Get Credentialed in Innovative Instruction
Distinguished Modern Classroom Educators (DMCEs) successfully implement blended, self-paced, mastery-based instruction in their own communities. They are:
Expert Educators
DMCEs know how to differentiate their approach to support all learners.
Community Leaders
Educators who choose to become DMCEs are leaders in their schools and their field.
Student-Centered
When students learn under the guidance of a DMCE, their learning is personalized.
Data-Informed
DMCEs have discovered this approach actually works - and they have the data to prove it!
"Becoming a DMCE has deepened my commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities for my students within the Modern Classrooms model. Working on the portfolio gave me a chance to sit and reflect on routines that are working well, while also identifying opportunities for me to refine procedures and instructional choices for a greater impact. The thoughtful and specific feedback I received after submitting my portfolio boosted my confidence and affirmed my growth as an instructional leader."
— Jessica Hammond, DMCE, Durham, North Carolina
Get Recognized
Join our community of innovative educators worldwide and receive:
Certified Credentials: our digital badge, graduate credit, and a micro-credential from Digital Promise.
Public Recognition: We’ll share your achievement with your administration and your colleagues.
Global Community: Join innovators worldwide for meetups and other leadership opportunities.
…and More!: An exclusive backpack, plus premium Edpuzzle, ScreenPal, and Screencastify accounts.
About the Application
Complete this two-minute self-assessment to see if you’re ready to apply.
Submit your initial application.
Curate artifacts of implementation.
Receive feedback and revise as needed.
Meet the DMCE Community
Educators in this community can be paid for sharing their expertise with educators around the world.
Here are a few of their contributions:
Arpan, an instructional coach in Illinois, led a webinar on ChatGPT in Modern Classrooms.
Joanna, an English teacher in Kansas, created our course on Supporting Multilingual Learners.
Samantha, a science teacher in Washington, DC, has earned over $18,000 as an Expert Mentor.
Sarah, an elementary-school teacher in North Carolina, created our Guide to Guided Notes.
Toni Rose, who now works at MCP, explained how to make instructional videos engaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Any educator who implements our instructional model - with students and/or with adult-facing PD - can become a DMCE. If you're creating instructional videos, organizing self-paced learning experiences, and checking that participants really understand what they're meant to be learning, we encourage you to apply!
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There is no requirement that an educator use our model for any particular length of time before applying. In the spirit of mastery, we look at how effectively you implement (or support) Modern Classroom instruction, not how long you've been doing it.
We've seen successful DMCE applicants who have used blended, self-paced, mastery-based practices for years prior to applying, and others who are just a few months in.
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We've designed the application to be comprehensive, but it’s meant to take just a few hours to complete. If you're implementing our model effectively, you should simply be able to copy existing classroom materials into the template. You’ll need to complete the reflection sections as well, but many applicants consider this the most valuable part of the process.
Remember that we accept applications on a rolling basis, so you can take all the time you need to complete the submission template, and send it to us whenever you're ready.
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We believe deeply in revision and reassessment, and we model this through the DMCE application process. Whether your application is successful or not, you'll receive a scored copy of our rubric, with comments from one of our expert reviewers.
In the event that your first application is not successful, you are welcome (and encouraged!) to reapply, once you've addressed the comments from your initial review.
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Becoming a DMCE is the first step on the path to becoming one of our Expert Mentors, but does not guarantee that you will become a mentor. We are highly selective in who we train and pay to work as mentors because we want our educators to receive best-in-class support from active, expert educators.
After your successful DMCE application, you will be given opportunities to apply to become a mentor.