Behind the Cube: Meaningful Tech & Subway Payphones
Meet the Learners, Teachers, and Innovators of McGraw-Hill Education
Today’s Highlight: Tim Hodkinson, National Achievement Specialist

We often say we’re #RedCubeProud. That’s because we’re an ever-adapting, forward-thinking group of learners, teachers, and creators with roots in a square logo that is evolving into a “cube”, in reflection of our dimensional, learning science-based approached to EdTech.
Perhaps what makes our team so passionate about our work is that we genuinely care about teachers, students, and fostering productive learning communities. Many of us have been teachers ourselves, and ALL of us are life-long learners.
To give you some insight into our team, we’re taking you Behind the Cube, one #RedCubeProud team member at a time. Today’s highlight:
Today’s Highlight: Tim Hodkinson, National Achievement Specialist

What influenced you to become a National Achievement Specialist, and how would you describe your work?
To be honest, it happened by chance. In August 2014, I was hired as a secondary representative for the Central NY territory. About two months later, we restructured the sales team and I assumed a role covering all of Upstate NY. Since January, much of my time is spent as an honorary member of the NYC sales team, building relationships with passionate educators at various levels of the NYC Department of Education. I tend to be very versatile, so this role fits me well because I can wear different hats depending on the need.
How did you come to work at McGraw-Hill Education?
After a few years teaching elementary school, I knew I wasn’t going to stay a classroom teacher forever. My plan was to go into administration or consulting, and I ended up on the consulting path because I moved out of state and my teaching certificate didn’t automatically carry over. Prior to McGraw-Hill Education, I spent four years as a Professional Development Specialist with an instructional technology company. Similar to what our Curriculum Specialists do, I trained teachers and administrators on how to use technology in meaningful ways, such as iPads, Google Classroom, and interactive whiteboards. Then, this guy named Steve Ladd called me one day and asked me if I wanted to interview for a rep job with McGraw-Hill. Needless to say, I felt that McGraw-Hill’s longstanding history of content production, along with the commitment to transitioning into the 21st century, was the right place for me to be.
Why are you passionate about the work that you do?
Our programs can really empower teachers to be even better at what they do, which leads to better student performance. When I think back to my days as an elementary school teacher, I often wonder how some of our programs, like DI, could have been used to close the gap. My colleagues would tell me that I was a “natural” teacher, but I always worked really hard. The kids I worked with were awesome — they showed up despite so many barriers. I felt I owed it to them to give it my all. In my role with McGraw-Hill, I suppose my loyalty to students comes through in my efforts to put the best tools in teachers hands. By far, my favorite thing to do is visit schools and classrooms where our programs are having an impact.
What are your thoughts on working in the education industry?
I came to McGraw-Hill, as opposed to another publisher, because of the vision and commitment to evolving the learning experience. The ever-changing landscape in our industry is exciting and challenging at the same time. Clearly, the world is going digital, but we’ve heard that for 15 years now, and traditional methods of teaching and learning with print are clearly still going strong. While the next three to five years should be a fun ride, nothing would make my wife happier than a quicker transition to digital so she can have her shelf space back in the garage.

