A 2025 Look Back at Common Changes in Education in 2021

We spoke with Agile’s Directors of Strategic Accounts, Connie Davis and Toni Elsberry, who noted that the ever-changing education landscape remains highly unpredictable. Staffing shortages, shifting enrollment, and ongoing concerns about learning loss remain top of mind for educators. Over 70% of teachers feel troubled, according to the K-12 Annual Teacher Spending Survey.

Though most schools have resumed in-person learning, hybrid and remote models are now established strategies for flexibility and access. At the same time, teachers still face challenges in addressing academic gaps and student well-being—issues that intensified during the pandemic and haven’t fully resolved.

In this evolving landscape, adaptability is key. Agile’s deep understanding of these shifts allows us to provide data-driven solutions that help education and edtech professionals better serve their communities.

How Has Education Changed Over the Past 10 Years?

In the past decade, education has undergone major transformations:

1. Technology has become a central part of the classroom, with tools like tablets, online learning platforms, and virtual classrooms.
2. Digital and hybrid learning models have made education more accessible.
3. A growing emphasis on social-emotional learning (SEL) highlights the importance of mental health and well-being in student development.

Together, these shifts have reshaped the way education is delivered—making it more flexible, inclusive, and driven by technology.

Expected and Continued Changes in Education + Agile Solutions

In our 2021 conversation with Agile’s Connie Davis and Toni Elsberry, we explored the challenges and rapid changes reshaping education at the time. While many of those immediate pressures have eased, the impact of the pandemic is still seen today.

Here’s a closer look at these shifts and what solution providers need to know for effective engagement:

1. Marketing Momentum Returns—But with New Priorities

During the height of the pandemic, uncertainty led many education solution providers to pause their marketing efforts. With schools navigating sudden closures, remote learning, and shifting priorities, outreach took a backseat to crisis response.

As classrooms reopened—first virtually, then in person—marketing efforts resumed, but with a renewed focus. Providers needed to adapt their offerings to meet the evolving needs of schools, and Agile partnered with clients to help communicate those changes effectively.

Today, while marketing is back in full swing, the landscape looks different. Schools face tighter budgets, staffing shortages, and the sunset of pandemic-era funding. To break through, solution providers must align with these realities.

Agile Education Marketing offers the data, insights, and strategy needed to connect with decision-makers and position solutions around current challenges for more meaningful engagement.

2. Tech-Enabled Learning Is Here to Stay

The pandemic forced schools into a rapid cycle of change—shifting from in-person to remote to hybrid learning and back again. While that instability has eased, its impact is lasting: technology and online class offerings are now embedded in the fabric of education.

Schools are investing in infrastructure, tools, and platforms that support flexible, tech-enabled instruction. For solution providers, this means aligning offerings and messaging with a more permanent digital landscape. And Agile offers the deep data insights needed to reach districts based on their tech-readiness and digital learning adoption.

3. Conferences Are Back—With More Ways to Connect

When the pandemic brought in-person conferences to a halt, a critical channel for connection and lead generation went quiet. While virtual alternatives helped fill the gap, they lacked the high-touch engagement many education solution providers rely on.

Today, conferences are not only back—they’re stronger and more flexible than ever. Most major events now offer hybrid formats, giving providers the opportunity to make meaningful connections whether attending in person or joining virtually. These events have once again become essential for showcasing the real impact of solutions on evolving classroom needs.

Agile helps vendors maximize presence across formats. From targeted email and direct outreach to digital ads and social media campaigns, we make sure teas reach the right decision-makers—before, during, and after the event.

Looking to plan ahead? Explore EdTEch conferences to attend in 2025 and 2026.

4. Staff Turnover Continues to Reshape K–12 Decision-Making

While the height of the pandemic has passed, its ripple effects are still being felt. Many districts continue to face teacher shortages and leadership turnover, driven by burnout, early retirements, and ongoing school consolidations. This makes it difficult to maintain strong relationships and ensure outreach reaches the right people.

Agile Education Marketing helps providers stay ahead of these shifts. Our data tracks changes in district and school personnel in real time, so teams can quickly identify and connect with new decision-makers. We also offer smart segmentation and targeting strategies based on marketing goals—ensuring outreach remains relevant and impactful.

Turn Insight Into Impact With Agile Education Marketing

At Agile Education Marketing, we help edtech companies connect with educators. Learn more about how our tools and resources can help you gain the insights needed to identify and connect with educators and get in touch with our experts today.