The Business of Education | S01E12 | Fleur Johnston

Summary:
Fleur Johnston, founder of Peoplebench, discusses the importance of focusing on the teacher side of education and the challenges of attracting and retaining a strong teaching workforce. She explains that 80% of the cost of running a school is the adults who work there, and yet most edtech companies focus on student-centered solutions. Peoplebench aims to fill this gap by providing data-driven solutions for workforce strategy and organizational redesign in schools. Johnston also highlights the global teacher shortage and the need for schools to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of educators. The conversation explores the importance of workforce strategy in creating amazing places to work in schools, which in turn leads to amazing places to learn. The quality of teachers and their relationship with students is identified as the most significant factor in predicting student outcomes. However, the burden of improving teacher quality should not solely rest on individual teachers but should be addressed at a systemic level. The conversation also touches on the development of a culture tracking tool and the challenges of selling in the education sector.

Takeaways:
- The majority of EdTech companies focus on student-centered solutions, but it is crucial to also address the needs of the teaching workforce.
- 80% of the cost of running a school is the adults who work there, making it essential to attract and retain a strong teaching workforce.
- There is a global teacher shortage, and schools need to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of educators.
- Peoplebench provides data-driven solutions for workforce strategy and organizational redesign in schools, helping to improve teacher retention and school culture. Workforce strategy is crucial in creating attractive places to work in schools, which has a direct impact on student learning outcomes.
- Improving teacher quality should be a systemic effort rather than placing the burden on individual teachers.
- A culture tracking tool can help measure the alignment of personal values with the values lived out in a school, which affects resilience and well-being.
- Selling in the education sector can have varying sales cycles, ranging from quick enterprise sales to longer procurement cycles.
- Networking and building connections within the education and edtech communities are essential for support and growth.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background

01:07 The Importance of Focusing on the Teacher Side of Education

06:43 Data-Driven Solutions for Workforce Strategy

09:20 Improving Teacher Retention and School Culture

29:05 The Importance of Teacher Quality and Relationships

31:51 Measuring Culture and Well-being in Schools

41:56 Challenges of Selling in the Education Sector

47:38 The Power of Networking and Building Connections

Guest: Fleur Johnston

Socials:
LinkedIn [@fleurjohnston]
Facebook [@fleur.johnston.1232]

About Fleur:
Fleur Johnston, a behavioral scientist and entrepreneur, is passionate about large workforces and community impact. With almost 20 years in senior HR and Major Projects roles, she co-founded her first business in 2012. Advising government agencies on Strategy, Org Redesign, and Change, Fleur holds esteemed affiliations and serves as a guest lecturer.