What is one EdTech tool that has helped you streamline administrative tasks or improve communication with students or parents? How has this tool made your work more efficient?

Question

Discover the cutting-edge tools revolutionizing administrative efficiency and communication in education. This article provides a curated selection of expert-recommended solutions to streamline school tasks and enhance collaboration. Dive into the insights from industry veterans to transform the way educational institutions operate.

Dennis Shirshikov · Answer

Hello! I'm delighted you reached out. I've led everything from Teach For America classrooms to founding an elementary school in New York City, and today, as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Academic Officer at Fullmind, I concentrate on finding innovative ways to meet the needs of diverse learners across the U.S. What is one EdTech tool that has helped you streamline administrative tasks or improve communication with students or parents? How has this tool made your work more efficient? One unexpected but extremely useful tool I've relied on is Airtable, which goes well beyond a typical spreadsheet solution and instead gives teachers, administrators, and even parents a living, breathing database that can be tailored to our school's evolving demands. Traditional spreadsheets often feel restrictive when you're tracking everything from learning accommodations to after-school program sign-ups. By transitioning to Airtable, I gained a customizable platform that quickly automated reminders, generated personalized messages to parents, and synced with other apps-saving our team countless hours on repetitive tasks each month. In one scenario, we built a parent communication pipeline that filtered requests for student conferences by grade level and automatically scheduled the meetings, which drastically cut down on the back-and-forth emails. We also set up a real-time project tracker for curriculum updates, allowing teachers to see precisely where their contributions fit into larger academic goals, and enabling leaders to spot needs right away. Warm regards, Hayley Spira-Bauer Chief Operating Officer & Chief Academic Officer at Fullmindlearning.com Progressive School Founder | Teach for America Alumni | Lifelong Educator Host of "Learning Can't Wait" Podcast Podcast: [https://podcast.learningcantwait.com/) Company: [https://fullmindlearning.com/) LinkedIn: [www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-spira-bauer/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-spira-bauer/)

Jayson Mehra · Answer

Google Classroom is one EdTech product that has revolutionized education. It has simplified administrative work, enhanced parent-student contact, and simplified class planning. 
The inconvenience of paper-based assignments is eliminated with Google Classroom, which allows me to assign work, exchange materials, and give comments all in one location. Collaboration and grading are made easy by the interaction with Google Docs, Slides, and Forms. 
For parents, the Guardian Email Summaries function is very helpful. Without my having to send everyone individual messages, they automatically receive updates on upcoming deadlines, missing assignments, and class announcements.
I've saved numerous hours, avoided misunderstandings, and made sure that parents and students remain involved thanks to this tool. I can devote more time to teaching and student support rather than hunting down unfinished assignments or responding to the same questions over and over again.

Vasilii Kiselev · Answer

One such EdTech tool that has surely helped us at Legacy Online School is Discord. Running an online school means a lot more than just emails; communication is the key to building a community-like atmosphere among students, teachers, and parents.
We had to fight against scattered communications across different platforms, which in turn caused responses to be returned late and made people disengage. Then came Discord, which was a complete game-changer. Discord has become the heartbeat of our school community. At any moment, students can jump in to ask questions, team up on projects, and have real conversations with their teachers without the delays of email. This also allows us to provide parents with their own space, where they can stay in the loop, get quick updates, and connect with others for support. It's not just a platform to chat; it's where our online school feels like a real, connected learning environment.
Since we started using Discord, we've seen a 35% increase in student engagement and a 42% reduction in response time for academic support. It's not just a messaging app; it's a virtual campus where learning, collaboration, and support happen in real-time.

Dylan Belcher · Answer

Pronto is a real-time messaging platform that integrates with your learning management system (LMS) and provides instant access to students and faculty.
Communication gaps are a major challenge in our program - students miss emails, struggle to engage in online academic discussion, and lack real-time support and a sense of community. After integrating Pronto into our program, students had instant access to both their instructor and their peers. This allowed fewer emails to be sent and more casual interaction among students, increasing the sense of community. One student, on the verge of dropping out, was able to quickly get help from her teacher and classmates, boosting her confidence and performance.
Our students love to engage with one another, and our program's performance has significantly improved. Administratively, Pronto eliminated email overload and streamlined class communication. Announcements can be automated and forwarded between classes while students can support one another even outside of class, which reduces inbox bloat. Pronto transformed communication from a barrier into a tool for student success.

Tornike Asatiani · Answer

As Edumentors expanded, it became difficult and ineffective to track students' progress across several tutors. At first, we used Google Docs, but data became dispersed, making it challenging to see a student's development over time. That changed when everything was moved to Notion. Parents could view progress reports quickly, tutors could update common databases, and we could examine learning patterns to improve our strategy. The most significant effect? Every week, we were able to save hours of administrative work while also providing parents and children with a more transparent educational experience.

