Finding Gratitude in Expected and Unexpected Places

As we move into the final weeks of the year, it feels like a natural time for reflection. This was especially top of mind during Thanksgiving last month, when my family continued a tradition that always brings things into focus. Before dinner, we each share what we’re thankful for. Our two boys always start, and their answers are sincere, thoughtful, and a bit unpredictable. They mention friends, grandparents, their teachers, our dog Daisy, and sometimes someone who taught them a hard but important lesson. They also usually add a joke or two to make us smile. (As an aside, and doing my best not to take it personally, I’ve noticed I rarely make their list. I’m sure that’s just an innocent oversight… right?)‍

That small ritual always grounds me. It reminds me that gratitude isn't about the grand gestures; it’s about the people, moments, and lessons—expected and unexpected—that shape us throughout the year.

And in a field as deeply human as education, that same kind of gratitude helps us stay connected to the “why” behind our work. 

So in that spirit, here are a few things I’m truly grateful for this year, including one you might not expect.

1. The Districts and Educators Who Drive This Work

I am grateful for the tens of thousands of districts and educators who trust GoGuardian to help keep students safe, engaged, and supported. Every day, you navigate shifting budgets, evolving student needs, and constant change. Yet you show up with steadiness and heart.

Your ability to focus on what students need, even in challenging circumstances, is remarkable. The scale and impact of your work continues to inspire us.

2. The Customers Who Push Us to Be Better

I’m grateful for the customers who challenge us. The ones who raise their hands and say, “Here’s what’s not working,” or “Here’s what would make this better.” Your honesty sharpens our decisions and makes our products stronger.

This year, your feedback directly guided some of our most meaningful improvements. From merge classrooms and translation tools to DNS Precision Filtering and enhanced image filtering, many of our biggest advancements were born from educators who were willing to collaborate, critique, and co-design with us. Your input also guided important enhancements to our AI capabilities across the board, helping us build tools that are more intuitive, more responsive, and more supportive of both students and educators.

Our progress this year was also shaped by partners who worked closely with us along the way, including the State of Kentucky, Los Angeles Unified School District, Clark County School District, Palm Beach County School District, Warren Township High School District, Marion City Schools, Wythe County Public Schools, and many others who helped focus our strategy and strengthen our work.

And here’s one that might be surprising: I’m grateful for the customers who chose a different direction but still gave us the time and candor to explain why. Those conversations are never easy, but they’re some of the most important we have. Their willingness to share what we got wrong helps us improve—and gives us the chance to earn their trust again in the future.

3. Innovation That Starts With Educators

I am also grateful for the spirit of innovation that drives our work. The most meaningful progress we make starts with educators who take the time to show us what would make a difference in their classrooms. Their insight gives direction to our teams and ensures that what we build has a real impact on teaching and learning.

This year brought major advancements across GoGuardian’s safety, AI, and classroom tools, all shaped by the experiences and ideas educators shared with us. Educators continue to guide how we apply AI across our product ecosystem, ensuring that it strengthens connection, instruction, and student support rather than replacing the human work at the heart of education. Early feedback on the two new, AI-driven products arriving in the first quarter of next year, GoGuardian Hall Pass and Discover, has confirmed how powerful this partnership can be. When educators guide the vision and our teams focus on bringing it to life, meaningful change becomes possible.

4. The Teams Who Support Students Every Day

I’m grateful for our entire GoGuardian team, especially the people on the ground with schools, helping them navigate challenges and implement solutions that matter. You show up with purpose, empathy, and commitment. You advocate for students and champion the needs of educators.

5. A Community That Delivers Together

If this year proved anything, it’s that progress in education doesn’t come from any one group alone. It comes from an ecosystem of educators, district leaders, product builders, and internal teams working together with urgency and care. We are grateful for the collective momentum and for being part of a community that refuses to settle for good enough when it comes to students.

This is also a moment to recognize what this community has accomplished together across the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. Here are a few highlights from 2025 so far.

• GoGuardian Admin analyzed more than 187.7 billion web pages to strengthen safe online learning.
• GoGuardian Beacon helped escalate more than 472,800 alerts to help schools identify students who may need mental health support and connect them with the right resources.
• GoGuardian Teacher supported over 136 million classroom sessions.
• Pear Deck Learning supported over 7.5 million instructional sessions, assignments and practice sets.
• GoGuardian products continue to support half of all K–12 students nationwide, and our philanthropy initiatives have helped dozens of districts meet urgent educator needs and respond in times of crisis.

These numbers represent real students, real educators, and real moments of care and connection.

Looking ahead

As we move into a new year, our gratitude comes with action. We’re doubling down on innovation, deepening our partnerships with educators, and preparing to share major product advancements—including at FETC in January, where we hope to connect with many of you.

More than anything, this season has reminded me that our work is only possible because of the trust you place in us and the collaboration you bring to every conversation. Thank you for showing up for students every day and for inviting us to be part of that work. We look forward to building what comes next, together.