Our Founding

Teaching Lab was co-founded in 2016 by former teachers Silas Kulkarni and Max Wagner. Silas first developed the Teaching Lab concept based on his own experience as a record-breaking teacher in low-income communities and the professional learning community of which he had been a part. The idea evolved based on inspiration from work of the Core Task Project in Reno, NV, research on professional learning, and the guidance of literacy experts Meredith Liben, David Liben, and Susan Pimentel of Student Achievement Partners. Silas and Max then piloted the concept with two separate groups of teacher-leaders in West Virginia and northwest Louisiana, leading to the full Head, Heart, and Habits model. The experiences of the WV Teaching Lab and the NW LA Teaching Lab convinced Silas and Max that the Teaching Lab model could work around the country, leading to founding of the organization in 2016.

About Our Co-Founders

Silas Kulkarni served as Executive Director of Teaching Lab until November of 2018, when he passed leadership of the organization to successor CEO Sarah Johnson. Mr. Kulkarni then served alongside Ms. Johnson as Teaching Lab President until July of 2019. During his tenure, Teaching Lab grew rapidly, succeeded financially, and established a nationwide reputation for excellence, serving students and teachers across the country. Max Wagner served until Spring 2019 as Teaching Lab Director of Organizing and Senior Managing Director. During his time in leadership, Max developed Teaching Lab’s community organizing model of teacher-leadership. He personally led Teaching Lab’s partnership with the Louisiana State Department of Education and expansion to working with districts across Louisiana.