info@smartpathed.com
Classroom · Compliance · Workforce · Consulting

Practical systems for the work of educating students.

SMARTpath builds the tools schools actually need—engaging classroom experiences, district compliance platforms, workforce pipelines, and the strategic consulting that ties it all together.

What we do
Think Outside the Bag
Escape room kits & puzzle creator
SOPPA Simplified
Data privacy compliance
Pipeline Intelligence
Workforce alignment for K–12
Consulting
Tech planning & strategic work
Our approach

Built by educators, for the way schools actually run

Every platform we build comes from time spent inside Illinois classrooms and district offices. We don't design from theory—we design from the problems we kept seeing show up year after year.

01 — Engagement

Tools students remember

Classroom experiences that turn abstract concepts into something students do. Hands-on, curriculum-aligned, and built for the way real teachers run real lessons.

02 — Infrastructure

Systems districts can run

Software platforms built specifically for K–12—compliance workflows, data privacy, district-scoped access, and the audit trails administrators need to operate.

03 — Connection

Pathways to what's next

Bridges between what students are learning and the world they'll graduate into—linking standards, employer needs, and student data in one place.

Our platforms

Three products built for K–12.

Each platform solves a distinct problem we kept seeing in K–12 education. Together, they form a connected approach to making education more practical, more secure, and more aligned with where students are going.

Classroom & curriculum

Think Outside the Bag

Educational escape room kits and Escape Ready, our digital puzzle creator platform. The classroom tools we wished existed when we were teaching—now used by educators across Illinois and beyond. Built for review days, end-of-unit reinforcement, and the moments when a worksheet just isn't going to land.

  • Pre-built escape room kits aligned to curriculum standards
  • Escape Ready digital platform—teachers build their own puzzles
  • Designed for K–12 classrooms, after-school programs, and PD
Visit Think Outside the Bag
For
K–12 teachers & instructional coaches
Status
Available now
District compliance

SOPPA Simplified

A data privacy compliance platform built specifically for Illinois school districts. We took a regulation that drains IT directors and turned it into a workflow they can actually run—with vendor management, Data Privacy Agreement tracking, and audit-ready reporting all in one place.

  • Vendor management and DPA tracking, fully searchable
  • District-scoped access controls and audit-ready exports
  • Built on modern, secure infrastructure (Next.js, Supabase)
See SOPPA Simplified
For
Illinois district IT directors & technology leaders
Status
Available now
Workforce alignment

SMARTpath Pipeline Intelligence

A workforce pipeline platform connecting Pre-K–12 student data to local employer needs. Districts see where their students are headed; employers see the talent pipeline forming. Standards-aligned, employer-validated, and grounded in our "Beyond STEM" framework—treating STEM as the foundation under every workforce sector.

  • Aligned to Illinois Learning Standards, NGSS, Common Core, and CTE frameworks
  • Connects student pathway data to regional employer demand
  • Built for districts, employers, and economic development partners
Learn about Pipeline
For
School districts & regional employers
Status
In development with district partners
Consulting services

For the work that doesn't fit a product.

Some problems need a platform. Others need someone who's sat in your seat. We work directly with districts, regional offices of education, and state agencies on the strategic and operational work that requires real expertise—not a subscription.

Technology planning

Multi-year tech plans aligned to your strategic goals, instructional vision, and budget reality.

Workflow & process streamlining

Audit how work actually flows through your district. Find the bottlenecks, design the fix, document the new process.

Software selection & evaluation

Vendor evaluations that account for your existing stack, your team's capacity, and the actual problem you're trying to solve—not the demo script.

Data privacy & compliance audits

Beyond SOPPA. We assess where your data lives, who has access, and where the gaps are before they become incidents.

Professional development & training

Custom PD designed around what your staff actually needs to know—delivered in formats that respect their time.

Strategic program design

From idea to operational plan. Workforce initiatives, technology rollouts, curriculum integrations—designed to last past launch.

We work with school districts, regional offices of education, and state agencies across Illinois. Most engagements start with a conversation about what you're trying to solve.

Start a conversation
Rebecca worked with us to understand our needs and provided the best possible solution. She simplified and streamlined our overall process—and was always available when I needed assistance.
KellyDuPage Regional Office of Education
Who we serve

Built for the people doing the work

Our platforms exist because we kept hearing the same thing from teachers, district leaders, and employers: the tools out there don't fit how this work actually happens.

For educators

Teachers & instructional coaches

Classroom-ready experiences and a puzzle platform that turns your existing curriculum into something students remember—without adding planning time.

For districts

Superintendents, IT directors & tech leaders

Compliance infrastructure and workforce data that fits your strategic plan, your audit cycle, and the way your district actually operates.

For employers

Workforce & industry partners

A direct line into the K–12 talent pipeline forming in your region—and a structured way to shape it before students graduate.

Get in touch

Tell us what you're working on.

Whether you're a teacher looking for classroom tools, a district navigating SOPPA, or an employer thinking about workforce pipelines—we'd love to hear what you're trying to solve.