Insights

As long-standing members and partners of the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), the Cambium Family is excited to build upon our partnership and help expand SIIA's impact on the edtech community. With our focus on innovation and widening access to opportunity, we collaborated to power the SIIA Innovation Showcase, which celebrates innovators and startups who have made a positive impact, demonstrated achievement, conducted groundbreaking research, and shown exemplary leadership within the specialized education industry.

Cambium's purpose is to ensure every teacher and student feels seen, valued and supported. In conjunction with our purpose, Cambium focuses on the intersection of education’s greatest needs and the greatest opportunities to make an impact on those needs through technology. To make that kind of impact, we are committed to innovation and diversity and equity. This commitment is seen in the fabric of these awards and highlighted by the mentorship provided by seven senior leaders from Cambium and its partners as part of the SIIA Innovation Showcase "Think Tank”.

Throughout the development of the Innovation Showcase, Dr. Zachary Shirley, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Cambium Learning, worked closely with organizers to build a robust DEIB category to celebrate the commitment and dedication of key new voices in the industry.

Zach was thrilled with the end result, saying, "The ability to partner with SIIA on the development of the new DEIB category for the Innovation Showcase Awards was a truly rewarding experience. Considering that this would be the first time that an honor of this type would be awarded, it was essential to create a scoring metric that truly reflected the value and intersection of DEIB, innovation, and solutions for the K-12 community – the teachers, students, and families who we have the pleasure of serving every day. This effort ensured that these pioneering solutions are recognized not just for their creativity, but also for their impact in fostering a more inclusive and equitable learning environment."

This year’s Innovation Showcase participants embody qualities that are sure to help lead the way forward and we are proud to play a part in highlighting their efforts with SIIA. Joyce Whitby, CEO and Co-Founder, Innovations4Education, and one of the organizers of the Innovation Showcase said, "I have been involved with coordinating the SIIA Innovation Showcase for well over 10 years. As a guiding body in the Technology industry, we have always felt that it is so important to help 'Edupreneurs' by providing direct insight and guidance from experts in the EdTech industry. This year, in partnership with Cambium Learning Group, we were able to truly refresh the entire program and bring it up to speed for the 21st Century. The support from Cambium made it possible for us to award two very deserving companies, and we are excited to build on this momentum next year."

On behalf of Cambium and SIIA, we'd like to extend a special congratulations to this year’s winners: Qore Insights, awarded Most Innovative Startup for its Classroom Education Plan; and Wonder Media, awarded Best Solution for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for its Story Maker^® solution. It’s amazing to see how these organizations continue to grow and lead with intention and purpose in the edtech industry.

"Our participation in the 2024 CODiE SIIA Innovation Showcase has been a fantastic part of our startup journey, and the mentoring provided by Cambium Learning Group was instrumental in refining our presentation. The insight and expertise shared by our mentor from Cambium helped us highlight the potential of AI to enhance our Classroom Education Plan, making it smarter, faster, and more effective," said Toni Shub, CEO of Qore Insights. "This experience not only validated our commitment to making students and teachers feel seen, valued, and supported but also validated our trajectory for our technological growth that excites us about the future. Cambium Learning's involvement brought invaluable perspective and support, enhancing our presentation and boosting our confidence in our innovative approach to education."

"The recognition Story Maker has received as a result of winning the SIIA award as a resource for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging is beyond words. It is a great honor to have been showcased by the SIIA and mentored by the Cambium Learning Group on our journey to win this award. Cambium Learning's involvement gave us a unique perspective on our process, enhanced our presentation and elevated our confidence in our spirited approach to education. Story Maker is not just a tool; it's a gateway to inspiration, a beacon of imagination. It's what makes coming to school not just a duty, but a joyous adventure," said Terry Thoren, CEO, Wonder Media.

During a time when teachers and students are facing increasingly nuanced challenges that are difficult to address, those who have the power to drive change within the learning community must leverage their resources to do so, improving academic outcomes and providing more equitable access to learning.

Looking forward, I am eager to see how we at Cambium can continue collaborating with others who share our vision and commitment, like our partnership with SIIA, to deepen the impact of our efforts on the communities we serve. With continued intentionality, attention to the needs of teachers and students, and a focus on innovation, our potential is limitless.