James Marshall:
Professor, Thought Partner, and Award-winning Author.
Learning Program & Initiative Implementation Expert
I’m excited about this book that jumps right into the middle of education program crises and helps leaders find the right fixes.
We see programs changing lives every day. Given that amazing potential, we need them to perform at their very best.
This quick, straightforward book focuses on common crises and provides the tools to move your initiative from “dive to thrive.”
Gold medal award winner in the 2026 IPPY Book Awards!
Jim Marshall’s life-long work lies at the intersection of people and the organizations in which they work…
…and optimizing the synergy that fertile convergence holds. His scholarship, teaching, and consulting combine our understanding of human performance and organization development to assess strengths, devise strategy, and improve even the most vexing of challenges. His evaluation endeavors are particularly significant and include more than 250 individual studies of funded projects and program investments totaling over $150 million dollars.
As a thought partner to schools, districts, non-profits, governments, and education- and training-focused organizations, Marshall’s unique approach relies on a proven mix of needs assessment and evaluation, appreciative inquiry, and empathic understanding that predictably yields quantifiable results.
Podcast Appearances
Recent podcasts addressing all things initiative- and program-related.
Right Track Model
Every educator and policy maker has ideas and knows exactly what will improve their school. That’s the easy part. But does the solution really fit the need of the school? Do the school players have the commitment or readiness to venture forward? To get it right the first time, apply Marshall’s “Right Track” model of implementation in your school.
Implementing Programs that Impact
This guidebook walks through the entire process of implementation, from needs assessment to evaluation—with tools, pacing suggestions, and strategies that yield predictable results. With an increasing press to carefully measure needs (e.g., Perkins V requirements), Right from the Start provides clear guidance to understand your audiences, supporters, systems, and strengths, and successfully build upon them to achieve true program impact.
Subscribe
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.