Jessie Arora

This blog is a collection of resources, experiences and stories that I would like to share as part of my journey exploring the intersection of education and technology. While I try to write about a variety of edtech startups and topics, I’m particularly interested in blended learning tools, programs supporting STEM education and distribution strategies (which I often refer to as community building) so startups can get their products to the kids and communities that need it the most. If there is anything you’d like to see added or highlighted here, please let me know!

About.me

I am passionate about education and brainstorming how new technologies and approaches can be applied to improve the quality of teaching and learning for all learners. I believe the only way these tools or “new” strategies will really improve outcomes for all students is if we can figure out how to provide access to all students.

I began my career teaching English in Japan on the JET Program which sparked my passion for teaching and learning, and working with educators, students and the broader community. Upon returning from Japan I moved to the Bay Area and spent the next several years at Google, working on Strategic Partnerships for both AdWords and AdSense, and helped build the Online Sales and Operations Team for Google India (Hyderabad and Gurgaon.) After getting an MA from the School of Education at Stanford, I jumped into the non-profit world and spent the last few years working with Citizen Schools, a national organization focused on STEM education and career/college readiness for first-generation college bound middle schoolers. Over the past couple years I began a deeper exploration of the edu-startup world as an education consultant with Stellar K12 and have done work with Khan Academy and Imagine K12.

I founded TeacherSquare in the end of 2012 to support the education ecosystem by connecting educators and education technology tools and resources. TeacherSquare creates opportunities, both on and offline, for innovative educators to showcase their talents and help bridge the information and implementation gap that exists around many tech solutions for K12 schools.