Erin Sanchez

Erin Sanchez

Erin Sanchez has spent the past 23 years working as a high school and continuing education teacher, curriculum writer, video producer, and national project-based learning consultant and coach. Erin has taught in both student-directed and teacher-directed place-based learning environments and knows firsthand that place-based learning is a spectrum, with a vision and journey unique to each school community. In addition to co-founding PBL Path, she has been a project-based learning (PBL) coach for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Washington State Department of Education (OSPI), EdVisions Schools (transforming and starting PBL schools), and a coach of coaches for the Technology Access Foundation.

Erin finds great meaning in guiding leaders’ and teachers’ identity and equity journeys, building assessment tools side by side with educators and students, and connecting project ideas to community partners.

For the past 12 years, Erin has been a member of the National Faculty at PBLWorks (the Buck Institute for Education), delivering professional development to thousands of teachers across the United States and internationally. Most recently, she’s stepped into a lead National Faculty role, allowing her to work closely with school leaders in district partnerships, readying their systems to support change to allow PBL to flourish.

Erin has worked for numerous organizations as a writer and producer, creating videos and professional development tools that illuminate powerful teaching and learning in action in the classroom. Her publications include the Experiencing Film series from Islandwood: A School in the Woods (in Partnership with National Geographic); Picturing the Possibilities: What Powerful Teaching and Learning Looks Like, a video series from the Small Schools Project; and Planning Resources for Teachers in Small High Schools, a four-volume collection from the Small Schools Project.

Erin received her bachelor’s degree in Native American studies from Evergreen State College and a master’s degree in education from Antioch University, specializing in teaching Native American learners.