EChalk
Rebekkah Schaubach
Creative Services Manager
How did you end up working in education?
It’s actually a funny story. I moved to New York City in the winter of 2005 as an aspiring Graphic Designer having worked in a variety of settings ranging from a hospital, to a restaurant equipment and supply manufacturer (not as glamorous as it sounds), all the while still thankfully on my career path. The first job interview I had was for an educational publishing company focused on K-12 learning and I’ve stayed in the field ever since. I learned about eChalk from a former coworker of mine (and now good friend!) and was hooked almost immediately by the company’s mission, as well as its history in the industry.
Describe the eChalk culture.
The environment is friendly, serious, creative and informative. Everyone has a sense of pride in what they do, unlike many previous experiences I’ve had in a corporate setting. If you have a problem, whether it’s about a customer, something technical, or even if you’re just in need of some Tums, there are 30 plus people who are willing to help. Plus, we’ve got a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge and all the excitement that it can bring on any given day. Thankfully, no jumpers yet!
What do you like best about working at eChalk?
I'm able to share my ideas no matter how “off the wall” they might seem. My day-to-day tasks are diverse and interesting, ranging from print booth graphics to web banners for our clients, to even devising a walking (but not talking) mascot! It’s a great feeling to know that my peers support my work and in return it empowers me be as creative as I can be (and yes, I really AM this corny!).
How would you describe eChalk customers?
I don’t work directly with customers, but I’ve interacted with them at our User Group events, as well as at tradeshows. They're always so positive when they talk about the product and how it’s transformed their school or district.
Describe your fellow eChalkers.
Everyone takes their job very seriously and is extremely knowledgeable about the specific service they provide to our customers. I'm admittedly one of the more goofy people in the office, although that speaks to my job title, I think.
Is there one memory that stands out during the time you’ve worked at eChalk?
When I was hired, I was given the daunting task of rebranding the company. Within that project, I was encouraged to explore how we market ourselves and also to explore what devices we could use, other than just our logo, to target our vast audience and stand out against our competitors. The brainchild of all of this resulted in a tiny letter “e” which sprouted arms and legs. The rest is history…oh, and I also designed this website J.
How do you describe eChalk to your friends and family?
“We make the tools schools use to build websites…for their schools!” They seem to get it, however a lot of them work in education and are becoming more familiar with this type of SaaS service. Side note: I learned the terms “SaaS” and “ROI” from working here.
What surprised you most about working at eChalk?
On a company-related, rather than work-related note, I was certainly surprised to learn that eChalk was responsible for pioneering the use of E-Rate funding (a discount program that provides affordable access to modern telecommunications and information services) for the type of service that we, and our competitors, provide. This is the type of company that strives for the success of its customers and clients, which in turn makes it successful.
What excites you about the future of eChalk?
As technology evolves, so will our products. It’s intriguing to be part of an industry that at face value is made up of bytes and pixels, when really there’s so much creativity involved to make those bytes and pixels exist! Thankfully a lot of those creative people work on our product development team, as that will continue to allow us to provide new and exciting features for our customers for years to come. Also, their graphic designer ain’t half bad either.