Why We Do How We Do What We Do
Our "why" is to ensure teaching and learning is standards-driven, socially and emotionally supportive, and student-responsive so that the experience is academic, effective, and authentic for all.
About Us
Maverik Education provides professional development and professional learning on how to plan and provide teaching and learning experiences that are standards-driven, socially and emotionally supportive, and student-responsive.
Maverik Education is owned and operated by Erik M. Francis, M. Ed., M.S., an international author and presenter with over 25 years of experience working in education as a classroom teacher, a site administrator, an education program specialist with a state education agency, and a staff development trainer who produces and provides professional development, guidance and support for teachers and school leaders.
Erik is the author of Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posing Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry and Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning, published by Solution Tree. He is also the author of Now, THAT'S a Good Question! How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning, published by ASCD. He is ranked consistently as one of the World's Top 30 Education Professionals by the research organization Global Gurus. He has also been named one of the Top Global Thought Leaders for Design Thinking and Future of Work by Thinkers360.
Erik specializes in providing guidance, support, and training to academic leaders and classroom teachers on how to develop rigorous learning environments and deliver engaging educational experiences that engage and encourage students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and understand and use their Depth of Knowledge (DOK) through inquiry and by questioning with good questions.
Erik's seminars and workshops have been featured at national, state, and regional education conferences hosted by organizations such as ASCD, Learning Forward, the College Board, the Association for Middle-Level Education (AMLE), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the National Teacher Center, and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). He has led and facilitated in-person and virtual professional development trainings at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and internationally in Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East.
Erik received his Master’s in Education Leadership from Northern Arizona University and Master’s of Science in Television/Radio/and Film Production and Management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication and English from the University of Albany.
Erik lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family. He enjoys football (Go Arizona Cardinals!), basketball (Go Phoenix Suns!), working out, playing guitar, classic rock music (I'm a huge Van Halen and Led Zeppelin fan!), and watching films (The Godfather saga, Jaws, the Star Wars saga, the Rocky films including the Creed movies, and The Infinity War saga are my favorites).
You can connect with Erik at the following social media sites:
You can also book Erik to provide professional development through his author and presenter page on the Solution Tree website
Areas of Expertise
Books by Erik M. Francis
Learn how to phrase and pose good questions during classroom instruction that will ignite students' inquiring minds, enrich their learning, "hook 'em" into learning, and guide them down four different and distinct pathways of inquiry that will make teaching and learning educational and enjoyable for all.
If your understanding of the depth of knowledge (DOK) is a little cloudy, you’re not alone. This resource is your one-stop-shop for learning what it is and how to use it to provide learning experiences that are academically rigorous, socially and emotionally supportive, and student-responsive.
What is a good question - or rather, how does a good question challenge students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and understand and use their depth of knowledge? Explore how good questioning can provide the proper scaffolding to deepen student thinking, understanding, and application of knowledge.
Honors and Recognition
