From Layoffs to Leadership: David Blumenthal on Building What Comes Next

In this reflective and forward-looking conversation, Josh Stewart sits down with education researcher and entrepreneur David Blumenthal to unpack what 2025 meant for the research and evaluation community. Following mass federal layoffs and deep uncertainty across the education research sector, David shares how he navigated professional upheaval, transitioned into independent consulting, and ultimately founded a new AI-driven education technology company. Together, Josh and David explore personal and nationwide resilience, and the widening gap between research and classroom practice.  Explore David's project Eddie AI, a tool designed to assist educators in making better, evidence-based decisions. Curious to learn more? See how we’re advancing learning and research at rockymountain-research.org