Robert J. Marzano is arguably one of the greatest educational researchers of our day.  His career is laced with facts and findings that have changed instruction, evaluation, assessment, leadership, you name it.  And unique to most researchers, he transforms his research results into practical application.

In September 2007 Bob spoke at our Ensuring EffectiveTeaching in Every Classroom event in Florida, built around his work.  He was still working for McREL but had also started Marzano & Associates consulting out of his home.  Following the day’s activities we were having dinner, and through normal conversation it seemed that professionally Bob was a little unsettled about his direction.  So I asked a simple question which became the first domino leading to significant changes in both our lives, and the lives of countless others.

“You’re only 61, so what do you want to do when you grow up?”

He laughed and then without hesitation stated he had always wanted to have a research lab, bringing all his past, present and future work into one place and bound together.  He had approached McREL, but understandably they needed to further diversify their work beyond his research.  He approached ASCD, but his vision didn’t fit to well with theirs.  So knowing what he wanted to do, and knowing what we do, what else could I say, but “Okay, let’s do it.  You be the brains and Solution Tree will be the brawn.”

We went to work and on May 15, 2008 Marzano Research Laboratory was founded.  A tiny staff still working in his home basement with operations managed out of Bloomington through Solution Tree’s systems.  Today we have a thriving well staffed Research Lab led by Bob, baring his family name, housing nearly all of his work in one place, and is no longer in his and Jana’s basement.

MRL currently does work in the US, Australia, China, and distributes books in several other countries.  In 2011 we were awarded one of the prestigious federally funded Regional Educational Labs (REL) for an initial term of five years. This Fall, in a joint venture with Solution Tree, we are piloting Bob’s framework for whole school reform titled High Reliability Schools.  The culmination of his life’s work and research…to date.

Is Bob done or slowing down…not so much.  Is Bob headed towards having an even greater impact in education…oh yes.  This is what he does, and why we do it.