#United States #New York #Achieve Partners #KickUp #Educator Development

Transforming Educator Development: The KickUp and Achieve Partners Partnership

In a significant move for the education sector, Achieve Partners has made a strategic investment in KickUp, a professional development platform that aims to revolutionize how school districts support their educators. With more than 300,000 educators already using this innovative platform, the partnership is set to enhance professional development outcomes, ultimately benefiting students in classrooms across the nation.

KickUp, founded in 2014 by former educators, has always sought to tackle the challenges faced by K-12 education systems. Districts invest billions annually in professional learning, yet much of this funding lacks a connection to tangible changes in classroom practices. Often, different systems used to evaluate and coach educators—ranging from teacher observation notes to feedback surveys—reside in isolated silos. This disconnect hampers administrators’ ability to make informed decisions regarding instructional strategies and teacher development.

Jeremy Rogoff, CEO and Co-Founder of KickUp, highlights the pressing issue: “Districts spend the majority of their budgets on people because educators are the primary in-school influencers of student learning. Despite this, we’ve learned that district leaders often lack the necessary information to optimally assist their colleagues in the classroom.” Rogoff emphasizes that making this critical information accessible can lead to substantive improvements in administering professional development and supporting educators.

The need for integrated solutions grows even more critical during times of economic uncertainty. A report by the Research Partnership for Professional Learning indicates that educator training budgets might be particularly vulnerable to cuts, making it vital for district leaders to understand which investments yield the best outcomes. KickUp's platform addresses this issue by merging three traditionally isolated areas: professional learning management, instructional coaching, and teacher evaluations. By doing so, it promotes a cohesive approach to managing educator talent.

With established partnerships across over 35 states, KickUp caters to diverse educational contexts, from small rural districts to large urban systems. This fall, the company is set to introduce a new intelligence tool, leveraging its proprietary data to provide instructional leaders with more efficient means to deliver actionable feedback. This development aligns perfectly with Achieve Partners’ vision of helping educational institutions harness technology for improved student outcomes.

Troy Williams, Managing Director at Achieve Partners, reflects on the importance of this partnership, stating, “In an era of economic uncertainty, district leaders must ensure that their expenditures on professional development effectively enhance educators' performance.” He underscores KickUp’s commitment to building relationships with school administrators and creating tools that not only engage but also inspire leaders to advocate for their use.

As KickUp strides forward, its platform paves the way for a reimagined landscape of educator development—one marked by efficiency, visibility, and a coherent strategy around its main mission: to support teachers through intensive professional development, all while improving student learning experiences nationwide.