The Accingo idea was born in a middle school classroom in Tennessee. I spent two months there, co-teaching and squeezing in quick chats during overbooked planning periods, all to build a feedback tool for science teachers. One day, our chats turned to the latest crisis of the day: juggling a paper stack and emailed PDF parent permission forms for sports. The teacher turned to me and asked, “What exactly is a Google Drive?” I froze - I'd been using it to share lesson ideas, but maybe this approach was causing anxiety or never really clicked for them.

This led us into a hilarious spiral of recalling old filing cabinets stuffed with dusty handouts and My Documents folders full of meticulously named PLC data point files that we never opened again. When the conversation shifted to “the cloud” and “If I download from the Google Drive, how do I actually save it?” That’s when I realized it wasn’t just about a single tool—it was about how educators learn, adapt, and wrangle technology in the hectic reality of teaching. And that's where Accingo began.

Accingo draws from the Latin for “to equip” or “to prepare,” which perfectly captures our mission: empowering educators with the right tools and supportive community to thrive and grow—both in and beyond the classroom. We center our approach on mindful momentum—small, purposeful steps that strengthen three essentials for teachers: feeling capable and effective in meeting classroom demands, feeling truly part of a supportive network, and having the freedom to make choices that align with your priorities, skills, and values.

Of course, many of us grew up treating technology like it was ready to break at any moment—meticulously organizing files, double-checking downloads, and fearing the unknown. That vigilance can be a powerful asset in the ever changing nature of technology in the classroom—safeguarding student data and ensuring responsible tech use—yet it sometimes holds us back from exploring new opportunities. By balancing diligence with curiosity, we can embrace tools that enrich teaching and learning instead of feeling overwhelmed by them. So how do we strike that balance?

To help educators approach technology in a manageable way, we're building Accingo alongside a community of beta teachers who are shaping what we create. Before our full launch, these educators have access to all our professional learning resources, tools, and support—and in return, they're actively involved in guiding how we move forward. We work with them daily, testing ideas, refining approaches, and ensuring what we build truly meets the realities of classroom life. If you're interested in joining this collaborative journey and having a direct hand in shaping resources designed with educators, not just for them, we'd love to have you as part of our beta community.