Geoff Carlisle

Geoff Carlisle is the Policy Manager at DFI, where he bridges policy, practice, and research to strengthen pathways into the teaching profession.

Geoff’s work at DFI builds on his experience as a Fulbright researcher in Norway, where he investigated national reforms to teacher education policy. He previously spent 12 years teaching secondary science and leading curriculum development efforts, and he earned his Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Geoff resides in Austin, Texas, where he is also a freelance musician and photographer.

Describe a teacher or student who made a lasting impact in your life.

My music history professor at St. Olaf College, Alice Hanson, made a profound impact on my ability to be an analytical thinker. When she would have one-on-one feedback sessions with each of her students to discuss our research papers, she would hold our feet to the fire the whole time, forcing us to justify every choice we made in our writing. Anyone who took one of her courses would agree that she was eccentric, unrelenting, and a force of nature. Some of her lectures were so iconic and moving, former students of hers would attempt to sneak into her classroom just to experience them one more time. When she passed away a few years ago, many of us former students sent a flurry of emails with audio recordings of her unforgettable lectures about Beethoven and Mahler symphonies.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to aspiring or new teachers?

Be a sponge and be willing to try new things. I would spend part of my planning time watching the best teachers in my school to see how they cultivated learning environments that were productive, rigorous, and joyful. I would also scour video libraries of great teaching and videos of award-winning teachers to gain inspiration.

Contact me to... discuss policy, pathways into teaching, and research on teacher education.