June 22, 2026
How do children and adults actually learn?
That question brought internationally recognized researchers, educators, and policymakers to the Region 4 Education Service Center (Region 4 ESC) for researchED Houston, a one-day conference focused on the science of learning and evidence-based instructional practices.
Hosted by Freedom in Education at Region 4 ESC, the conference connected teachers, instructional coaches, school leaders, and education professionals with internationally recognized experts to explore research-backed strategies that strengthen teaching and improve student outcomes.
Global Leaders, Local Impact
Founded by Tom Bennett in the United Kingdom more than a decade ago, researchED began with a simple goal: to bridge the gap between educational research and classroom practice.
“It’s basically a drive to make teaching in the education sector much more evidence-informed,” Bennett said.
For Region 4 ESC participants, that meant hearing directly from leading experts whose work is shaping conversations about teaching and learning worldwide.
One of the attendees was Traci Underwood, a secondary curriculum and instruction director, who said she was thankful for the opportunity to learn new insights from leading experts around the world and bring them home to her own district.
“Understanding the core principles of how learning and long-term retention truly happen will guide our practices this year in Waller ISD,” Underwood said.
For Dr. Sharon Benson, director of Region 4 ESC’s Mathematics department, the conference demonstrated how research can help educators refine and strengthen the instructional practices already happening in classrooms.
“Everybody is working as hard as they can, but it’s about how we can work smarter, not harder. The science of learning really informs that,” Dr. Benson said.
Why Region 4?
Freedom in Education selected Region 4 ESC as the Houston host site because of the organization’s long-standing commitment to supporting educators through high-quality professional learning and instructional leadership.
Don Charles, executive chairman and co-founder of Freedom in Education, said Region 4 ESC is a natural choice for bringing researchED Houston to area educators.
“Our mission is to improve children’s learning and improve children’s lives,” Charles said. “What we are trying to do is figure out how best to do that.”
According to Dr. Benson, the opportunity aligned with Region 4 ESC’s mission of equipping local educators with practical, research-based strategies they can take back to their districts and classrooms.
A Shared Commitment to Student Success
The conference reinforced a simple but powerful idea: improving student outcomes does not require reinventing education. It requires continually asking better questions, examining the evidence, and bringing that information to educators who can put it to work in their classrooms.
As school leaders continue that work, the science of learning offers a roadmap for making informed, intentional instructional decisions that help every student learn and thrive.
