about the founder
Matt Mears develops evidence-based solutions to close achievement gaps by addressing overlooked factors in children's success—both inside and outside the classroom.
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Based in Tallahassee, Florida, Matt has spent over two decades working at the intersection of law, policy, and education. He served seven years as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Education, and in 2021 was appointed as Florida's first Chancellor of Early Learning. In that role, he witnessed how early experiences shape long-term outcomes—and how conventional approaches often miss critical drivers of student success.
My Story
After leaving state government in 2023, Matt conducted extensive research on what children actually need to thrive academically. His findings revealed a critical pattern: children who enter kindergarten behind struggle to catch up, and many never do. This led to a dual insight—closing achievement gaps requires both accelerating student learning once children enter school AND improving home learning environments so fewer children start behind. While schools focus intensely on classroom instruction, they often overlook powerful levers for learning that exist outside school walls. Improving these home learning environments represents a huge, untapped opportunity to prevent achievement gaps before they start.
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Bold Education Ideas develops innovative, scalable solutions grounded in research but underutilized in practice. From making high-quality tutoring affordable through peer mentorship, to capturing the expertise of exceptional teachers, to empowering parents with essential knowledge about early childhood development—these ideas bridge school, home, and community. The goal: rethink the entire ecosystem of support around each child to create sustainable improvements in student achievement.
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Matt holds a J.D. and M.B.A. from Florida State University. He lives in Tallahassee with his wife Kathy, his trusted advisor and partner of over 29 years.