Education needs builders who get it.
ChalkDev was founded on a simple observation: the people building edtech rarely have classroom experience, and the people with classroom experience rarely know how to code. We're closing that gap.
Our mission
To create a new generation of edtech professionals who combine deep educational expertise with modern technical skills — producing better products, more meaningful careers, and ultimately, better outcomes for students everywhere.
Why ChalkDev exists
Every year, thousands of talented, passionate teachers leave the classroom. Some are burned out. Some want better pay. Some just want a new challenge. But almost all of them carry something irreplaceable: a deep understanding of how people learn.
Meanwhile, the edtech industry is booming — and struggling to find people who understand both technology and education. Too many learning products are built by engineers who've never stood in front of a classroom, resulting in tools that look impressive but miss the mark pedagogically.
ChalkDev was born from this gap. We take experienced teachers and give them the technical skills to build the tools they always wished they had. The result? Better products, happier teams, and a career path that honors — rather than discards — everything teachers have learned.
What we believe
The principles that guide everything we do.
Teaching is a superpower
The skills you build in a classroom — communication, patience, curriculum design, understanding diverse learners — are exactly what edtech needs more of.
Accessibility over exclusivity
Part-time schedule, no prerequisites, no upfront tuition barrier. We believe career transitions shouldn't require privilege.
Build what matters
Every project in our program solves a real problem in education. We don't do toy apps — we build tools that teachers and students actually need.
Community over competition
Our cohorts are collaborative, not competitive. Teachers support teachers. That culture carries into the industry.
The team
Every person at ChalkDev has roots in education. We practice what we preach.
Dr. Amara Chen
Former high school CS teacher turned edtech founder. 12 years in education, 6 in tech. Built curriculum at two Y Combinator edtech startups.
Marcus Williams
Ex-middle school math teacher and self-taught developer. Spent 4 years at Khan Academy building teacher-facing tools before joining ChalkDev.
Elena Ruiz
10 years in talent acquisition at edtech companies including Duolingo and Clever. Passionate about connecting mission-driven talent with mission-driven companies.
David Okafor
Full-stack engineer and former elementary teacher. Believes the best code is written by people who understand the humans using it.
Join the movement
Whether you're a teacher ready for a new chapter, or an edtech company looking for talent that truly gets education — we'd love to hear from you.