
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.
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?

Miles
Sebesta
AI Strategist

Miles
Sebesta
AI Strategist
Miles Sebesta, EMBA, is an AI Strategist specializing in generative AI implementation, full-stack development, and optimizing internal workflows through intelligent tooling. As VP of Innovation at Bitwise Industries, he led product and engineering teams to national recognition in the NLC Capstone Challenge for an AI-powered civic tech technology solution. At Kapor Center Investments, Miles advised funds and portfolio companies on AI strategy while building internal tools to streamline investment workflows. He is passionate about education, having trained 300+ students in software development through CTE and apprenticeship pathway creation.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we make lifelong learners?

Grace
Shealy
Sales Development Manager

Grace
Shealy
Sales Development Manager
Grace currently serves as a Partnership Director at inquirED. Over the last several years in edtech she has cultivated meaningful relationships with district and school leaders across the East Coast. Coming from a family of educators, her dedication to education is deeply rooted in her personal journey as a lifelong learner. Grace is a graduate of Elon University, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and History.
What’s your inquiry?
How can curriculum draw students in to be engaged and interactive learners?

Jane
Shields
Supervising Lead, Assessment and Alignment

Jane
Shields
Supervising Lead, Assessment and Alignment
Jane has several years of experience teaching secondary ELA in South Carolina. While teaching, Jane experienced firsthand the impact a high-quality curriculum can have on a student's learning experiences. This sparked a passion for curriculum development, and she went on to pursue master’s and doctoral studies in education. Jane currently holds an M.Ed. and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. She joined the inquirED team in June 2021 and is enthusiastic about supporting student learning through inquiry-based curriculum.
What’s your inquiry?
How can high-quality assessments support teaching and learning?

Amanda
Shroyer
Senior Partnerships Specialist

Amanda
Shroyer
Senior Partnerships Specialist
Prior to joining inquirED in the summer of 2023, Amanda worked as a high school science teacher before making the switch to edtech sales. She has long been passionate about increasing access to and nurturing student excitement for learning. She is excited to partner with schools and districts to bring inquiry into their classrooms. Amanda holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
What’s your inquiry?
How can individuals outside of the classroom positively impact teachers and students?

Anthony
Sievert
Supervising Lead, Disciplinary Architecture

Anthony
Sievert
Supervising Lead, Disciplinary Architecture
Prior to joining inquirED, Tony spent 10 years serving in various education capacities as a secondary social studies teacher, an assessment specialist, an instructional coach, and a social studies curriculum specialist for a large, urban school district. Through these experiences, he has created, curated, and facilitated the adoption and implementation of inquiry-based social studies curricular resources at all grade levels. Tony earned his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He joined the inquirED team in the summer of 2021.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we create experiences that activate curiosity in every student, in every classroom?

Emma
Smith
Lead Curriculum Editor

Emma
Smith
Lead Curriculum Editor
Before coming to inquirED, Emma worked in a number of fields, including writing tutoring, museums, marketing, publishing, and editing. Her passion for language drives her work at inquirED, and she is proud to be a part of a team that values equity and high-quality, inquiry-based learning. Emma holds a BA in English from Indiana University Bloomington, where she also studied Studio Art and Human-Computer Interaction and completed her Undergraduate Honors Thesis in Creative Nonfiction. She joined the inquirED team in autumn of 2021.
What’s your inquiry?
How does language influence the way we move through the world?

Rachel
Strang
Senior Lead Implementation Success Manager

Rachel
Strang
Senior Lead Implementation Success Manager
Rachel began her career in education as a secondary social studies teacher on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she also had the opportunity to serve as a literacy coach and a supervisor for professional learning and K-12 social studies. She received her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, and focused her research on how prepared recently graduated students felt they were for their next chapter after high school. Rachel believes strongly that teaching social studies through inquiry not only creates a more engaging and meaningful classroom experience for students, but also helps students and teachers see connections between history and their lived experiences. Rachel joined inquirED in January 2022.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we create a culture of individuals who are willing to rethink their opinions when presented with new information?

Hien
Tran
Lead Quality Engineer

Hien
Tran
Lead Quality Engineer
With a Computer Science degree from the University of Houston, Hien Tran began her career in software development before shifting to quality assurance to focus on building exceptional user experiences. Before joining inquirED, she had worked across industries such as aerospace, banking, scheduling, and HR software, bringing adaptability and insight to every QA initiative. Her work emphasizes delivering accessible, reliable, and user-first digital products.
What’s your inquiry?
How do we ensure we’re testing for student experience, not just functionality?

Tasia
Trevino-Hill
Instructional Development Lead

Tasia
Trevino-Hill
Instructional Development Lead
A writer and musician, Tasia has worked a diverse range of jobs, including leadership roles in arts nonprofits, creative writing instruction for undergraduates, and copyediting and content creation in education. Increasing accessibility for students and educators across aspects of identity and lived experiences drives Tasia’s work as an editor. She is very happy to collaborate with the inquirED team on this student-centered curriculum. She holds an MFA in Poetry from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her work has been recognized by fellowships, an Academy of American Poets’ Award, and Best New Poets 2020. Tasia joined the inquirED team in September 2020.
What’s your inquiry?
How can we move through the world with more curiosity and kindness towards each other and our surroundings?
Take a closer look at Inkwell
Explore Inkwell, our K-2 core curriculum that teaches reading, writing, speaking, and listening inside content-rich social studies learning, so students build knowledge and literacy skills in the same block.


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