Category: In the News

New iOS Extension App Helps K-12 Leaders Fully Capture Data

Knowing which EdTech tools are being used, how often, and by whom serve as critical, foundational elements of understanding a given EdTech landscape. For years, LearnPlatform’s Inventory Dashboard has served as a resource for discovering the scope of EdTech use to build that foundation.

So, today, we are thrilled to announce our new iOS extension app that customers can deploy to school-issued iOS devices for the 2022-23 school year! 

By adding this extension app as another means of gathering data, district administrators will now be able to collect, report on and use iOS data to guide conversations and aid in EdTech decision-making. K-12 leaders view multiple data sources in one place to:

  • Uncover products they aren’t currently managing.

  • Better understand which products/apps are most (and least) popular across devices.

  • Identify areas for more implementation support.

  • Discover fidelity of use.

Read More about this exciting addition to LearnPlatform

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Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Districts >5,000 Students
Rob Residori
Director of Partnerships
(773) 273-9419
rob@learnplatform.com

Districts <5,000 Students
Hillary Simons
District Analyst
(860) 933-4091
hillary.simons@learnplatform.com

Learn More About LearnPlatform

#TraferaGiveBack2022

WIN 100 laptops for your school

Trafera is committed to helping schools build better learning experiences through technology. That’s why we’re donating nearly $500K worth of technology to schools across the nation. Six schools will receive one hundred laptops to transform teaching and learning.

 

Give away includes 100 x HP Elitebook 840 G2 fully equipped with:

  • 100 x Higher Ground Element Plus Cases
  • LocknCharge EPIC Carts to help charge and secure all devices when not in use
  • Trafera Gold Warranty

 

Tell Trafera how you would use your new devices to transform teaching and learning at your school to enter! 

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Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Tim Peters
Account Manager
651-209-1098
tim.peters@trafera.com

Learn More About Trafera

Siemens acquires Brightly Software

Brightly has signed an agreement to be acquired by Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI).

As the global leader in intelligent asset management solutions, this acquisition represents the strongest validation of Brightly’s vision for the future.  Siemens and Brightly have a shared mission to empower clients to transform the way they manage buildings and infrastructure, impacting the everyday lives of billions of people. The alignment between Siemens & Brightly will accelerate the development of global solutions, services, and value.

The benefits to Brightly clients will be immense. With increased investment in its solutions, platform, and product roadmap, Brightly will be able to continue to improve the capabilities, performance, and integration of its current solutions as well as offer a broader set of products, including offerings from Siemen’s portfolio.  Siemens’s robust capabilities in connectivity, advanced analytics, energy management, security, and digital services will be made available to Brightly clients over time.

More information can be found in this press release.

 


Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Kyle Williford
Vice President, Public Markets
919-332-9914
kyle.williford@brightlysoftware.com

Kajeet to Bring Next-Gen Private 5G to Schools & Students Across America in Partnership with Google Cloud

McLean, Virginia, June 14, 2022Kajeet, a world-class provider of private wireless and managed IoT connectivity, today announced a collaboration with Google to deploy its Private 5G Platform on Google Distributed Cloud Edge. The goal of the partnership is to help transform the future of education by: 

  • Connecting the unconnected students and communities with high-quality wireless Internet and Close the Digital Divide once and for all 
  • Empowering Learning Anywhere by combining Kajeet’s public & private wireless networks with Google’s Chromebook and Classroom EDU solutions. 
  • Creating Smart Schools, powered by the Kajeet Private 5G Platform & Google Cloud, to enhance classroom activities and enable a next-gen immersive learning experience for students and teachers.  

Many school districts aspire to provide adequate off-campus broadband access to their staff and students. According to the White House, more than 30 million Americans live in areas where broadband infrastructure is unable to provide minimally acceptable speeds. Kajeet, in step with Google, strives to end the connectivity gap with Smart, Simple, and Secure Private 5G networks for schools, neighboring communities, library systems, community colleges, and universities to easily connect all of their people, places, and things.    

