Hi! We’re inquirED.
inquirED works to support every teacher with high-quality instructional materials that make inquiry-based learning possible for every student.
Our mission is
inquiry for every student
Teachers and instructional leaders want classrooms that are rigorous and joyful. They want learning that leads to standards mastery and transfers to the real world. But most instructional materials don’t meet this complex challenge. Instead, educators are forced to choose: rigorous or joyful, academic or applicable. inquirED’s instructional materials support educators in navigating that complexity. Together, we make joyful, rigorous, and transferable learning possible for every student.
Like all good stories in education, inquirED’s started in a classroom
Shanti Elangovan founded inquirED with a clear vision: to bring inquiry-based learning to every classroom.
As a former teacher and curriculum leader, she saw firsthand how traditional instruction often left students disengaged, and how inquiry sparked curiosity, deepened knowledge-building, and transformed learning.
But she also knew that teachers needed more than inspiration. They needed well-designed materials that made inquiry doable, not daunting. That’s why she launched inquirED: to support teachers, schools, and districts with high-quality materials that make joyful, rigorous, and transferable learning possible for every student.
Today, that vision lives on in classrooms across the country, where inquirED’s materials spark curiosity, build deep knowledge, and connect learning to the real world. For Shanti—and for inquirED—inquiry isn’t the end goal. It’s the starting point for deeper understanding and lifelong learning.
How we work
01
We are fiercely passionate.
We believe in the power of our work, are infinitely optimistic about its potential, and humbled by the weight of our goals. We keep students, teachers, and their communities at the center of everything.
02
We take responsibility.
We do work we are proud of, act with agency, and take responsibility for all aspects of the work. We hustle, struggle, and then hustle some more. We own our mistakes, ask for and offer support, and solve problems.
03
We check our egos.
We collaborate with trust, humility and empathy, listen intently, and laugh as much as possible. We believe in the immense abilities of each individual, debate vigorously, and make it about the work.
04
We are unfinished.
We take risks, embrace imperfection, and challenge assumptions. We give, receive, and seek courageously honest feedback and stay nimble enough to act – even when it means starting over.
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Meet our team
We are on a mission to engage students and support teachers by making inquiry-based learning possible in every classroom.
Shanti
Elangovan
CEO and Founder
Shanti
Elangovan
CEO and Founder
Shanti Elangovan is the founder and CEO of inquirED. She founded inquirED to help ensure all students, regardless of geography or circumstance, have the opportunity to engage in high-quality inquiry-based learning. As a former elementary school classroom teacher and instructional coach, Shanti believes deeply in high-quality instructional materials that provide both the professional learning and support teachers need to bring inquiry to life in their classrooms. Shanti holds an M.Ed. from Teachers College and an MBA from the University of Iowa.
What’s your inquiry?
How can every child access the same kind of education that I’d want for my children?
Elisabeth Ventling
Simon
Chief Academic Officer and Co-Founder
Elisabeth Ventling
Simon
Chief Academic Officer and Co-Founder
Elisabeth is an ardent educator committed to advancing equity in education, driven by her belief in the transformative potential of high-quality instructional materials, student-centered content, and teacher empathy. With a career spanning over 16 years in public education, she witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact of rigorous, inquiry-based learning on student engagement and achievement. Elisabeth's vision is one where every student, regardless of their background, enjoys equal access to the resources and opportunities necessary for success in both school and civic life. This vision propels her work as Chief Academic Officer at inquirED, where she has been a member of the team since the fall of 2017.
What’s your inquiry?
How can education prepare students to impact their world for the better?
Bethany
Denton
Supervising Manager, Editorial Development
Bethany
Denton
Supervising Manager, Editorial Development
Bethany comes from a family of educators and is delighted to have found her niche supporting the inquirED team with bringing inquiry-based learning to all students. She loves to help guide the curriculum through a process of continual refinement and improvement. Bethany began working with inquirED in 2018, and officially joined the team in the summer of 2021.
What’s your inquiry?
What does it look like to help diverse learners thrive?
Ashley
Eidbo
Operations and HR Supervising Lead
Ashley
Eidbo
Operations and HR Supervising Lead
Ashley has taught in a diverse range of settings, from middle and high school students in a shelter to music students in college. She received a Master of Music degree from Indiana University in 2008, after earning a Bachelor of Music from the University of Minnesota in 2005. Ashley enjoys building bridges between our team and our partners, as well as streamlining internal processes. She joined the inquirED team in the winter of 2018.
