Zac Patterson, Ph.D

Dr. Zac Patterson is the founder of Modern Education Research and Consulting, where he partners with superintendents, district leadership teams, and school systems to design and implement high-impact instructional and assessment strategies. 

He holds a Ph.D. in STEM Education and brings over 14 years of experience spanning K–12 and higher education. His background includes experience serving as a secondary physics instructor, an undergraduate STEM Scholar program manager, and as Director of Research at a Center for Teaching and Learning at a leading R1 institution (The Ohio State University). This breadth of experience allows Dr. Patterson to bridge classroom practice, program design, and research in ways that drive meaningful, system-wide improvement.

Dr. Patterson specializes in helping education systems move beyond fragmented initiatives toward coherent, research-aligned approaches that produce measurable gains in teaching and learning. His work focuses on some of the most pressing challenges facing schools today—including instructional alignment, assessment design, and the implications of artificial intelligence for student learning.

Known for his ability to translate complex research into clear, actionable systems, he supports educators in building structures that prioritize deep thinking, authentic learning, and long-term student success. His approach is collaborative, strategic, and outcomes-driven, designed not just to inform, but to create lasting impact across entire systems.

He partners with a select number of districts each year to support system-wide instructional transformation and strategic implementation.