Elevate K-12

District workforce strategy is shifting, and HR leaders are no longer waiting for the system to fix itself.

In a new blog, Kim Kays, our VP of Partnership Solutions, reflects on her time at the CGCS Chief Human Resources Officers Conference and the workforce strategy conversations that stayed with her most.

She shares four signals district leaders are paying closer attention to as they rethink how staffing, support, and systems actually show up in classrooms:

• Why vacancies are increasingly treated as a design problem, not an inevitability
• What’s holding back meaningful AI adoption inside HR teams
• Why retention hinges on working conditions, not commitment
• How districts are shifting talent pipeline strategy earlier and more intentionally

If these are conversations you’re grappling with too, connect with Kim at booth # 1205 during AASA's National Conference on Education this week in Nashville.

🔗 Read the full blog: https://hubs.li/Q042bZ4Q0

How District Workforce Strategy Is Shifting: 4 Insights from HR Leaders | Elevate K12 Insights from the CGCS CHRO Conference reveal how district workforce strategy is shifting across staffing, retention, and AI adoption.

👋 Heading to AASA's National Conference on Education this week?

Our team will be at booth 1205, connecting with district leaders about how LIVE teaching supports consistent instruction today while creating room to expand programs tomorrow. From core instruction to special education, ELL, and electives, we partner with districts to deliver teaching they can count on.

📍 Booth 1205 | Nashville | February 12–14
🎁 Stop by for a chance to win a JBL Clip speaker

🔗 Preview what we’re bringing to AASA: https://hubs.li/Q042bYMh0

Winter has a way of making the calendar feel frozen in place. ❄️ But summer planning conversations are already beginning.

Research is clear. Summer learning can mitigate learning loss and narrow opportunity gaps, but only when programs are intentionally designed. Not all summer school delivers the same results.

Our newest blog outlines the 5 characteristics of high-quality summer school programs, drawing on national research and real district experience to help leaders plan with clarity and purpose.

Explore the insights →https://hubs.li/Q041QQkq0

5 Characteristics of High-Quality Summer School Programs What research says defines high-quality summer school and five practical steps districts can use to design their own programs.

We’ve just landed in Nashville and are excited to connect with HR leaders at the 2026 Council of the Great City Schools CHRO Conference.

District HR teams are navigating a complex moment. The work is no longer just about filling open roles. It is about building workforce models that support instructional stability today while remaining sustainable over time.

If you are attending, we invite you to join our session tomorrow to hear how CGCS districts are approaching this challenge in practice. The discussion will focus on real strategies districts are using to modernize the K-12 workforce and plan for what comes next.

🗓 Wednesday, 2/4
⏰ 3:10 PM
🎤 Moderated by Jenn Russart, VP of Partnerships at Elevate K-12

Looking forward to connecting with peers across the network.

Elevate K-12 is heading to TASA! We cannot wait to connect with district leaders from across Texas who are braving the weather to connect in San Antonio. ❄️

Opportunities like this are worth the effort. They create valuable space to step back, compare notes, and think ahead about how best to support students.

If you’re attending, we’d welcome the chance to connect in person.

Visit Booth 845 to connect with Kim Kays, VP of Partnership Solutions, who will be on-site throughout the conference to talk through district priorities and planning for the year ahead.

Wishing safe travels to everyone attending. We look forward to connecting next week!

For years, district leaders have asked a fair and important question: Can live virtual teaching truly deliver the same outcomes as in-person instruction?

New independent research now offers a clear answer.

A third-party study found that students taught by Elevate K-12 LIVE virtual teachers performed on par with peers taught by in-person teachers in high school math, with no statistically significant difference in outcomes.

The takeaway is not that all virtual instruction works the same way.

The research reinforces what educators already know: outcomes are driven by teacher quality, instructional design, and how intentionally a model is implemented.

As districts navigate ongoing staffing challenges, equity gaps, and the need for instructional continuity, this research provides timely, evidence-based clarity on when LIVE virtual teaching can be an effective part of a long-term staffing strategy.

Read the full findings and what they mean for district leaders: https://hubs.li/Q03_xhRr0

Is LIVE Virtual Teaching as Effective as In-Person Instruction? | Elevate K12 Independent research shows LIVE virtual teaching can deliver outcomes on par with in-person instruction when implemented intentionally.

As districts look ahead to the months ahead, stability in classrooms remains a shared priority. We’re hitting the road to connect with district leaders about maintaining teaching quality while expanding access for students.

Here’s where we’ll be next:
📍1/25-27: TASA Midwinter Conference
📍 2/3-6: CGCS CHRO Conference
📍2/12-13: AASA National Conference on Education

Stop by, say hello, and let’s talk about what’s top of mind for your district.

Happy New Year! 🥂🎉 As we enter 2026, our focus stays the same: stability for classrooms, support for educators, and strong partnership with districts. No matter the challenges ahead, we’re excited for what we’ll build together.

Happy holidays from Elevate K-12! ❄️💚

This season, we’re especially thankful for the districts and educators we work alongside every day. The commitment you show to students, even on the hardest days, inspires us to keep working toward a better future for every classroom. Wishing you time to slow down, recharge, and enjoy the moments that matter most.

Strong instruction is built not only on great teaching, but on the support systems that surround it.

Over the past year, Elevate K-12 has focused on strengthening that foundation by deepening partnerships with industry-leading platforms, including Nearpod, MagicSchool AI, and Zoom. This work has been guided by a clear goal: giving teachers the tools they need to spend less time preparing and more time teaching.

These collaborations reflect our continued focus on equipping LIVE teachers and partner districts with tools that support engaging instruction, thoughtful preparation, and strong classroom experiences for students.

📚 With Nearpod, Elevate teachers can deliver interactive, high-impact lessons that drive engagement while reducing prep time.

🪄 With MagicSchool, teachers gain AI-powered support that streamlines planning, supports multilingual learners and students with IEPs, and creates more space for direct instruction.

🎦 With Zoom, our LIVE classrooms are supported by stable, collaborative environments designed for real-time learning and connection.

As Piyush Lumba, CEO of Elevate K-12, shared, "These relationships are about empowering teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching."

Together with trusted partners, we remain focused on expanding access to engaging, high-quality instruction for schools and students nationwide.

Read the full press release: https://hubs.li/Q03YDl840

Elevate K-12 Partners with Nearpod, MagicSchool, and Zoom | K-12 Dive K-12 News