What’s your inquiry?
How can I help make processes easy to understand?
Darius
Gant
Finance Lead
Darius
Gant
Finance Lead
Darius has 15+ years of experience in finance, investment, and artificial intelligence, having worked in private equity, venture capital, and investment banking. He pursued a career in finance to support high-growth technology companies and drive innovation in AI-powered businesses. As an investor and advisor, he has evaluated and guided over 100 software companies, helping them scale and leverage data-driven strategies. Darius has also served as a Fractional CFO, applying his financial expertise to support business growth. He holds a B.A. in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School.
What’s your inquiry?
How do we prepare the youth to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence?
Marci
Glick
Implementation Success Manager
Marci
Glick
Implementation Success Manager
Marci is a native Chicagoan who currently lives in Scottsdale, AZ (but beats the heat at her Illinois farmhouse in the summers). She's a lifelong educator – first as a high school English teacher, then in school- and district-level leadership – and now loves supporting school stakeholders with implementation. She loves helping people discover solutions that help them thrive. Outside of work, she teaches Pilates, is an avid reader, and is a devoted wife and cat-mom.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we encourage and support teachers to enter a learning-stance and try new approaches that enable their students to master 21st-century skills?
Alyson
Gonzalez
Curriculum Materials Designer
Alyson
Gonzalez
Curriculum Materials Designer
After graduating with her degree in animation and design, Alyson found her way into the education field as an ally with Public Allies Chicago. Then, she worked for nearly four years with Chicago Public Schools, where she discovered her passion for using design to help bridge knowledge and accessibility gaps. She loves breathing life into inquirED’s curriculum materials and is excited to help bring inquiry-based education to students in schools around the globe. Alyson joined the inquirED team in the spring of 2021.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we work to create a better community in the spaces we enter?
Emily
Hagan
Implementation Coordinator
Emily
Hagan
Implementation Coordinator
Emily is an Idaho native currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband and two very cute dogs. She loves to read and attend trivia nights. Early in her career, she taught Gifted and Talented students, which fostered her love of inquiry-based learning. She recently completed a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in integrating learning and technology.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we keep up with learning trends and keep education engaging for all learners?
Jeanette
Hardy-Baum
Head of Growth
Jeanette
Hardy-Baum
Head of Growth
Jeanette has spent her career helping educational organizations increase their impact through innovative programming and strategic partnerships. As an intercultural facilitator and edtech enthusiast, she has focused on products that use technology to increase cultural understanding. Jeanette has worked at UC Graduate Schools of Education, Education Pioneers, and the Council for International Education Exchange, and she has partnered with schools and districts across the country to build global citizen programming and international student recruitment pipelines. Jeanette joined inquirED in summer 2018.
What’s your inquiry?
How can I make sure everyone is heard?
Connie
Hebert
Director of Curriculum, ELA
Connie
Hebert
Director of Curriculum, ELA
Connie has two decades of educational experience, beginning as an elementary teacher in Louisiana and advancing to state and national roles specializing in instructional materials evaluation. She served as a curriculum writer for the Louisiana Guidebook project and as an ELA Content Specialist at EdReports.org. As Louisiana’s Director of Instructional Materials Review, Connie led extensive curriculum evaluations across multiple subject areas. Connie holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Passionate about the transformative impact of high-quality instructional materials, Connie joined inquirED in the spring of 2024.
What’s your inquiry?
How can integrating interdisciplinary content improve students' critical thinking and deepen their understanding of the world?
Ty
Henderson
UX/UI Designer
Ty
Henderson
UX/UI Designer
Ty is a seasoned EdTech professional with over 7 years of experience, specializing in UX research and design strategy. Through roles at Committee for Children, Panorama Education, and Western Governors University, he has created user-centered educational products aligned with business objectives. Ty's commitment to education extends beyond product design, having served as an Instructional Associate at General Assembly, where he taught UX Design Bootcamp workshops to adult learners. After contributing to inquirED's initiatives in 2024, he officially joined the team in 2025.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we optimize content strategy to enhance user experience while maintaining a strong balance between comprehensive information delivery and intuitive navigation?
Take a closer look at Inquiry Journeys
Inquiry Journeys (K–5 social studies curriculum) provides inquiry-based instruction for young learners through hands-on investigations and primary source analysis. Explore how elementary students build knowledge and skills by asking questions, analyzing evidence, and connecting learning to their lives and communities.
