Kelly Education Launches Training Program to Elevate Kentucky’s Substitute Teaching Standards

Rhea-AI Summary

Kelly Education has launched Kelly Education Learning Pathways™, an enhanced professional learning platform for substitute teachers in Kentucky, where 13% of teacher vacancies remained unfilled in 2023-2024. The program offers three tiers: Essential, Enhanced, and Exemplary.

The company, which filled 5.2 million substitute educator positions in 2023-24, has developed this comprehensive online training program to address critical educator shortages. The platform, available as a standalone product even to non-partner districts, focuses on day-to-day procedures, instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement.

Developed with Ed.D.-credentialed educators, the platform provides district leaders with:

• Customizable curriculum for improved recruitment and retention
• Performance monitoring dashboard
• Cost savings on training administration
• In-portal messaging capabilities
• Verified certificate issuance

Positive

• Launch of new revenue stream through standalone learning platform product
• Demonstrated market leadership with 5.2 million substitute positions filled in 2023-24
• Expansion of service offerings beyond traditional staffing solutions

Negative

• None.

Insights

Business Strategy Analyst

Kelly Education's launch of Learning Pathways represents a strategic product expansion beyond traditional staffing services into educational content and professional development. This move diversifies their revenue streams by offering a standalone product accessible even to non-Kelly clients, effectively expanding their potential market reach.

The company is intelligently addressing a documented market need, with 13% of Kentucky teaching positions remaining unfilled last year. By positioning themselves as a solution provider to this persistent challenge, Kelly is strengthening their value proposition to school districts while potentially creating more stable, predictable revenue alongside their core staffing business.

The tiered structure (Essential, Enhanced, and Exemplary) suggests a pricing strategy that could drive incremental revenue through upselling. The platform's analytics capabilities provide administrators with measurement tools to demonstrate ROI, a critical factor for educational purchasing decisions where budgets are often scrutinized.

Having filled 5.2 million substitute positions last year, Kelly clearly maintains significant market presence in education staffing. This technology-enabled solution could enhance client retention by creating deeper integration with school operations through their dashboard and reporting capabilities.

Education Industry Specialist

The substitute teacher shortage represents a significant operational challenge for school districts nationwide, with Kentucky's 13% unfilled teacher vacancy rate highlighting the severity of the problem. Kelly Education's Learning Pathways addresses a critical gap in the educational ecosystem: the lack of comprehensive training for substitute educators who increasingly serve in long-term rather than just day-to-day capacities.

The curriculum's focus on classroom procedures, instructional strategies, management techniques, and student engagement directly targets the core competencies substitutes need to maintain educational continuity. The platform's development by Ed.D.-credentialed educators adds credibility and demonstrates Kelly's commitment to evidence-based approaches.

From a district operations perspective, the data-driven platform offers significant administrative advantages, potentially reducing the burden of training management while improving substitute quality. The ability to track completion and performance metrics provides accountability that has typically been lacking in substitute programs.

The customizable curriculum helps districts differentiate themselves as employers in a competitive hiring market for educational talent. The verified certificates create professional development pathways that could improve substitute retention - addressing both sides of the staffing challenge Kelly faces in providing qualified candidates to schools.

As 13% of all Kentucky teacher vacancies remained unfulfilled last year, this tiered professional learning solution was created to better equip substitute teachers for today’s classrooms

TROY, Mich., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kelly Education, the nation’s most trusted provider of education talent and workforce solutions, is expanding its commitment to Kentucky substitute teacher development with the rollout of Kelly Education Learning Pathways™. This enhanced professional learning platform is designed to equip substitute educators with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the classroom. The inaugural offering for substitute teachers is available in three levels: Essential, Enhanced, and Exemplary. This comprehensive online training program is designed to help districts develop a more effective and well-prepared substitute teaching workforce.

In Kentucky’s 2023-2024 school year, 13% of all teacher vacancies remained unfilled for the entire school year. Kelly Education is proud to have filled 5.2 million substitute educator positions during the 2023–24 school year, reflecting its ongoing dedication to supporting schools and students nationwide. Expanding beyond its traditional substitute teaching staffing and workforce management solutions, Kelly Education now offers the innovative Learning Pathways platform as a standalone product. This resource is available to all school districts, even those that do not currently partner with Kelly Education.

“The demand for qualified educators in our schools has reached a critical point,” said Nicola Soares, president of Kelly Education. “Substitute educators hold a unique and pivotal role within our school communities. They step in not just to fill a gap, but to ensure that education remains a continuous, engaging, and supportive process for every student.”

Leveraging more than 26 years of expertise, Kelly Education developed the rigorous Learning Pathways courses with insights from Ed.D.-credentialed educators. The platform delivers a research-based, comprehensive training program to prepare substitute teachers with the skills and confidence to succeed in the classroom. Core areas of focus include:

• Day-to-day procedures to streamline classroom operations;
• Instructional strategies that ensure consistent and effective teaching;
• Classroom management techniques to create positive, organized learning environments; and
• Student engagement practices to enhance participation and build rapport.

To promote educational continuity, connection, and safety, the course curriculum provides engaging, interactive experiences and up-to-date content aimed at increasing the quality and consistency of substitute teaching from Day 1 to 100.

Additional courses and modules will be available for purchase, allowing educators to further refine their skills and adapt to the evolving needs of schools.

Kelly Education Learning Pathways includes a data-driven, easy-to-deploy learning platform that offers school and district leaders:

• A customizable, outcome-led substitute teacher curriculum that helps administrators improve recruitment and retention and become a district of choice;
• Access to a dashboard and regular reporting updates delivered by Kelly Education to monitor performance and training completion to track return on investment;
• Financial savings on internal training administration and costs associated with potential incidents;
• The ability to message talent in the portal; and
• The issuance of accredited, verified certificates to demonstrate teachers’ learning and progress.
  

“By going beyond basic requirements and adding effective substitute teacher training into the mix, district leaders can drive significant time and cost savings while enhancing the overall quality and stability of education within their schools,” said Dr. Stephanie Wall, director of learning services at Kelly Education.

To learn more about Kelly Education Learning Pathways, visit the Kelly Education website.

About Kelly Education

Kelly Education powers the future of learning through customized workforce solutions, including hiring and recruiting, business management, professional development, academic and well-being support across the full continuum of education––from PreK-12, special education, and therapeutic services to executive search and beyond. Kelly Education is a business of Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB), a global workforce solutions provider that connects businesses and individuals with limitless opportunities through meaningful work. Learn more at kellyeducation.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. 

Media Contact:

Danielle Nixon
Director of Public Relations
816.737.8414 | danielle.nixon@kellyservices.com

FAQ

What is Kelly Education Learning Pathways' impact on Kentucky's teacher shortage?

The program addresses Kentucky's 13% unfilled teacher vacancy rate by providing comprehensive training to better equip substitute teachers for classroom success.

How many substitute positions did Kelly Education (KELYA) fill in 2023-2024?

Kelly Education filled 5.2 million substitute educator positions during the 2023-2024 school year.

What are the three tiers of Kelly Education's Learning Pathways program?

The program offers three levels: Essential, Enhanced, and Exemplary.

Can schools use Kelly Education Learning Pathways without being Kelly partners?

Yes, the platform is available as a standalone product to all school districts, even those not currently partnering with Kelly Education.

What key features does Kelly Education Learning Pathways offer to school districts?

The platform provides customizable curriculum, performance monitoring dashboard, training cost savings, in-portal messaging, and verified certificates for teachers.