Kajeet is a trusted wireless partner to educational institutions, with over two decades of experience providing managed IoT and public internet connectivity to over 3,000 school districts.  There is a great need to provide safe, secure, and reliable private wireless service for students and communities in underserved markets.  Kajeet is in the process of planning and designing several Private 5G networks using Google Distributed Cloud Edge for school districts across the country that will launch later this year. 

“Google has been a long-standing partner in our education business for equitable access and network reliability to students using Google Chromebooks. We are very excited to extend our partnership in enabling a unique Private 5G experience to schools and students across America,” said Derrick Frost, SVP and GM of Private Wireless Networks at Kajeet. “Google Distributed Cloud helps us realize economies of scale in a common environment encompassing private networks at the edge, a private data center, and the public cloud. It enables us to deliver a consistent set of security, lifecycle management, policy, and orchestration of resources across all customer locations.”  

 


Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Kris O’Connor
EDU Sales Executive, Kajeet
815-260-7960
koconnor@kajeet.com

Ryan Frohle
Account Manager (Install Accounts)
240-482-3499
rfrohle@kajeet.com

Learn More About Kajeet

 

Streamline Your Communications Experience with Direct Guest Join from Zoom and Microsoft

With organizations across the world implementing new solutions to stay connected, including video communication, it has created a diverse ecosystem of solutions and technologies from different providers.

And while there are many different video conferencing providers in this ecosystem, not all of them are able to connect or interoperate with each other. As employees work from home, the office, or a mix of both, they need to easily and effectively communicate using reliable workspace solutions, regardless of what solution the other party is using.

To help streamline foundational video communication in workspaces, Zoom and Microsoft have partnered to deliver Direct Guest Join, a seamless and intuitive solution that allows Zoom Rooms to call into Microsoft Teams meetings, and vice versa, without the purchase of additional licenses or third-party services.


Zoom is available through various resellers under contract. When speaking with your account manager, make sure to mention you are an ILTPP member and would like to use the contract pricing.

Senso and ClassLink Partnership

ClassLink and Senso have partnered to support effective in-school and remote learning.

ClassLink is a leading provider of cloud-based education products that connect educators and students with their classroom, curriculum and each other in richer, more powerful ways, very much empowering schools to work more effectively. Team this with Senso, the cloud-based platform for Device Monitoring management in K12 Education with all-in-one software for Classroom, Student Safety, Web Filtering, Network and Asset Management and you get the perfect partnership.

This partnership with ClassLink allows Senso’s customers who use ClassLink’s Roster Server, to avoid the slog of manually uploading student data into our platform. ClassLink Roster Server enables student data to be delivered to Senso securely and automatically – no fuss!

With over 5,000 schools using our software platform in the UK, our cloud services make us a market leader.

Our Texas offices support thousands of schools in districts within North America.

“ClassLink and Senso.cloud are a natural fit. This partnership further supports our goal to take the complexity out of digital learning, remove distractions from the classroom, and give educators more time to support their students’ learning.”

– Patrick Devanney,
Senior Vice President at ClassLink


Contact your dedicated Account Manager and make sure to mention you are an ILTPP Member:

ClassLink
Lyle Dadian
Director of Instructional Technology
M: 414-588-9181
O: 862-203-2099
ldadian@classlink.com

Learn More About ClassLink

 

Amir Eftekhari
Head of Sales – North America
936-274-2718
a.eftekhari@senso.cloud

Learn More About Senso.cloud

Demco Partners with Robin to Help Schools

Demco expands its offerings to include Robin’s innovative live coaching and real-world curriculum to support the mental health and social-emotional skill development of students, educators, and parents.

MADISON, WIS., March 31, 2022— In support of Demco’s mission to set the stage for optimized learning, the learning solutions provider has strategically partnered with Robin, a rising star in the social-emotional learning space, to help ensure students, educators, and families are prepared to face life’s challenges head-on.

Demco has been supplying educators with innovative learning solutions for 117 years. Robin offers a flexible toolkit for students, teachers, and families to build heathy habits, skills, and mindsets. Together, they will reach more communities in need of support and double their impact in improving mental well-being, social-emotional growth, and core SEL skills in schools.

