Tim Bouman

Tim has worked in education for over twenty-four years, teaching at every level from preschool through Community College (but mostly high school, and mostly ESL and English). He taught at schools in Indiana, Ukraine, his native New York City, and Tanzania before moving to Chicago in 2005. He spent eleven years at North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School, five years as an English teacher and Department Chair, one year as an AP, and five years as its Principal. Tim earned his BA at Penn, his MA in TESOL at Columbia University Teachers College, and a Masters in Educational Leadership at Concordia University Chicago.

Tim is passionate about closing the achievement gap, and preparing all students for successful completion of college. In working around the globe and in many different American contexts, Tim has spent a lot of time exploring the disparities of educational opportunities depending on so many social and economic factors. One real bright spot has been the full implementation of interdisciplinary, project-based learning at an inner-city Chicago school.

Together with Purple Pen founder Barry McRaith, Tim helped to build the structure to support true student-centered independent learning and research opportunities. He saw first-hand that by empowering both teachers and learners to build and create within a well-defined and supportive structure, students were able to exceed expectations and learn skills that helped them succeed in college. When learners are at the center, when curriculum is authentic and engaging, and—crucially—when structures and supports are in place for both teacher and learner—amazing things can happen. Alumni regularly visit from college and report that their senior research project (designed using the fundamental structures so wonderfully captured in The Purple Pen’s set of tools) was the single most helpful thing that prepared them for college success. Taking this formula and approach to learning that Tim continues to see working for his students and bringing it to more learners and teachers is what is so exciting about the opportunities presented by The Purple Pen, and why Tim was eager to join the team that will bring this vision to schools everywhere.

When not at school, Tim is an avid marathon runner and a youth baseball coach. His wife, Erin, is a Lutheran pastor and they have two school-aged children. They live in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood.