The Evidence Empowered Educator (E3) Method
a Seminar for Principals and School Leaders
Lead Your School with Evidence,
Not Just Gut Instinct
Get the tools to solve real problems in real time - using research-backed systems that actually work.
Turn Research into Real,
Lasting School Improvement
Every day brings a new challenge - from shifting policies to unexpected crises - and you're expected to make data-driven decisions on the fly.
But, how do you truly analyze evidence, apply it, and make confident leadership choices in a rapidly changing environment?
That's exactly why I created the Evidence Empowered Educator (E3) Method.
"Not your average professional development." -E3 attendee
Not another
"best practices" lecture
Leave with an actual strategy for your school, not just ideas.
Master the skills to lead your school with data-backed decisions.
How it Works: The 10-Week Experience
Research shows that traditional one-day PDs - where educators passively sit and receive information - don't create meaningful change. Lasting improvement comes from hands-on, job-embedded learning with opportunities to apply, refine, and reinforce new skills over time under the guidance of a skilled coach. That's exactly what the E3 Method Seminar provides.
Full Day, In-Person Workshop
During our initial in-person, full day workshop we'll lay the E3 groundwork, identify a challenge for you to focus on, conduct a root cause analysis and start building a strategic plan for our work together.
Virtual Sessions + 1:1 Coaching
Powered by three virtual cohort sessions and two individual coaching calls, you'll begin to solidify and implement your strategies, refine leadership systems, apply evidence in real-time, and begin collecting your own data.
Full Day, In-Person Workshop
Present your findings, finalize sustainability plans, and enter your Evidence Empowered Era.
My Better Education Guarantee: If you don't feel like you've solved your problem during the program, you'll get free coaching from me until you do, ensuring you get the results you need.
Is This Program Right for You?
The E3 Method Seminar is designed for principals and assistant principals who are ready to move beyond theory and implement real, evidence-based solutions in their schools. You're a great fit if:
You want to stop reacting to challenges and start leading with confidence, using proven research and data.
You're looking for a collaborative, hands-on learning experience, where you'll work alongside peers to create practical solutions for your school.
You're tired of one-size-fits-all PD sessions and want a program that provides real-world application and lasting impact.
Join a community of education leaders who are committees to making meaningful change.
What You'll Gain
Systems for Evidence-Based
Decision-Making
Make evidence-based decision-making second nature with a proven system to implement in your school.
A Clear, Research-Backed
Improvement Plan
Solve a real problem in your school.
Confidence in Your
Decisions
Support your leadership decisions with research and put an end to second-guessing and initiative fatigue.
HI! I'm Matthew Courtney
Hey there! I'm Matthew B. Courtney, Ed.D., your guide to Evidence Empowered Leadership! Like many of you, I started my journey in education because I wanted to make a real difference for my students. As a former music teacher, I quickly realized that passion alone wasn't always enough within systems that weren't set up for everyone to succeed. That's why I dove deep into the research, earning my doctorate to truly understand how evidence and data can drive meaningful and lasting improvement in our schools.
Let's work together to turn evidence into dynamic classroom success and build schools where every child receives a high-quality, evidence-informed education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key benefits of the program?
Participants will gain enhanced personal leadership skills in research use, and data analysis continuous improvement systems.
What if I'm not satisfied with the program's impact on my professional growth?
I stand behind the effectiveness of this program. If you're not satisfied with your progress, I offer a satisfaction guarantee: you'll receive free coaching until you've achieved the learning objectives you set during the seminar. This ensures you get the results you need to enhance your educational practice.
What is the structure of the E3 Method Seminar Learning Arc?
The E3 Method Seminar Learning Arc is designed to guide participants through a transformational journey from passive consumers of evidence to active creators of it. This progression unfolds over three key phases—Consumer, Curator, and Creator of Evidence—anchored by the pillars of Data Analysis, Research Use, and Continuous Improvement Systems.
In Phase 1: Consumer of Evidence, participants build personal leadership habits by learning to analyze data and evaluate research to make evidence-informed decisions. The focus is on developing individual capacity to discern truth from noise and apply findings effectively.
In Phase 2: Curator of Evidence, the emphasis shifts from personal practice to collaborative leadership. Participants engage their leadership teams and PLCs, sharing evidence-based practices and embedding them into school systems and routines.
Finally, Phase 3: Creator of Evidence empowers participants to implement continuous improvement tools—like Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles—to generate actionable evidence of what works in their own school context, fostering sustainable, school-wide change.
What tangible outcomes can participants expect?
By the end of the program, participants will:
Solve a self-selected problem of practice relevant to their school
Develop a strategy to address this problem within the program time frame
Install a system for ongoing evidence-based problem-solving at their school
Is this program only for specific subject areas or grade levels?
No, this program is content area and grade level neutral. It's applicable across different educational roles, whether you're teaching math, leading a building, or working out of the central office.
Will participants receive CEUs for completing the program?
Each state manages the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) process differently—some require formal state approval, while others allow schools or districts to approve CEUs at the local level. To support your efforts, we’ve prepared a CEU justification letter you can share with your supervisor or approving authority. If you need additional documentation or support, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Are there funding options available to cover the program cost?
Federal funding can be used to pay for a wide range of professional learning experiences. In addition to the CEU Justification Letter, we have prepared this memorandum about the different options that your district may choose to use to pay for your participation. Remember that each locality manages their federal funds differently, so your local leaders will have final say over the availability of these funds.
How does E3 assist in identifying and solving the right problems?
During E3 you’ll learn root cause analysis techniques to help leaders validate and understand underlying issues, ensuring focus on the areas where you’ll have the most impact. During the program we’ll focus on problems we can realistically solve in 10 weeks.
How does E3 differ from traditional professional development?
Unlike one-off workshops, this program is designed to provide intensive, job-embedded professional learning. You'll have opportunities to practice, implement, reflect, and refine your skills for real change in your educational practice. We dont do sit-and-get PD or one day crash courses - the evidence says they simply don't work!
How does the E3 Method help elevate the education profession?
The E3 Method is designed to empower school leaders with the tools, skills, and confidence to lead with clarity and purpose in a complex educational landscape. By focusing on evidence-informed decision-making, the program helps educators critically evaluate initiatives, prioritize what works, and implement sustainable systems that reduce burnout and overwhelm. Rather than chasing trends or waiting for top-down mandates, E3 participants learn to drive meaningful change from within—aligned with their school’s unique needs and grounded in research. It’s about restoring trust in educators’ expertise and positioning them as thoughtful, data-literate leaders within their profession.