About Lesson Study Alliance

Lesson Study Alliance has its roots in the group of volunteer classroom teachers who came together under the guidance of Dr. Akihiko Takahashi (DePaul University) and planned the first Chicago Lesson Study Conference in the fall of 2002. For the next eight years, Dr. Takahashi and volunteers planned research lessons and hosted an annual conference, drawing educators from around the world. Lesson Study Alliance was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 2010 to provide a formal structure for supporting and advocating for lesson study in Chicago and elsewhere.

Lesson Study Alliance currently has a full-time staff of just one person, Tom McDougal. Dr. Takahashi continues to lend his time and expertise and serves as President of the Board of Directors. Our power comes from the many teachers and administrators who donate their time and energy in various ways, including planning and teaching public research lessons or providing guidance to inexperienced teams.

Lesson Study Alliance is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Although we charge fees for service, we need your donations to cover all of our expenses. Please consider make a tax-deductible donation to support our work! You can view our latest tax forms here.

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