{"id":41101,"date":"2024-09-11T21:15:50","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T21:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/?p=41101"},"modified":"2025-10-29T04:36:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T09:36:17","slug":"2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Xello Founders Matt McQuillen and Jeff Harris are dedicated to making Xello a powerful and impactful tool for students and educators alike. They recently sat down for our annual back-to-school webinar with clients to announce Xello\u2019s newest releases, and talk about where we\u2019re headed next. They answered live questions, and shared some data-driven advice that will help everyone focus their efforts to kickstart another spectacular year.<\/p>\n<p>This was a lively call with some great questions and a view to some exciting new developments at Xello.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Can You Demonstrate CCR Programming ROI? <\/strong><br \/>\nDistricts are always conscientious about budgets, which is why it\u2019s crucial to arm administrators with the program reporting needed to develop insights and spot areas for improvement, and ultimately, instill the confidence you\u2019re investing in the right technology.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, one of the best ways to see Xello program efficacy is for students to actually use it! Luckily, data shows that there were roughly 18 million student logins last year, and educators and counselors spent over 180K minutes on the platform supporting student success.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-41102 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"687\" height=\"387\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-315x177.jpg 315w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024.jpg 960w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 687px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 687\/387;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matt suggests three techniques to ensure you\u2019re seeing return-on-investment (ROI) and the data behind your students\u2019 success:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Get the <\/b><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Training\/Training.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Xello training<\/b><\/a><b> you need<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by any of our many complimentary options.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Meet regularly with your Xello Success Manager <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to set program goals and assess program impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Run <\/b><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Knowledge-Base\/KB\/Report_Student-Engagement.htm?Highlight=running%20reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Xello reports<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help make data-driven decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Continue visiting the <\/b><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Xello Support Center<\/b><\/a><b> and <\/b><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xello.world\/en\/resources\/?category=case-studies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Xello Resources<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for resources and best practices that\u2019ll help you drive transformational change.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Can Xello Help Educators Manage Burnout?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educator burnout has been in the news for\u00a0 years and doesn\u2019t seem to be waning anytime soon. That\u2019s why, as Jeff explains, the issue and data \u201cindicate to us that we need to do our very best to make things easier for educators with everything we do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three actions Xello has taken to reduce burnout are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Creating educator lesson plans: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no need to create lesson plans from scratch! Educators can save time and sleep well at night knowing Xello has written <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Get-Started\/Educator\/Teaching-Resources\/Lesson-Resources-6-12.htm?Highlight=lesson%20plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">engaging and standards-compliant plans for you<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Meeting the needs of all students: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important that your programming is accessible and engaging, which is why Xello is compatible with assistive technologies and invests in video content to connect with students on their level.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Listening to client feedback: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xello wants to make educators\u2019 lives easier. In the past three years, Xello has released 150+ new features and enhancements based on user feedback and requests \u2013 100+ of those in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/blog\/product-news\/product-updates\/2023-24-year-in-review-what-launched-in-xello\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is Xello Promoting Student Engagement?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter how hard a teacher tries, there is always going to be students who are disengaged with the learning material. However, Matt is proud to report that Xello\u2019s launch of the <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/blog\/student-engagement\/student-experience-dashboard-feed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">student dashboard feed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> helps address that issue \u2013 and shared the data to prove it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re probably familiar with the <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Knowledge-Base\/Xello-6-12\/Dashboard-Resources\/KB_6-12_Dashboard-Resources.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interactive student dashboard<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which allows students to scroll and interact with a personalized and curated feed. Xello predicted that the social-media-like experience would increase engagement, and after the full-year pilot in Kansas, reports showed that:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On average, all students that scrolled through the dashboard log into the platform <\/span><b>30% more<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students that clicked on the dashboard feed logged in <\/span><b>twice as much<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as everyone else.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students that logged in once the year before increased their Xello usage <\/span><b>by seven times<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after clicking on the feed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-41106 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-presentation-3-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"682\" height=\"384\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-presentation-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-presentation-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-presentation-3-315x177.jpg 315w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-presentation-3.jpg 960w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 682px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 682\/384;\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Does Xello Support College Planning?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xello is a critical partner for students, families, and educators in the college planning process. In fact, Matt notes that Xello has launched \u201can absolute treasure trove of new feature releases\u201d to support the planning journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-41110 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"685\" height=\"386\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-315x177.jpg 315w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey.jpg 960w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 685px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 685\/386;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He highlights how students and counselors can take action via Xello by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Uploading test scores<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">like GPA and SAT\/ACT into Xello.\u00a0 This gives students a centralized place to manage test results and\u00a0 information.\u00a0 And educators get a comprehensive view of student test scores for reporting and analysis.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Using Scattergrams, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which vis<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ually displays students\u2019 chances of admissions on each college profile page to help them make more informed decisions and see what\u2019s needed to help them achieve their goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sending documents via Parchment integration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for seamless transmission and real-time tracking. This new partnership will expand the reach of our college document sending service of transcripts and letters of recommendation threefold! Students maintain full control over their college applications and counselors can more effectively guide students through their college journeys.