Matthew Peterson

Matthew Petersen

Chief Academic Officer

Matthew leads program innovation, design, and analysis efforts at New Classrooms. Prior to joining New Classrooms, Matthew worked as a consultant supporting educational foundations, education nonprofits and K-12 school districts to create intentional systems and structures that enabled conditions for breakthrough innovations, early learning and impact. Additionally, he worked as a leadership coach for aspiring school leaders and designed the selection process and implementation plan/infrastructure for multiple innovation networks. Prior to consulting, Matthew served as a Vice President of Strategy & Special projects for Teach For America, where he stewarded efforts to reimagine and innovate upon the existing program of services while supporting leaders and regions with the development of new and emerging ideas. For the first fifteen years of his career, Matthew worked in the public school setting as a special education aide, teacher, and principal. In 2015, Matthew received his doctorate in Harvard’s Education Leadership program focusing his studies on leadership, innovation and developmental evaluation. Prior to earning his doctorate, Matthew earned a masters in Educational Administration and a bachelor’s in Biological Sciences, both from the Ohio State University. He lives with his wife and children in the Columbus, Ohio area.