Work Smarter, Not Harder: K-12 Executives Share Takeaways from the 2024 Sales Cycle
December 11, 2024 BlogAs the K-12 market works to stabilize in a post-pandemic world, suppliers face both challenge and promise. Federal…
Much of the recent K-12 headlines have focused on the challenges and disillusionment of teaching during a pandemic. While it has certainly been a long 15 months for teachers across the country, a recent Tyton Partners survey, fielded this June, reveals reasons for optimism.
As one academic year ends and another appears on the horizon, teachers are recognizing the gains they’ve made. Despite significant setbacks, many teachers report that their practice has evolved in meaningful ways. We offer perspective on these gains, as well as the resources that have become critical parts of the teacher’s toolkit. Overall, we share a renewed hope for next year, not only because it implies a return to more “normal” teaching conditions, but also because of the resilience of our teachers.
This survey took the pulse of K-12 teachers to get a sense of how their practice evolved this current year – and what next year has in store for them. With many thrust into the unknown of remote learning, they are just now beginning to have the time and space to step back and see the path forward. For most, this will include a return to in-person learning. What solutions did teachers rely on to get them through this current year, and which ones are becoming critical parts of their toolkit moving forward?
Looking back at the current year, teachers report that their performance – along with student outcomes – fell short of expectations
Nevertheless, there were significant gains in some areas of practice such as technology and workflow efficiency
Moreover, teachers will continue to use many of the tools and techniques they incorporated as a result of the pandemic
Teachers anticipate relying even more on learning management systems (LMS) and other classroom management tools (e.g., behavior, participation) next year, even as use of interactive video tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams) will decline with a return to schools
Top priorities heading into next year include increasing student engagement and building relationships with students
For all the disruption caused by the pandemic, it is becoming clear that K-12 teachers are more prepared than ever to embrace new tools and techniques. As suppliers look ahead, they should consider ways to support what matters most to teachers – creating dynamic, engaging, and tech-enabled learning environments where students love to be. In service of this, partners can make sure their products and services support a simple and unified learning experience, drive student engagement, and make teachers’ lives easier.
Regardless of solution type, K-12 stakeholders should ensure their offering is accessible across a variety of platforms and formats, as more teachers than ever will rely on digital classroom and learning management solutions to power their practice.