Jason Zimba joins Amplify as Chief Academic Officer of STEM

The longtime education leader will bolster Amplify’s academic offerings in mathematics and science

BROOKLYN, NY (January 11, 2022) — Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, announced today the appointment of Jason Zimba, Ph.D., as chief academic officer of STEM. Zimba, who most recently founded Student Achievement Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping teachers and school leaders implement equitable, high-quality, college- and career-ready standards, has spent his career as a researcher, educator, and advocate for high-quality curriculum and instruction for all students.

Over the last 30 years, Zimba has participated in numerous endeavors related to the advancement of excellent STEM education for all students, including his work with Engage New York Math, Illustrative Math and the Next Generation Science Standards. In 2019, Zimba created Math Milestones, a nonprofit subsidiary of Student Achievement Partners, that provides educators with a carefully crafted set of tasks that make mathematics learning easy and accessible to diverse communities, including Black students, English learners, and students in poverty. He also worked with the nonprofit Learning Heroes on a series of resources to inspire and equip parents with information to help their children succeed in school.

“Jason has been one of the most influential and incisive voices about math and science education in the last 20 years, and we could not be happier that Jason has joined the Amplify team,” said Amplify Chief Executive Officer Larry Berger. ”Jason’s immense expertise in STEM education will help us create the next generation of high-quality math and science programs that engage all students in the beauty and rigor of STEM subjects.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the passionate and talented Amplify team,” stated Zimba. “In the past two years educators have gone above and beyond for their students, and they deserve all the support we can provide. I look forward to working with my math and science colleagues to deliver excellent and innovative tools for teachers.”

A Rhodes scholarship recipient and former professor of physics and mathematics, Zimba holds a bachelor’s degree from Williams College, with a double major in mathematics and astrophysics; a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oxford; and a doctorate in mathematical physics from the University of California at Berkeley. He has worked as a researcher and educator, teaching mathematics and physics to university and high school students, and incarcerated adults. Zimba is also the author of the book “Force and Motion: An Illustrated Guide to Newton’s Laws,” which presents the laws not only in mathematical form but also visually. This unique approach allows students to appreciate the conceptual underpinnings of each law before moving on to qualitative descriptions of motion and, finally, to the equations and their solutions. Finally, as the first person in his family to attend college, Zimba has a deep commitment to giving all students access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to excel in STEM and other fields.

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About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves ten million students in all 50 states. For more information, visit amplify.com.

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