The School Improvement Network is expanding its Salt Lake City offices, creating 700 new jobs over the next decade.
The School Improvement Network is an online professional development and teacher training company based in Utah. The company has the world’s largest online professional learning community and has received more than 70 awards for its programs.
“Regardless of the school, students or teachers, our resources can help make good teachers even better and engage every student,” said Chet Linton, CEO and president of School Improvement Network.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development has endorsed the expansion, providing a 10-year agreement with the School Improvement Network. As part of the agreement with the economic development office, School Improvement Network will receive tax credits based on performance.
“School Improvement Network was interesting to the state because it specifically helps support the governor’s goal of improving education,” said Michael Sullivan, director of communications for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Linton said independent research has shown that School Improvement Network’s programs increase student achievement by an average of 19 percent per year. He said dropout rates decrease by as much as 20 percent per year.
“With the expansion of School Improvement Network, more Utah residents will be able to secure good paying jobs, while at the same time helping our educators teach more effectively,” Gov. Gary R. Herbert said in a prepared statement Sept. 9.
Most of the 700 new jobs will be full-time positions. On Sept. 9, School Improvement Network announced 470 of the new jobs will pay at least 125 percent of Salt Lake County’s minimum annual wage, including benefits.
In order to be endorsed by the economic development office, companies must have a new product or service causing their growth — the growth can’t be natural. School Improvement Network is beginning to make training resources for law enforcement, Linton said.
To accommodate for the new expansion, School Improvement Network is renovating an abandoned building in downtown Salt Lake City into a green work space. The estimated completion date is June 2014.
