DURHAM, NC -- (Marketwire) -- 01/14/13 -- Teacher and author Matt Copeland joined MetaMetrics® on December 3, 2012 as a Lexile Curriculum Specialist. A sixth-generation classroom teacher, Copeland most recently served as a Language Arts and Literacy Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education where most of his work centered on the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Copeland has presented numerous workshops around the country on the topic of text complexity and the Common Core State Standards.

"There is no one in the country who has done more than Matt in helping state and local education leaders implement the Common Core State Standards with a focus on text complexity," said Malbert Smith III, Ph.D., President and co-founder of MetaMetrics. "His work at the Kansas Department of Education and dedication to improving literacy continues to serve as a model for states across our nation."

Recognized as a 2006 Distinguished Kansan of the Year in Education, 2005 Milken National Educator and 2003 Kansas Master Teacher, Copeland is a sought-after presenter at local, regional and national conferences. He has published several books, essays and poems about teaching. His latest book, Socratic Circles: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking in Middle and High School, guides teachers in implementing Socratic seminars which enhance reading comprehension, listening, speaking and conflict resolution skills while fostering community in the classroom.

Copeland also served as president and executive board member of the Kansas Association of Teachers of English and is a co-editor for the journal Kansas English. He taught high school English for nine years and is currently a part-time adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix. He holds both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of Kansas.

As a curriculum specialist, Copeland's wealth of experience at the national, state and local level will help guide MetaMetrics as it develops additional tools and resources to prepare all learners for college and career readiness.

About MetaMetrics

MetaMetrics is focused on improving education for learners of all ages and ability levels. The organization develops scientific measures of academic achievement and complementary technologies that link assessment results with real-world instruction. MetaMetrics' products and services for reading (The Lexile® Framework for Reading, El Sistema Lexile para Leer), mathematics (The Quantile® Framework for Mathematics), and writing (The Lexile Framework for Writing) provide unique insights about academic ability and the potential for growth, enabling individuals to achieve their goals at every stage of development. Connect with the organization at: http://blog.lexile.com.