About Eric

Eric H. Tornfelt has spent over two decades inside schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator.

He began his career teaching Social Studies in Monroe, NC where he also coached varsity golf. He later joined the founding faculty at Mallard Creek High School, where he contributed to district literacy initiatives and participated in grant work supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation focused on improving instructional practices.

In 2012, Eric was named Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Teacher of the Year, an experience that deepened both his leadership and his perspective on what meaningful teaching looks like. He went on to serve as a school administrator at several schools. Across these roles, he worked in a wide range of school environments, from high-performing programs to turnaround settings, gaining a clear view of both what works in education and where systems often fall short.

Over time, those experiences shaped a central conviction:

Students can succeed in school and still struggle in who they are becoming. That realization led Eric to focus his work on a deeper question: What is school actually forming in a child?

Today, through his writing, speaking, and work at erictornfelt.com, Eric helps school communities think differently about education so students are shaped with intention, not just pushed toward outcomes.

Eric holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wingate University and is the author of The Crumbling Schoolhouse: A Candid View of American Education.

At heart, he is still a teacher, committed to helping others see what actually matters in the formation of students and the future of education.