Multiplying Impact: UnboundEd + Pivot Learning × CORE Learning
The historic merger driving national transformation
In a historic move to deepen impact and expand reach, UnboundEd merged with Pivot Learning and its subsidiary CORE Learning in 2023 to become a national force for transformative educator development. This strategic union wasn’t just about scale — it was about what’s newly possible when complementary organizations with a shared vision come together to accelerate change. It’s about a bold opportunity to equip educators everywhere to break the predictability of historic achievement patterns and meet the needs of every single student.
Guided by a shared mission and led by UnboundEd CEO Lacey Robinson, the integrated organization is already seeing profound results. Our joint teams have begun to co-create a strong shared culture grounded in collaboration, reflection, and an unshakable belief in the power of educators to change the trajectory of students’ lives. And with multiplied reach and resources, our collective impact now spans 45 states and can be felt by millions of students across countless classrooms.
A Shared Mission and Complementary Strengths
While UnboundEd has long been a pioneer in catalysing transformative change by equipping educators with the vision, mindsets, and capacity to push the boundaries of what’s possible, Pivot and CORE Learning brought to the equation deep expertise in helping educators turn knowledge into practice and practice into impact. As CORE Learning President Dale Webster explained, “Our mission has always been about more than just delivering professional development. Training alone won’t lead to real change. What sets us apart is the hands-on coaching and implementation support we provide, working directly with educators in their own classrooms and schools to bridge the gap between theory and practice.”
This hands-on approach has been integral to CORE Learning’s work for almost 30 years, focusing on equipping educators to not just learn new instructional practices and systems but to integrate them into the DNA of their classrooms and schools. “We don’t believe in a ‘sit and get’ model,” Webster stated. “We’re there shoulder-to-shoulder with teachers, coaches, and administrators; we guide them as they apply what they’ve learned about effective literacy, language, and math instructional practices and systemic, school-level change in ways that are meaningful and impactful for their students.”
Training alone won’t lead to real change. What sets us apart is the hands-on support we provide . . .
Innovating Impact
One of the most notable advancements to arise from this merger has been the groundbreaking and innovative Online Language and Literacy Academy (OL&LA), an asynchronous AI-enriched course that integrates Structured Literacy with asset-based pedagogy, enabling educators to deeply understand how language development influences literacy development so Structured Literacy can reach every learner.
According to Webster, this initiative represents the merger’s transformative potential. “Without Lacey [Robinson, CEO of UnboundEd]’s support and leadership, CORE Learning being a part of UnboundEd, and bringing to CORE the additional talents of CORE’s Chief Strategy Officer, Maya Valencia Goodall, and Chief Product Officer, Kristie Shelley this course wouldn’t have been developed. We’ve taken our online courses to a whole new level with OL&LA, ensuring that the science of reading is accessible to all students.”
Our Reach and Impact (2022–2025)
We’ve worked across 45 states.
We’ve partnered with 852 school districts and education agencies.
We’ve supported 13,449,305 students.
Scaling Impact with Digital and In-Person Support
One of the merger’s key achievements has been the ability to scale evidence-based professional development through a combination of digital learning platforms and in-person job-embedded implementation support. CORE Learning’s expertise ensures that the knowledge and skills gained by digital tools like OL&LA are not only accessible but also effective in transforming classroom and school practices.
Webster highlighted the significance of this dual approach, stating, “What’s really exciting is how we’re able to combine the best of both worlds — digital learning that is flexible and widely accessible, with on-the-ground coaching and implementation support that makes it real for teachers, coaches, and administrators. It’s not just about developing educators’ knowledge and resources; it’s about empowering them to use the knowledge and resources in ways that directly benefit their students.”
CORE Learning’s track record of training more than 15,000 educators in Minnesota alone demonstrates the effectiveness of this model. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with educators reporting meaningful growth. “This is the kind of scaling that truly matters and that will only increase with UnboundEd/CORE,” Webster emphasized. “When you see thousands of educators implementing research-based instructional practices and achieving measurable gains in student outcomes, you know you’re making a difference.”
“Our strength is in making theory tangible. We’re in the trenches with educators, helping them navigate challenges and ensuring that these tools are being used in ways that drive real, sustained improvements in student learning.”
This blended approach ensures that professional development is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Teachers have access to asynchronous resources, collaborative networks, and sustained support, fostering a culture of continuous improvement in schools.
When you see thousands of educators implementing new strategies and achieving measurable gains in student outcomes, you know you’re making a difference.
Looking Ahead: A New Era in Educator Support
The merger between Pivot and CORE Learning with UnboundEd marks the beginning of a new era in education. By combining digital innovation with hands-on coaching and job-embedded implementation support, the union is poised to permanently transform teaching and learning instruction nationwide.
As the organizations continue to expand their digital learning models and implementation support, the future promises even greater innovation and impact. “This merger has allowed us to think bigger,” Webster reflected. “Together, we’re not just improving teaching practices and school-level systems — we’re changing the way education works, ensuring that every student, especially those who need it most, has access to the opportunities they deserve.”