“We are so thrilled to be partnering with Robin. Mental health is impacting society now more than ever, and students and educators are no exception. Robin is so unique in their multiple-pronged approach to improving mental health,” says Chad Edwards, President of Demco. “With Demco and Robin working together, the possibilities for creating positive change are endless.”

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Demco, a respected leader in the education industry,” says Sonny Thadani, CEO of Robin. “Not only does Demco share our mission to empower school communities with lifelong learning and skills, but Demco also provides strong sales support bringing Robin’s unique social-emotional coaching and curriculum to even more school communities in the U.S. and internationally.”

Bring SEL into your school with award-winning custom solutions from Robin

About Demco
Demco maximizes positive outcomes for all learners by offering innovative and inspired solutions. With 117 years of industry experience, Demco provides solutions to libraries and schools to equip, engage, and empower learners.

About Robin
Robin empowers the entire school community by connecting students, educators, and families with live coaching and real-world skill-building. Grounded in human connection, Robin’s coaches provide personalized experiences that transform the way people think about themselves and their relationships. Through videos and a flexible curriculum, coaches offer a safe space for processing emotions and inspire students to practice the skills they need to face life’s challenges.

 


Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Please contact our inside sales department for everyday orders and general inquiries. Please reference C10903 for contract pricing or let them know you are an ILTPP member.

Alli Starry, Inside Sales Specialist
800-462-8709 ext 2396
Fax: 888-329-4728
quote@demco.com

For larger projects needing installation or design, please contact our Business Development representative

Lynne Gruneberg, Business Development Representative
608-242-2374
Fax: 800.730.8094
lynneg@demco.com

Learn More About Demco

Demco Portfolio 

Clearlake Capital-Backed Dude Solutions Rebrands to Brightly Software

New brand reflects Company’s vision to leverage software and data to power smarter assets and sustainable communities with intelligent asset management solutions

CARY, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dude Solutions, the leading SaaS provider of cloud-based operations management solutions, today announced it has rebranded to Brightly Software (“Brightly” or the “Company”). Offering a complete suite of intelligent asset management software solutions that address the evolving needs of clients, Brightly has transformed over 12,000 global clients’ operations and managed more than $300 billion of assets over the last 20 years. The Brightly brand propels the Company forward, establishing a new vision that combines computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and operations management, with enterprise and strategic asset management solutions for a future where efficient operations and smart assets power sustainable communities.

“The future will run on intelligent assets that are as smart as the purpose-driven people who care for them. Our new name connects our global employees and clients under one vision, uniting those who seek to improve our world’s infrastructure while lessening the environmental impact,” said Kevin Kemmerer, Chief Executive Officer at Brightly. “As the industry and world evolves, we’re leading the change to meet our clients’ developing needs. Brightly is lighting the way to a thriving world.”

Organizations across the public and private sectors face digital disruption and a changing regulatory landscape. Governments are making investments to improve the deteriorating health of global infrastructure, assisted by the U.S.’s $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and pledging commitments to sustainability and emissions-cutting programs such as the Net Zero World Initiative. Concurrently, connected assets are growing, with IoT devices set to reach $50 billion by 2030. Amidst this influx of connected devices and funding, asset performance is critical to every organization, making real-time data critical for survival not only in today’s world but to deliver a smarter and more sustainable future.

Jodi McDermott, Chief Product Officer at Brightly, said, “As we look ahead towards a brighter future, we are committed to building a smarter, safer, more efficient world by delivering the most comprehensive asset management solutions supported by decades of experience, and thousands of implementations and satisfied global clients. Brightly is lighting the way for organizations to unlock opportunities in the communities where we live and work, delivering services to help the world run more sustainably.”

“We’re pleased by the growth we’ve seen from Brightly throughout our partnership and look forward to continuing to support the Company in its mission to deliver intelligent software to power smarter assets and sustainable communities,” said Prashant Mehrotra, Partner and Managing Director, and Paul Huber, Principal, of Clearlake. “We’ve seen growing demand for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability-focused strategies across our portfolio, and Brightly is well-positioned to help organizations provide actionable data needed to make better decisions that increase operational agility, improve asset performance, and drive sustainable growth.”

