2019: Year In Review

The month of December is a complete frenzy — both personally and professionally. There’s a seemingly never-ending mind-burdening list of tasks that somehow need to be completed before the holidays, but then comes the new year and you magically feel refreshed!

One of my favorite year-end recharging activities is to reflect on all of our accomplishments. For a growing company, each year feels better than the one prior, and this year totally exceeded our expectations. Yay! Let me walk you through 2019 at ParentSquare.

Big Rocks

Many thanks to you for being a part of the ParentSquare community, making each interaction count, and spreading the good word. This year we doubled our team and the number of institutes we serve!

• Open Office: We started the year at a brand new office location with an open office and a big kitchen, and yes, we love it! Collaboration and transparency among the team increased — which is what we hope you can accomplish with ParentSquare as you build trust with families!

• ParentSquare Learning Network: This has been a long-standing dream of mine that finally took shape! #PSquareLN is a community where educators can ask, learn, and discuss how to involve parents in new topics emerging in schools — think digital citizenship, social emotional learning, stress and mental health and more.

• Alexa, what did Owen do at school today?: Yes, you can ask that question and get an answer other than “Nothing”! Our partnership with Amazon (we love them!) reached a new level with our implementation of their brand new Education Skill API.

• New Website: Just like our new physical office, we have a new web office too. If you haven’t checked it out yet, visit parentsquare.com which explains how we’re different, providing all services under one umbrella, so you and your parents stay happy. Don’t forget to watch all of our explainer videos:

  • What is ParentSquare?

  • Video for Parents

  • Feature Spotlight: Secure Document Delivery

  • Feature Spotlight: Auto Notices

• New SIS Partnerships: Being tech founders, we are focused on making sure technology does not get in your way. That starts with making sure we integrate with more Student Information Systems, so we can get rostering data and more importantly, all parent data not available through other integrators. We now directly integrate with 22 major SISs! New additions this year include RenWeb, eSchoolData and eSchoolPLUS.

• Now in 44 states: ParentSquare continues to grow — we are so delighted to now operate in 44 states. We welcome Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon & others into the ParentSquare family!

• Awards: And now for a drum roll, please! We are honored to receive Tech & Learning’s Awards of Excellence for “Best Re-invention of a Legacy Technology” and a South Coast Business & Technology Award as a “Rising Star.”

Product Wows

This year our focus was on compliance, as well as district and parent logistics-related needs. Here’s a glance at our biggest feature releases:

• With Secure Document Delivery schools can digitally send progress reports and other documents generated from their SIS to parents

• Auto Notices gives schools the ability to define and send personalized messages to families automatically, based on pre-set criteria or a schedule

• ADA Compliance allows schools to breathe easy knowing their posts are fully accessible

• Schools can now show their spirit and carry their brand forward with Custom Colors

Popular Content

Need some inspiration? We strive to create valuable content for educators in all topics parent engagement. Here’s our list of blog favorites and featured content from the past year:

• 5 Minute Friday: Maximize Parent Engagement with Minimal Effort

• How to Communicate with Parents After a School Incident

• Checklist: Choosing the Right Communication Platform for Your School Community

• The Next Frontier in School Communication: The Rise of Two-Way Communication

• 6 Ways to Thank Your Principal for National Principals Month

What’s in Store for 2020

Our guiding theme this year is Make It Better! We will focus on fine-tuning what already exists in ParentSquare, rather than adding new features. Look out for improvements across our entire platform — from messaging and forms to performance and usage — so you can work easier.

One app for Parents: We would love to give parents a single hub for all communication, no matter which school apps are used behind the scenes. Imagine ParentSquare becoming a gateway for any school-related information, providing a direct link to the right page in other platforms — making life easier for parents, educators and schools along the way.

As I reflect on all of these achievements, our most important one has been building stronger human connections and helping to bring families and schools closer together. I am thankful to my big family at ParentSquare, and our extended family amongst our schools.

I am sure you feel the same way with your students and families that you serve. Human bonds are special and they make you feel special too — they truly are priceless and better than any of the physical gifts you give and receive!

Let’s welcome 2020 with new hope, optimism and with open arms and doors. Here’s to a new decade of welcoming every family!

With best wishes from Santa Barbara, CA
Anu
Founder, ParentSquare