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Viewing and applying for scholarships<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the Xello scholarship database, that now includes national, state, and school-added scholarships; and an intelligent-matching tool that suggests scholarships best suited to the student profile, increasing their chances of finding the right opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sending surveys<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as career pathway surveys and senior exit surveys, to make more informed, data-driven decisions in your programming.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-41155 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-1-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"692\" height=\"390\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-1-315x177.jpg 315w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-Xello-supports-your-students-college-planning-journey-1.jpg 960w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 692px) 100vw, 692px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 692px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 692\/390;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to get caught up on college planning tools? Check out our newly updated \u201c<\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/blog\/product-news\/paying-for-college\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paying for College Blog<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d where we dive deeper into our most recent releases and <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Training\/Xello-6-12\/Rec_College-Planning-Tools.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xello Support<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where you can find resources to help you implement these tools in your schools.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-41159 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-2-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"692\" height=\"390\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-2-315x177.jpg 315w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/For-Clients-Back-to-School-AMA-Aug-21-2024-2.jpg 960w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 692px) 100vw, 692px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 692px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 692\/390;\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s On the Horizon?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, Xello is always improving its offerings to ensure smooth implementation and supported students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matt &amp; Jeff shared a little sneak peek of what we\u2019re working on now:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Comprehensive support for educators and students:<\/b> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/academy.xello.world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xello Academy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recently launched more free courses for teachers and new elementary videos for grades 3-5<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>AI Translations coming this Fall:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> AI translations will give students access to Xello in more than 130 languages.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>New Reports<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: From new state-specific reports to enhanced overall program requirements tracking, we\u2019re working with clients to build on our existing reporting tools to help them demonstrate success and use data to tell their program story.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Work-based learning enhancements<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed to give students more control, reduce the amount of time you spend on administrative tasks, and create a stronger, more collaborative <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Knowledge-Base\/Xello-6-12\/WBL\/About-WBL.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WBL experience<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for everyone involved.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q&amp;A Recap<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are a few questions asked in the Q&amp;A section of the webinar from a range of educators\u2013from those just getting started to seasoned Xello users.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>I want to use lessons for grades 9-12 to implement in a half-hour format. What Xello resources will get students going with Xello?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Jeff: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Knowledge-Base\/Xello-6-12\/Lessons\/List-of-Lessons.htm?Highlight=9-12%20lessons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lessons<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can be completed in 20-30 minutes, depending on the goal or skill you want to focus on. And some of those don\u2019t have prerequisite activities. Please keep in mind that the lessons are built to be self-guided, so that\u2019s absolutely possible!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that some Lessons are longer or have prerequisites, so one suggestion is to spend the 30 minutes in class using Xello\u2019s discussion prompts to prepare and help them get the most out of the Lesson, then assign the Lesson as homework or classwork the next day. We also have <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Get-Started\/Educator\/Teaching-Resources\/GS_Teaching-Resources.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">K-12 teaching resources <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on Xello Support, like Pacing Guides, that will help you do all this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How can I incorporate the students\u2019 post-secondary plans in Xello?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Jeff:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Here are three ways to do so:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We suggest starting within <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Knowledge-Base\/Xello-6-12\/Goals-Plans\/KB_6-12_Goals-Plans.htm?Highlight=planning%20tool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the planning tools in Xello<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This includes Goals, Plans, career and school exploration, and the college planning tools.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have a template or tool you prefer, create it as an Assignment in Xello and track student progress to ensure all students are considering their post-secondary plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leverage <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Training\/Xello-6-12\/Rec_Empower-Students-to-Share.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Xello\u2019s P<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ortfolio tool<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In this case, you could provide a <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/blog\/product-news\/xello-portfolios\/#:~:text=inspired%20with%20these-,sample%20portfolios,-.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sample<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of what a good plan would look like and have them build their own within the Portfolio tool.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>What do you think about changes in future career options as a result of technological change? How is this reflected in Xello?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Matt:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It\u2019s hard to predict the impact of technology on jobs. We don\u2019t want to scare kids with AI; they\u2019re already worried about what it\u2019s going to mean for their future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, we\u2019ve focused on looking at new careers we should add to Xello, based on new technology (ex: Ethical Hacker, Social media Manager, Sustainability Specialist). We also review demand data and make sure demand for different careers is featured (and updated) throughout Xello.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What Are Clients Looking Forward to Most?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the end, it\u2019s the Xello program manager\/administrator that helps propel the product roadmap. From our <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/research-panel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xello Research Panel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> participants to our <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en-ca\/customer-advisory-board\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer Advisory Board<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> members and our close relationships with district leaders, we\u2019re co-creating improvements that address the most important educator challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that approach is the most rewarding when we see the live feedback during the annual AMA about what clients are most excited about. And this year didn\u2019t disappoint!