Why Brightly Software?

The Brightly name captures the Company’s personality and warmth, and symbolizes the relationships built over more than two decades with employees, clients, and partners across the globe. Brightly is an optimistic, dynamic, and forward-looking name that reflects the essence of what the Company delivers, how it operates, and its impact on the industry. Brightly also signifies the Company’s commitment to keeping the world’s assets running sustainably into the future.

Smart Assets for Asset Essentials Launch

Brightly also announced today the launch of Smart Assets for Asset Essentials, a cloud-based IoT solution available now. The module uses IoT remote monitoring to predict equipment failures and seamlessly trigger work orders. This type of connectivity allows organizations to maximize equipment uptime, improve asset health and lengthen life cycle, all while eliminating unnecessary costs and increasing profitability.

Company Growth

Over the past 20 years, Brightly has focused on serving the facilities operations and maintenance management industry as a SaaS pioneer, eclipsing 12,000 global clients and more than 700 employees across the world in the markets it serves across North America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and India.

The Company is positioned to advance its solutions to solve global challenges, bringing together Assetic and Confirm and the combined expertise in smart infrastructure and strategic asset management industries, under one, cohesive brand. The new Brightly brand and corporate vision also unites the global employees and capabilities of the recently acquired Facility Health Inc., (FHI) in December 2021 and Energy Profiles Limited (EPL) in January 2022. The recent acquisitions and innovations have propelled the Company forward, expanding beyond operations management to serve our clients’ evolving enterprise asset needs.

Discover more about Brightly’s vision and view the Company’s new website at www.brightlysoftware.com.

About Brightly Software

Brightly, the global leader in intelligent asset management solutions, enables organizations to transform the performance of their assets. Brightly’s sophisticated cloud-based platform leverages more than 20 years of data to deliver predictive insights that help users through the key phases of the entire asset lifecycle. More than 12,000 clients of every size worldwide depend on Brightly’s complete suite of intuitive software – including CMMS, EAM, Strategic Asset Management, IoT Remote Monitoring, Sustainability, and Community Engagement. Paired with award-winning training, support, and consulting services Brightly helps light the way to a bright future with smarter assets and sustainable communities. For more information, visit www.brightlysoftware.com.

About Clearlake

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit, and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake’s operational improvement approach, O.P.S.® The firm’s core target sectors are technology, industrials, and consumer. Clearlake currently has over $60 billion of assets under management and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 300 investments. The firm has offices in Santa Monica and an affiliate in Dallas. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @ClearlakeCap.

 


Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

John White
Senior Sales Manager
877-868-3833
john.white@dudesolutions.com

ManagedMethods Partners With K12 SIX

PARTNERSHIP DEMONSTRATES MANAGEDMETHODS COMMITMENT TO INCREASE CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS IN PROTECTING K-12 CLOUD ENVIRONMENTS

BOULDER, Colo.—February 23, 2022—ManagedMethods, the leading Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 cybersecurity, student safety, and compliance platform for education has partnered with K12 SIX, a non-profit member of the Global Resilience Federation’s network of information sharing communities. K12 SIX is a cyber threat intelligence sharing hub to aid in preventing and mitigating cyber attacks against school districts.

School districts are leading in the adoption of cloud computing with platforms such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and popular video conferencing applications. Despite all the challenges in securing their cloud environments, IT teams must be credited for a valiant effort in ensuring schools remain safe and secure. Regardless of their size, technology departments need all the resources and partners available to help stay ahead of the cybersecurity curve and thwart emerging threats.

“Cloud computing is creating new types of cyber threats toward school district data and student information,” said Charlie Sander, Chief Executive Officer at ManagedMethods. “Over the past couple of years, they have become prime targets and have consistently fallen victim to cyberattacks. By partnering with K12 SIX, we hope to help  IT teams and leaders better understand the need for cloud security and access resources they need to make schools a safer place for everyone.”

