About

About FlexTech Education

FlexTech Education is an educator-powered professional development organization. We help new and existing schools meet the needs of the 21st century learner through project-based learning and competency-based assessment practices. We believe every student deserves a high quality education that prepares them for a meaningful future. Let us empower you to reimagine education for your own community. We will guide you through the process from start-up to success. 

Sarah Pazur, Ph.D.

President and CEO

Dr. Pazur brings with her extensive experience in project-based learning, design thinking, and blended school models. She worked as an English teacher for eight years with the University Preparatory Academy, a Big Picture Learning school in Detroit. In 2009, she went on to serve as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies, then later served as the principal of WAY Michigan, a statewide virtual high school.  

Dr. Pazur has served in the capacity of teacher, curriculum director and principal in three innovative schools in Metro Detroit. She is now the Director of School Leadership for a network of public school academies in Michigan. She is co-founder of FlexTech Education, a professional development organization specializing in project-based and competency-based learning. She is a member of the Michigan Competency Consortium and is currently a Deeper Learning Leadership Forum fellow with Envision Learning Partners. She holds a BA in English and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Detroit Mercy. She earned both her Education Specialist degree and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University. 

Jim Perry

Co-Founder

In Memory

11/20/1966 - 3/30/2022


James "Jim" Perry of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away peacefully and surrounded by the love of his family on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, after a 6 year battle with cancer. FlexTech Education will always honor Jim's contributions and celebrate his legacy.



Jim Perry had a passion for experiential learning, believing educational experiences in and out of the classroom should be transformational. Recognizing the value of the small high school model, Jim began his teaching career as a social studies teacher in a 300-student high school before moving into leadership where he developed, coached and led many teachers and school leaders during his career.


Jim led a design team to vision and create a truly student-centered high school using project-based learning and competency-based grading as foundational practices. FlexTech High School, opened in 2011, was the result of these efforts. FlexTech has become widely regarded as an exemplary model of a true project-based learning school with flexible scheduling, blended learning and a highly successful student advisory program. With this success FlexTech has expanded to 4 separate high schools and is increasingly sharing their successful practices with other educators and schools across Michigan.


Jim served as classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal and school leader, school founder and executive director as well as a director of school leadership and vice president of school development.


He is sorely missed.

Chris Quiambao

Consultant

Chris Quiambao grew up in Canton, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, then went back for an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction to become a high school science teacher. Working with youth is a hobby that turned into a passion that led him to his career as a teacher. Every job he had since high school has involved working with kids. Chris likes playing video games, cooking without recipes, learning about how things work, figuring out how to make cool things, and tinkering with technology. He brings these interests to FlexTech by working in the MakerSpace where he helps students create cool projects using the laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, and poster printer. Chris was one of the founding members of FlexTech. 

Joe Lieberman

Consultant

Joe Lieberman has been teaching for over 10 years and has worked in the FlexTech network since 2013. He currently teaches English and World Humanities. He has a B.A. from Eastern Michigan University in English Language Arts with a minor in history and a secondary teaching endorsement. He also has a M.A. from EMU in literature. He holds several roles and responsibilities which include Advisor, English Department Chair, Vanguard, Instructional Leadership Team member, Writers' Night Event Coordinator, and Robotics Team Mentor. His passions in teaching include project-based learning, standards-based assessment, student-centered curriculum, and activity systems at the class, school, and district-wide levels. Currently, he is pursuing a fellowship through the KnowledgeWorks program where he will be collaborating with other educators nationally to coach and facilitate student-centered learning. 

Joy Lyman

Consultant

Joy Lyman is a versatile and passionate educator with a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, teacher leader, museum educator, and facilitator of professional learning. Ms. Lyman cares deeply about schools being learner-focused, and uses vehicles like instructional coaching, advisory, restorative practices, mastery-based grading, Project Based Learning, and competency-based education to make that happen. When she is teaching, she enjoys finding new and engaging approaches to accessing content, something you can see in the English elective class she currently teaches, Historical Mythbusters. She is currently the Network Lead Instructional Coach for FlexTech Schools and a Senior Fellow with the Michigan Teacher Leadership Collaborative, as well as being a graduate of Galileo Teacher Leadership and the CSP Aspiring Leaders Academy.


Our Core Values

Innovation

We value innovation. We believe anyone can innovate, doing what they can with what they have. We are passionate about helping educators reimagine education for their own communities and guide them through the process from start-up to success. 


Personalization

We value personalization. Professional learning must be tailored to the needs of the learning community. We are committed to using readiness assessments to personalize services that meet the unique needs of our clients.


Equity

We value equity. All learning communities deserve access to meaningful curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices. Innovative teaching and learning isn’t a luxury reserved for the most gifted, able, or privileged youth--it is the means by which we unlock opportunities for all students. We are committed to helping all schools, no matter their demographics, readiness, context, or challenges, implement deeper learning principles. 

Accessibility

We value accessibility. We are committed to making as many of our resources as possible open to all educators.

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