About Us
Erik M.Francis
Author / Educator / Professional Learning Specialist
Erik M. Francis, M.Ed., M.S., is the founder and owner of Maverik Education and one of the world's leading authorities on Depth of Knowledge (DOK) and its accurate alignment and application to teaching and learning. With more than 30 years of experience in K-12 education, he has served as a classroom teacher, site administrator, education program specialist at a state education agency, and a professional learning producer and provider.
Erik is the author of three best-selling books on teaching and learning: Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge (Solution Tree, 2022), Inquiring Minds Want to Learn (Solution Tree, 2024), and Now That's a Good Question (ASCD, 2016). He has also been consistently recognized by Global Gurus and Thinkers360 as one of the world's top education and training professionals since 2019. He is also recognized as one the key authors and practitioners who speak with authority on Depth of Knowledge (DOK) in education and notable for clarifying common misconceptions about DOK as a concept, framework, and language for learning.
Erik has facilitated onsite and virtual workshops with schools and staff throughout the United States and internationally, including regions such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East. He has also been a keynote and breakout presenter at national, regional, and local education conferences and summits.
Erik holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Master 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, Communication, and English from the University at Albany.
Erik lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family. Outside of education, he enjoys sports, playing guitar, listening to classic rock, and watching films from the 1970s and 1980s. He named his company "Maverik" by synthesizing his name with his daughters' Madison and Avery along with the main character of one of his favorite movies, Top Gun.
"Professional development is timebound and topical. Professional learning is timeless, transferable, and transformational."
— Erik M. Francis
Published Works
Books by Erik M. Francis
ASCD · 2016
Now That's a Good Question!
How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning
BUY THE BOOK
Solution Tree · 2022
Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge
A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning
BUY THE BOOK
Solution Tree · 2024
Inquiring Minds Want to Learn
Posing Good Questions That Promote Student Inquiry
BUY THE BOOKSpeaking and Presentations
Book Erik to Speak
Erik is a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at education conferences. His sessions are known for being dynamic, engaging, and immediately applicable — grounded in real classroom experience and current research on how students learn best.
Keynote Presentations
High-energy, research-grounded keynotes that challenge assumptions, inspire action, and set the tone for professional learning events.
Breakout Sessions
Focused, interactive sessions designed to give educators practical strategies they can apply in their classrooms the very next day.
Workshops and Institutes
Deep-dive professional learning experiences — half-day, full-day, or multi-day — that build understanding, develop skills, and drive lasting instructional change.
Recognition
Honors and Awards
Global Gurus Top 30
Education Professional — Named 2019 to 2026
Global Gurus Top 30
Training Professional — Named 2024 to 2026
Thinkers360 Top 25
Thought Leader in Education — Named 2024 to 2026
Thinkers360 Top 25
Thought Leader in Design Thinking — Named 2024 to 2026
Let's Build Something That Lasts
Bring Maverik Education to Your Organization
Whether you are looking for a keynote, a multi-day training, or a long-term partnership, Maverik Education works with schools, districts, and education organizations. Let's start the conversation.