Austin Buffum

Austin Buffum, EdD, has 38 years of experience in public schools. His many roles include serving as former senior deputy superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District in California. Dr. Buffum has presented in over 500 school districts throughout the country and around the world. He delivers trainings and presentations on the RTI at Work™ model. This tiered approach to RTI is centered on Professional Learning Communities at Work™ concepts and strategies to ensure every student receives the time and support necessary to succeed. Dr. Buffum also delivers workshops and presentations that provide the tools educators need to build and sustain PLCs.

Dr. Buffum was selected 2006 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators. He attended the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was greatly inspired by its founder, Roland Barth, an early advocate of the collaborative culture that defines PLCs today. Dr. Buffum later led Capistrano’s K–12 instructional program on an increasingly collaborative path toward operating as a PLC. During this process, 37 of the district’s schools were designated California Distinguished Schools and 11 received National Blue Ribbon recognition.

Dr. Buffum is coauthor of Generations at School.

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Dr. Buffum earned a bachelor of music and received a master of education with honors. He also holds a doctor of education from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Buffum is a coauthor of Simplifying Response to Intervention, Pyramid Response to Intervention, and is a contributor for The Collaborative Administrator. His work can be further explored at solution-tree.com and you can follow him on Twitter at @agbuffum