A recent ManagedMethods report found that over 90% of district administrator respondents currently operate in the cloud using Google Workspace and/or Microsoft 365. However, half of the respondents either do not have a security system protecting their cloud data or do not know if one has been implemented. This indicates that many school districts are under-protected against cyberattacks specifically targeting sensitive and valuable data stored in the cloud.

Through this partnership, ManagedMethods will support K12 SIX in sharing cloud security information with school district members. This collaboration will help educate district administrators and technology leaders about the cyber threats existing in the cloud, the security gaps the cloud creates, and best practices for filling those gaps.

“School districts maintain millions of confidential records on current and former students and staff — records that threat actors find valuable in funding their criminal operations. Given the rapid increase in school cybersecurity incidents in recent years, it is imperative that districts take immediate steps to protect the sensitive information held in the cloud-based IT systems they manage,” said Doug Levin, national director of K12 SIX. Partnerships, like this one with ManagedMethods, help us achieve the shared mission of uplifting the cybersecurity risk management practices of all school districts.”

For more information about ManagedMethods, please visit managedmethods.com. Learn more about K12 SIX at k12six.org.

About K12 SIX

Kindergarten Through 12th Grade Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX) is a cyber threat intelligence sharing hub for school districts, to aid in preventing and mitigating cyber-attacks. This non-profit member community is a cost-effective forum for crowdsourcing security information among a vetted, trusted group of professionals with a common interest, using common technology and with supporting, independent analysis from the K12 SIX security staff. Visit www.k12six.org to learn more. K12 SIX is a member of the Global Resilience Federation multi-sector network of information-sharing communities.


 

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

David Waugh 
Sales and Marketing Vice President
303-415-3643
dwaugh@managedmethods.com

Learn More About ManagedMethods

Fastest-Growing EdTech Provider Trox + Tierney to “Bluum” Under New Brand

PHOENIXJan. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Having already transformed into North America’s leading education technology company, Trox + Tierney will continue to grow in the education markets under the new brand of Bluum beginning today. The higher calling of ensuring every student has access to a world-class education remains the company’s mission.

The April 2021 Trox and Tierney merger resulted in a technology solutions provider with a robust suite of technology products and services, AV design and integration, and professional development for educators. Many of Bluum’s 775 employees stem from education, providing first-hand experience and unrivaled knowledge to their former colleagues.

“Our company’s growth has occurred through mergers and acquisitions, as well as organically, more than tripling our revenue over the past three years,” Bluum CEO Erez Pikar said. “We are united under one aspirational brand and a vision of creating equity and access in education. All of our employees equally share in this identity, which aligns with our mission, objectives and pursuit of continued growth.”

Recently named to the top half of the 2021 Inc. 5000 List of “America’s Fastest-Growing Companies” and one of the “Top 10 Integrators” by Systems Contractor News, Bluum is rooted in the belief that education is the single most vital step toward a more positive and equitable tomorrow. The wonder of learning and the benevolence behind increasing student engagement heavily influenced Bluum’s new logo and design.

“The inspiration for our brand name came from Bloom’s Taxonomy, a fundamental philosophy in every educator’s toolkit,” Vice President of Marketing and Communications Diane Mitchell said. “The act of ‘blooming’ signals a moment of transformation when the right set of people, resources and knowledge come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Technology is only the beginning. Our level of care and involvement with every customer sets us apart in making an impact on the user and the outcome.”

Today’s announcement is the first step in a phased rebrand, which includes the launch of a new e-Commerce site this spring. While the Bluum brand will serve its education customers, the company also introduced the Bluum Technology brand to continue to develop its existing business and government customer base.

For more information on the new brand, visit bluum.com and bluumtech.com.

About Bluum

Bluum empowers educators with technology solutions that improve learning and make it more accessible, assisting more than 26 million students grow and flourish. Cultivate possibility with us at bluum.com or follow us on LinkedInTwitter and Facebook.


Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Sarah Goncalves
South Region Inside Sales RVP
888-226-5727 x3730
sgoncalves@trox.com

 

Continue working with your dedicated Account Manager as we get more information on the latest updates from bluum.