BloomBoard

BloomBoard operates as a talent development provider focused on the K-12 education sector, enabling school districts to foster growth and retention among educators by integrating professional education as an employment benefit. The company was established in 2010 by Jason Lange and Eric Dunn. Lange's background in private equity and his work with the NewSchools Venture Fund, combined with his MA in Education and MBA from Stanford, informed the company's direction. He identified a critical need for more effective teacher professional development after numerous interviews with educators. Dunn brought extensive technology leadership experience to the founding team, having previously served as Director of Engineering at EdisonLearning.

The firm's business model centers on providing turnkey programs to K-12 school districts that address educator pipeline, advancement, and retention challenges. BloomBoard forges partnerships between these districts and higher education institutions to offer on-the-job degree and certification programs. This approach allows educators, from teacher's aides to aspiring school leaders, to advance their careers and increase their compensation without leaving the classroom. Revenue is generated by creating and implementing these district-branded programs, effectively making advanced education an accessible employee benefit.

BloomBoard’s core service is a platform that facilitates competency-based learning and micro-credentials. Instead of traditional professional development, educators engage in a portfolio-based learning model, demonstrating their skills through artifacts from their own classroom practice. The platform supports this with coaching, access to content, and collaborative virtual environments. A key achievement was the introduction of micro-credentials in 2015, which are now recognized for graduate-level credit by partner universities like Brandman University and Portland State University, and for salary advancement or recertification in several states. This system helps districts measure teacher growth for promotions and salary adjustments, addressing issues like learning recovery and student well-being. The company has secured $16 million in total funding over four rounds, including a $7.2 million Series B in 2015 with investors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Birchmere Ventures.

Keywords: educator professional development, K-12 talent development, teacher retention, micro-credentials, competency-based learning, teacher certification, educator advancement, school district partnerships, on-the-job training, professional learning platform, teacher pipeline solutions, graduate credit for educators, instructional coaching, educator career pathways, higher education partnerships, teacher salary advancement, edtech, portfolio-based assessment, continuing education units, National Board Certification support