Success story
Learn how Zen delivers reliable substitute coverage through a flexible, self-serve staffing model
Progeny Academy is a tuition-free charter school located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, enrolling approximately 90 students in grades K–8. Due to its small size, even a single educator absence can disrupt daily operations, so the school had partnered with a traditional staffing agency to fill short-term teacher roles. However, the partnership ultimately ended as the agency began to experience educator shortages and was unable to meet the needs of the school.
With the new school year approaching and no external staffing coverage in place, school leaders were faced with the prospect of stepping into classrooms themselves to fill gaps—something they had already experienced even with their previous staffing agency, but found unsustainable. Progeny Academy needed a new, more reliable staffing solution to ensure consistent classroom coverage without pulling leadership away from their core responsibilities.
Streamlined, Self-Serve Staffing
Progeny Academy manages the majority of its staffing needs through Zen’s platform, submitting requests via desktop or mobile devices and using automated matching to fill roles quickly. Leaders also favorite and re-engage preferred educators, helping build a reliable pool of substitutes while minimizing administrative effort.
Dedicated Account Management
While the platform enables a self-directed approach, Zen’s dedicated Account Manager remains available via phone, email, and on-site visits throughout the school year. When more hands-on support is needed, such as resolving a last-minute cancellation or coordinating a longer-term role, the school team knows they have a trusted partner ready to step in who understands their unique needs.
Flexible, On-Demand Coverage
Zen provides access to substitute teachers for short-term assignments, allowing the school to maintain consistent classroom coverage as internal staffing availability fluctuates throughout the year. Some weeks require little to no coverage, while others may involve multiple absences, with requests submitted and roles filled through the platform as needed.
95%+ Monthly Fill Rates
Progeny Academy consistently achieves fill rates at or above 95% for its substitute teacher needs. This allows school leadership to plan with confidence, knowing coverage will be secured when needed.
Fast, Low-Friction Coverage
With most requests submitted and filled directly through the platform, the school secures coverage quickly with minimal coordination, allowing staff to manage absences without disrupting their day.
Leadership Time Reclaimed
By ensuring dependable substitute coverage, Zen reduces the need for school leaders to step into classrooms. This allows leadership to stay focused on supporting staff, students, and overall school operations.
"Partnering with Zen Educate has been helpful to Progeny Academy's infrastructure in that daily operations and instruction can continue with minimal interruptions. It is challenging to attempt to cover staffing needs on short notice or for an extensive amount of time. Zen Educate and the team are responsive to the needs of a school and work diligently to provide staff support that aligns with our school community. We appreciate working with Zen and look forward to doing so in the future."
Nicole Nelson, Director & Co-Founder
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