Guardian, Business Insider, The Chronicle, Educational Leadership, Independent School magazine, the Research in Middle Level Education journal, and the American Educational Research Association, in addition to numerous podcasts, radio programs, and as a featured speaker at education conferences. In 2020, he was named an ASCD Emerging Leader and in 2022 was named a member of the Ignite Louisville program. With a proven record of institutional innovation, he is driven by a passion to implement and scale student-centered practices and to enact ambitious, purpose-driven change that prepares teachers, students, and schools to tackle the challenges of the emerging future.
Whether you’re aiming to transform teaching practices, strengthen school leadership, or integrate AI-powered learning, I provide guidance, mentorship, and collaboration to support you, your students, and your faculty. I offer targeted programs centered around:
Mistake Literacy framework
Equipping educators to turn mistakes into powerful opportunities for student growth and learning.
AI-Driven Education Innovation
Guiding educators to harness Generative AI for inclusive, equitable, and high-impact learning experiences.
WISE FREEDOM FRAMEWORK
Supporting educators in fostering student agency and developmentally appropriate accountability.
Strategies for Supporting Teachers
Maximizing teacher effectiveness while promoting educator well-being and preventing burnout.
Personalized Learning Environments
Empowering educators to personalize learning and amplify student engagement for every learner.
"Attending Dr. Cohen's workshop was the highlight of the conference. His passion for educational leadership is infectious, and his expertise in Mistake Literacy gave me a fresh perspective on the learning process. I can't recommend his sessions highly enough to anyone looking to evolve in the educational space." - Alicia R., District Curriculum Coordinator
"Dr. Zak Cohen's session was a game-changer for me. His insights into personalized learning not only challenged my pre-existing notions but provided practical steps on how to effectively integrate it into my classroom. I left feeling inspired and equipped with tools to enhance my teaching practice." - Jordan T., Middle School Educator
“Thank you SOO much for your article on psychological safety at schools. I integrate trauma informed approaches as an AP in an elementary school. Psychological safety is essential for staff to be able to implement trauma informed practices.”
“Thanks to tonight’s webinar, I learned that a great way to learn is by making mistakes, and with the right mindset and strategies, I can create a classroom environment where students feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes.”
“Today’s learning reinforced the mindset shift that all learners need to develop - that mistakes are an integral part of the learning process and that we can grow and develop in our roles by learning from them.”
“I’ve come to understand the importance of removing the ego from the mistake-making process and fostering a culture of embracing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities.”
“Zak engaged my faculty by demonstrating a high level of creativity and passion. He offered feedback and encouragement, and he showed a dedication to lifting our practice and doing better for our students.”
“Zak is no ordinary educator. Never one to settle for the status quo, he has helped us make learning more vital, relevant, and effective.”
“Shout out to Zak's Flexible Grouping session - it was great!”
“I thought this session was great. I loved having the research behind the information, the supporting tools and resources that were shared were helpful, and the time to speak with other attendees to reflect was great. Thank you so much!”
“This was a wonderful session. My brain is full of knowledge and ideas and I appreciate the expertise of the presenter.”
“My colleagues and I left Zak's session feeling inspired!”
“I believe that this professional learning experience will impact my organization, my practice, and ultimately our students in a multitude of ways. The concept of #Mistake Literacy is not something that I was familiar with and is something that will benefit my faculty and students.”
“Zak Cohen was a whirlwind of information!”
“If someone can be nominated as the presenter whose topic and overall presentation would get the Transformative Presenter / Topic Award it should be Zak Cohen. Thank you Learning Forward for the opportunity to get to know Zak's work!”
“The wealth of information in the presentation and the additional resources will make being able to create presentations/PD sessions to share with my colleagues, teachers that I support, and ultimately our students something to get started on right away.”
“I enjoyed Zak's energy and loved his vibe!”
“I’ve been attending very informative sessions with excellent presenters throughout this conference. This session of "Mistakes as an Instrument of Learning” with Zak Cohen has been the most eye-opening and transformative session of my first ever Learning Forward experience.”
