ESS Enters Vermont with Mountain Views Supervisory Union Partnership

ESS, a company with over 26 years of experience in K-12 education, has made its debut in Vermont through a partnership with the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU), marking the company’s first school district partnership in the state. The move comes as ESS aims to provide a more hands-on approach to substitute management, a critical aspect of school operations, particularly in the wake of challenges faced by the district.

Mountain Views Supervisory Union serves students and families across Central Vermont communities, including Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock. The partnership began on August 27, following a period where MVSU had been dissatisfied with its previous substitute management vendor. According to Rayna Bishop, Director of Human Resources at MVSU, the transition to ESS has been nothing short of remarkable.

“With ESS, we have a team that communicates with us, actively recruits for us, works directly with our school leaders, and takes responsibility for the day-to-day work of managing the program,” said Bishop. “The transition was seamless, the support has been excellent, and we finally feel like we have a true partner in managing our substitute workforce.”

The partnership is particularly significant as districts continue to struggle with recruiting qualified substitutes, a challenge that has been compounded by the post-pandemic environment. By expanding the substitute pool and providing ongoing guidance and support, ESS aims to ensure that schools have the necessary coverage and resources to operate smoothly.

ESS’s involvement has already provided a welcome relief for Superintendent Sherry Sousa of MVSU. “Securing high-quality substitute teachers has been nearly impossible, especially post-COVID,” said Sousa. “ESS has been available every step of the way: meeting with our Central Office Team, presenting to Principals, onboarding new and existing substitutes, and recruiting additional individuals in our communities. I am so impressed by the quality of every ESS Team member and already feel less stressed about meeting our schools' coverage needs.”

ESS’s expansion into Vermont is seen as an exciting milestone for the company. Steve Gritzuk, Ed.D., President and COO at ESS, highlighted the importance of the partnership. “Our team came in ready to listen, step in where needed, and work alongside both the schools and the substitutes serving them,” said Gritzuk. “At the end of the day, our focus is making sure students have the resources and assistance they need in their classrooms and schools. We are proud of what we have accomplished together already and look forward to building on that success.”

Since its founding, ESS has maintained a singular focus on K-12 education, helping school districts across the country recruit, hire, train, place, and manage qualified personnel. With MVSU as its first Vermont partner, ESS continues to expand its reach and support, ensuring that schools have the necessary resources to operate effectively.