Benjamin W. Cottingham
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Benjamin W. Cottingham
District Improvement Specialist,
California Education Partners
Benjamin W. Cottingham is a district improvement specialist at Education Partners. His work involves collaborating with district teams to design and implement systems that strengthen preK–3rd grade mathematics and to build coherence between the 8th and 9th grades. He previously was associate director of strategic partnerships at PACE; worked on state policy with the Oklahoma Department of Education; served in nonprofit leadership while providing high-dosage tutoring in Boston; and taught with Teach for America. His work has focused on improving educational systems to better support high-quality teaching and learning. Cottingham received his MA in education policy from Stanford University.
updated 2025
Publications by Benjamin W. Cottingham
CORE’s Approach
Educators face a dilemma of staying up-to-date with evidence-based practices while dealing with superficial ideas. Continuous improvement methods can help in testing new ideas but if seen as add-ons, they may not yield sustained improvement. This…
How School Districts Craft Coherence Towards Continuous Improvement
This study uses qualitative case study methods to explore how educators establish system-wide continuous improvement capabilities and coherence for implementation, taking into consideration the local contexts. Educators use two bridging approaches…
Lessons from Two Learning Networks
This report examines how continuous improvement is applied to educational accountability in California. It analyzes the experiences of two organizations leading networks to increase postsecondary success, aiming to improve the consistency of…
A Case Study of Two High-Poverty School Districts
A report examines two CA districts that have shifted their structures, policies, and culture to improve student outcomes. Both districts worked with California Education Partners to refine their continuous improvement approach and spread practices.…