Helping teachers transform lives.

Douglas W. Yacek, PhD

Mark E. Jonas, PhD

On the Edge of Their Seats is a model for designing courses and lessons proven to create deep engagement and inspiration in the classroom. Using an intuitive four-step approach, we provide K-12 teachers and college professors tools to transform students’ lives.

Schedule a workshop.

We provide dynamic, engaging and professional learning experiences for teachers and administrators. In our workshops, we combine over thirty years of classroom experience with the latest educational research to offer timely practical guidance for teachers and administrators. Using a clear and compelling presentation style along with numerous hands-on activities, we help educators develop proven strategies for substantially increasing the engagement, interest and inspiration of their students.

By the end of each workshop, teachers and administrators will walk away with intuitive and personalized methods they can use immediately in their schools and classrooms.

Our philosophy.

At the heart of our workshops lies a fundamental belief. Teachers can make their classrooms transformative. They can awaken a fascination for their subjects, inspire a love of learning, and help young people in schools lead morally good, politically engaged and personally meaningful lives. And when they do so, they can deeply enrich their lives as educators and as human beings.

This belief in the power of the classroom to transform lives animates our teaching, our research and our work with educational professionals.

About us.

We are teacher educators and educational researchers who help practicing teachers take their instruction to the next level.

Mark Jonas, PhD received his doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University after teaching high school English for several years. He is a professor of education at Wheaton College, Illinois.

Douglas Yacek, PhD received his doctorate in educational philosophy and psychology from the Ohio State University after teaching English as a Second Language for several years. He is a senior lecturer of ethics and multiculturalism and leader of professional developments for teachers.