Ron Ritchhart is an educator, researcher, and author. For over 25 years, Ron served as a Senior Research Associate and Principal Investigator at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where his research focused on understanding how to develop, nurture, and sustain thoughtful learning environments for both students and teachers. Ron’s interest in creating cultures of thinking has led him to conduct research in such areas as intellectual character, mindfulness, thinking dispositions, teaching for understanding, creativity in teaching, how teacher’s beliefs and values shape their practice, and the development of communities of practice. Ron believes that teaching is a complex art and science that must be understood in context. Consequently, a strong theme of learning from best practice runs throughout all of Ron’s research and writing.

After leaving Harvard in 2021, Ron has continued his classroom and school-based research and writing to further the ideas of visible thinking and the creation of schools as cultures of thinking. Ron is a sought-after speaker for his ability to connect with and engage fellow educators in these powerful, big-picture ideas, while simultaneously providing useful insights into and practical ideas for advancing the complex world of teaching and learning. This is no doubt due to Ron’s diverse experience, which includes teaching elementary school, art, and secondary mathematics. Ron is a best-selling author of numerous books including Intellectual Character, Making Thinking Visible, Creating Cultures of Thinking, The Power of Making Thinking Visible, and Cultures of Thinking in Action.