Learner First

What Learner First does

The Learner First is a private education consultancy founded by Joanne McEachen that delivers custom coaching, professional development workshops, and assessment services to K-12 schools and school districts globally. The firm's core offering is its proprietary Contributive Learning framework, which integrates academic, social, and emotional learning around four pillars: self-understanding, connection, knowledge, and competency. Supporting methodologies include Learning Progressions (rubric-based measurement tools), SEL Skills & Objectives, and the Authentic Mixed Method Assessment (AMMA) approach, all packaged as nested professional development delivered to both leadership and teaching staff within a school.

The product portfolio spans Executive Coaching, Leading Contributive Learning workshops (including the Leaders Learning First Workshop Series), Strategic Development and Planning, Contributive Learning Design, Contributive Learning Through Mathematics, and a student-facing experience called Tech Tempest. The firm has codified its IP into multiple published books (Measuring Human Return, Deep Learning, Dive into Deep Learning, The Depthvale Detectives, Making the Important Measurable) distributed through Corwin and Amazon, plus peer-facing papers on AMMA and Contributive Learning.

Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based, customized professional services engagements (coaching, workshops, data analysis) sold directly to school and district leadership. Secondary revenue streams include TLF-branded merchandise (calendars, mugs, journals, coasters) sold through an e-commerce storefront and book royalties. The company operates with 11-50 employees, maintains a global delivery footprint spanning New Zealand, USA, and Australia, and is founder-led with a named executive team including CEO Deborah Dunstone and Executive Directors Beth Hamilton and Rob Proffitt-White. There is no software product, no mobile application, and no AI capability disclosed.

Name

Learner First

Legal name

The Learner First

Website

https://thelearnerfirst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Learner First is a private education consultancy that delivers custom coaching, professional development workshops, and assessment services to K-12 schools and districts globally, built around its proprietary Contributive Learning framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Consulting & Professional Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Learning Strategy, Instructional Design & Content Development (BPACANAG)

Keywords

• K-12 professional development
• Education consulting services
• Teacher coaching programs
• School leadership training
• Authentic learning assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Services: Custom coaching and professional development workshops for school and district leadership. Includes strategy sessions, collaborative planning, consultation sessions, data analysis, and learning walks.
2. Workshop Facilitation: Comprehensive professional learning experiences facilitated by trained, experienced education practitioners.
3. Resources and Tools: Workshop materials for participants including reflection tools, design guides, learning progressions, rubrics, and implementation ideas.
4. Data Reports and Analysis: Data collected and analyzed by the TLF team to track and report progress. Evidence and research from workshops are shared and used to inform next steps.
5. Merchandise Sales: TLF-branded merchandise including calendars, mugs, coasters, journals, and inspirational prints sold through the online shop.
6. Published Works: Sale of books authored by TLF founders including Measuring Human Return, The Depthvale Detectives, and Making the Important Measurable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Learner First is an education consultancy that delivers custom coaching, professional development workshops, and assessment design services to K-12 schools, district leadership teams, and education systems. Offerings are anchored in the proprietary Contributive Learning framework and Authentic Mixed Method Assessment (AMMA) methodology, and span executive coaching, leadership workshops, strategic planning, mathematics-focused professional learning, and student-facing experiences. The firm also publishes books, papers, and branded merchandise that extend its reach beyond direct service contracts.

Product overview

Learner First is an education consultancy offering a portfolio of coaching, professional development, and assessment services built around its proprietary Contributive Learning framework. The core offerings include Executive Coaching, Leading Contributive Learning (with its Workshop Series), Strategic Development and Planning, Contributive Learning Design, Contributive Learning Through Mathematics, and Tech Tempest. These services are delivered through collaborative workshops, one-on-one coaching, and data analysis by trained practitioners. Learner First also publishes a suite of books and papers including Measuring Human Return, Deep Learning, The Depthvale Detectives, and the AMMA paper on Authentic Mixed Method Assessment. The company does not offer a software product; rather, it provides human-delivered consulting services supplemented by published intellectual property.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Contributive Learning: A holistic learning and well-being framework developed by The Learner First that emphasizes self-understanding, connection, knowledge, and competency as essential outcomes of education.

Products and services

• Executive Coaching Collaboration between TLF and school/district leadership to unpack assumptions, foster culture, and refine pedagogy to meet the diverse needs of all students; delivered via strategy sessions, collaborative planning, consultation, data analysis, and learning walks.
• Leading Contributive Learning A workshop series and methodology that helps school leaders implement Contributive Learning across their institutions, with emphasis on culture, pedagogy, and student outcomes.
• Leaders Learning First Workshop Series A sequential workshop series under the Leading Contributive Learning program that provides hands-on professional development for school leaders.
• Strategic Development and Planning Consultative service to help schools and districts develop coherent strategic plans aligned with their educational goals and the Contributive Learning framework.
• Contributive Learning Design Custom design services that weave academic, social, and emotional learning into existing curricula in ways that improve student outcomes and professional practice.
• Contributive Learning Through Mathematics Specialized professional learning workshops for teachers and school leaders focused on implementing Contributive Learning principles within mathematics instruction.
• Tech Tempest: A Student Experience A student-facing experience program that applies Contributive Learning principles through technology-enhanced learning activities.
• TLF Online Shop Merchandise TLF-branded merchandise sold through the online shop, including 2026 desk and desktop calendars, mugs, cork coasters, journals, and inspirational prints.
• Measuring Human Return: Understanding and Assessing What Really Matters for Deep Learning A comprehensive guide on authentic mixed-method assessment focusing on measuring deeper learning outcomes including self-understanding, connection, and competency.
• The Depthvale Detectives and the Great Education Crisis: A Guide to Contributive Learning in Schools An illustrated narrative and practical guide that teaches young people and educators about Contributive Learning through storytelling.
• Deep Learning: Engage the World Change the World A foundational text on deep learning approaches for global competency development in education.
• Dive into Deep Learning: Tools for Engagement A practical companion resource providing tools and strategies for implementing deep learning engagement practices.
• Making the Important Measurable, Not the Measurable Important A guide to authentic assessment practices that focus on measuring outcomes that truly matter for student success rather than easily quantifiable but less meaningful metrics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Evidence and research from workshops shared and used to inform next steps, with data collected and analyzed by the TLF team to track and report progress

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and minor.

• GagglemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative webinar partnership where TLF Founder Joanne McEachen worked with Gaggle Therapy Manager Kelly Kigar to discuss fostering inclusivity and resilience in the classroom. Joint webinar on The Power of Self-Understanding with downloadable resource materials.
• ClassLinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast collaboration on LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education where Joanne McEachen discussed Contributive Learning, and Deb Dunstone discussed Student Agency with ClassLink hosts Jerri Kemble and Jamie Saponaro.
• KnowledgeHookminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast collaboration on KnowledgeHook's Leadership Series where Joanne McEachen discussed her book The Depthvale Detectives and the evolution of thinking on system and school change.
• Education Champions TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterview-based content partnership where Beth Hamilton, Executive Director at The Learner First, was featured on the Education Champions talk show discussing making a difference in education.
• Salzburg Global SeminarmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured presentation in the Social and Emotional Learning & Social Justice series, a four-part program focused on SEL, inclusive pedagogies, and assessment. Joanne McEachen joined with Jennifer Groff, Jacob Unger to unpack SEL assessment strategies.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheLearnerFirst
• Xx.com/TheLearnerFirst
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelearnerfirst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Learner First