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-41163 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024.09_Top-5-Features-Infographic_1.2-286x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"453\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024.09_Top-5-Features-Infographic_1.2-286x300.png 286w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024.09_Top-5-Features-Infographic_1.2-191x200.png 191w, https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024.09_Top-5-Features-Infographic_1.2.png 548w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 432px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 432\/453;\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next Steps for You<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure you\u2019re on track for success this 2024\/25 by implementing the new Xello functionalities and features. Here\u2019s how:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contact your dedicated Success Manager: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your Success Manager is your partner for understanding your school\u2019s data, creating a professional development plan with a training specialist, and providing guidance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Take a Xello Academy course: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/academy.xello.world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">self-paced and interactive courses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contain helpful information you need to launch and improve your CCR practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Visit Xello Support:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/help.xello.world\/en-us\/Content\/Home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">go-to resource<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to find lesson plans, training videos, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Check out Xello resources: <\/b><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shares product news, best practices, guides, and client success stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xello Founders Matt McQuillen and Jeff Harris are dedicated to making Xello a powerful and impactful tool for students and educators alike. They recently sat down for our annual back-to-school webinar with clients to announce Xello\u2019s newest releases, and talk about where we\u2019re headed next. They answered live questions, and shared some data-driven advice that &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":41192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,33],"tags":[93],"class_list":["post-41101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-product-news","tag-blog-posts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap | Xello<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap | Xello\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Xello Founders Matt McQuillen and Jeff Harris are dedicated to making Xello a powerful and impactful tool for students and educators alike. They recently sat down for our annual back-to-school webinar with clients to announce Xello\u2019s newest releases, and talk about where we\u2019re headed next. They answered live questions, and shared some data-driven advice that &hellip; Continued\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Xello\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/xellofuture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-11T21:15:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-29T09:36:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"660\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"490\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Xello Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@xellofuture\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@xellofuture\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Xello Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Xello Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/2b8a4418f7696af5f9850c0d1d3250a3\"},\"headline\":\"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-11T21:15:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-29T09:36:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\"},\"wordCount\":1550,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Blog post\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Blog posts\",\"Product news\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\",\"name\":\"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap | Xello\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-11T21:15:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-29T09:36:17+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png\",\"width\":660,\"height\":490},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Xello\",\"description\":\"College &amp; Career Readiness Software that Inspires Students\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Xello\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Xello-logo-for-blog-top-nav-1.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Xello-logo-for-blog-top-nav-1.svg\",\"width\":65,\"height\":72,\"caption\":\"Xello\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/xellofuture\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/xellofuture\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/2b8a4418f7696af5f9850c0d1d3250a3\",\"name\":\"Xello Team\",\"description\":\"Xello is an engaging, online program that helps K-12 students define their future goals and transform their aspirations into actionable plans for success. The program puts students at the center of their college and career planning experience. It helps them build self-knowledge, explore their options, create a plan, and develop the 21st-century skills needed to thrive in the world of work. With over 20 years of experience in EdTech, our team has helped educators across America implement Xello to prepare students for college and career success.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/author\/xello\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap | Xello","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap | Xello","og_description":"Xello Founders Matt McQuillen and Jeff Harris are dedicated to making Xello a powerful and impactful tool for students and educators alike. They recently sat down for our annual back-to-school webinar with clients to announce Xello\u2019s newest releases, and talk about where we\u2019re headed next. They answered live questions, and shared some data-driven advice that &hellip; Continued","og_url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/","og_site_name":"Xello","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/xellofuture","article_published_time":"2024-09-11T21:15:50+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-29T09:36:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":660,"height":490,"url":"https:\/\/www.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Xello Team","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@xellofuture","twitter_site":"@xellofuture","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Xello Team","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/"},"author":{"name":"Xello Team","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/2b8a4418f7696af5f9850c0d1d3250a3"},"headline":"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap","datePublished":"2024-09-11T21:15:50+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-29T09:36:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/"},"wordCount":1550,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png","keywords":["Blog post"],"articleSection":["Blog posts","Product news"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/","name":"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap | Xello","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png","datePublished":"2024-09-11T21:15:50+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-29T09:36:17+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/MattJeff_660x490.png","width":660,"height":490},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/blog-posts\/2024-back-to-school-with-xellos-founders-recap\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"2024 Back-to-School with Xello\u2019s Founders: Recap"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/","name":"Xello","description":"College &amp; Career Readiness Software that Inspires Students","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#organization","name":"Xello","url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Xello-logo-for-blog-top-nav-1.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/wp-content\/uploads\/Xello-logo-for-blog-top-nav-1.svg","width":65,"height":72,"caption":"Xello"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/xellofuture","https:\/\/x.com\/xellofuture"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/2b8a4418f7696af5f9850c0d1d3250a3","name":"Xello Team","description":"Xello is an engaging, online program that helps K-12 students define their future goals and transform their aspirations into actionable plans for success. The program puts students at the center of their college and career planning experience. It helps them build self-knowledge, explore their options, create a plan, and develop the 21st-century skills needed to thrive in the world of work. With over 20 years of experience in EdTech, our team has helped educators across America implement Xello to prepare students for college and career success.","url":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/resources\/author\/xello\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41101"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48668,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41101\/revisions\/48668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}