Andreea Tucan · Answer

I lead Compass Education, the most widely used school management system in Australia, Ireland, and the UK. Schools run on structure, and without the right tools, administration becomes overwhelming. The system that eliminates that chaos? Compass. One platform connects attendance, communication, scheduling, and student management, keeping everything in one place.
Administrative bottlenecks slow down learning. Schools using Compass automate attendance tracking, manage reports instantly, and streamline communication with parents and staff. Instead of juggling multiple platforms, everything happens in a single system. A principal needing real-time student data pulls it up in seconds. A teacher updating lesson plans does it without switching apps. An administrator generating reports cuts manual workload in half. The entire school runs smoother when data flows seamlessly.
Efficiency is everything in education. Compass reduces paperwork, speeds up decision-making, and eliminates the frustration of outdated processes. A connected school is a stronger school, and a stronger school creates better learning outcomes.

Nikita Sherbina · Answer

Classtag has been a game-changer for improving communication with parents and students. Before, emails got lost, and coordinating updates was a nightmare. With automated reminders, two-way messaging, and real-time updates, engagement skyrocketed. Now, parents get instant notifications about assignments, events, and even last-minute schedule changes—no more endless back-and-forth. It also tracks who has seen what, so I know where follow-ups are needed. The biggest win? Administrative tasks like permission slips and meeting scheduling are now nearly effortless. This isn't just a tool—it's a time-saver that keeps everyone informed and connected without the chaos.

James Edge · Answer

One EdTech tool that has significantly streamlined administrative tasks and improved communication for us is the MemberPress coaching platform. This platform allows educators and administrators to create structured learning experiences, manage student enrollments, and automate key administrative functions like scheduling and progress tracking. 
With its built-in content restriction and drip features, educators can release materials at a set pace, ensuring students stay engaged without being overwhelmed. The appointment scheduling feature eliminates the back-and-forth of booking meetings, making it easy for students or parents to connect at available times. Additionally, the automated notifications and messaging system help keep students on track, reducing the need for manual follow-ups. 
By centralizing student interactions, course materials, and scheduling in one place, MemberPress Coaching has significantly reduced administrative workload, allowing more time to focus on student engagement and personalized learning support.

Claudia Mora · Answer

ClassDojo has been a fantastic tool for improving communication with students and parents while also simplifying classroom management. It allows me to share updates, photos, and student progress in real time, creating a direct line of communication that feels more interactive than traditional emails. Parents stay engaged in their child's learning, and students get instant feedback on their behavior and participation, which helps foster a positive classroom culture. 
What makes ClassDojo so efficient is its ability to replace multiple tools in one place. Instead of juggling emails, paper reports, and phone calls, I can quickly send messages, track student behavior, and even share class announcements in a way that's easy for everyone to access. It saves me time while keeping parents involved, which ultimately leads to better student accountability and engagement.

Alan Chen · Answer

Cloud-based technologies such as Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams have altered how teachers manage projects and connect with students. At DataNumen, we use real-time document collaboration to expedite workflows, and I've seen educators benefit from the same strategy. A university where I worked shifted all class planning, student feedback, and administrative tasks to the cloud, reducing email back and forth by 50 percent. The biggest advantage? Educators can share resources instantaneously, provide feedback in real time, and keep everything organized in one location, saving time on outdated practices.

Tom Hamilton Stubber · Answer

TutorCruncher itself is the tool that makes everything easier. Manual admin work slows businesses down. Automation fixes that.
TutorCruncher automatically generates and sends invoices, processes secure payments, and tracks payroll without spreadsheets. A tutoring company handling 500+ lessons per month saves dozens of hours just by automating billing. No chasing payments. No manual data entry. No wasted time fixing errors. Everything runs smoothly, giving teams more time to focus on growth.
Efficiency matters in online tutoring. TutorCruncher’s built-in video platform and integrations let businesses run lessons from anywhere, instantly generating meeting links for tutors and students. No juggling multiple apps or lost logins. A structured system keeps operations seamless, allowing tutoring businesses to scale without admin bottlenecks.

Hamzah Khadim · Answer

Google Classroom has been a game-changer for streamlining administrative tasks and improving communication with students and parents. It centralizes everything--assignments, announcements, feedback, and even grading--into one easy-to-use platform. Instead of dealing with scattered emails or paper submissions, I can post assignments, track student progress, and provide instant feedback all in one place. Parents can also stay in the loop with summaries of their child's work, reducing the need for constant back-and-forth communication.
This tool has made my work far more efficient by automating many tedious tasks. Grading with rubrics is faster, scheduling posts saves time, and integrated tools like Google Docs and Forms allow for seamless collaboration. It's also been a lifesaver for keeping everything organized--no more lost assignments or confusion about due dates. Overall, it creates a more structured, transparent, and interactive learning environment for everyone involved.

Joe Reale · Answer

A Learning Management System (LMS) implementation has produced major administrative upgrades while advancing internal organizational communication. The LMS system strengthens organizational efficiency by centralizing resources, automating grading processes, and delivering real-time updates. Automation of attendance tracking removes human errors while creating space for essential tasks.
The LMS platform unites team members under one system to improve their interactions. The instant messaging feature and the discussion forums function as unified communication tools, replacing separate communication channels to build a more collaborative student learning environment. The systems integration between these operational elements created better staff unity, enhancing project success.

Patric Edwards · Answer

One EdTech tool that has been a game changer for streamlining administrative tasks and improving communication is ClassDojo. It provides an all-in-one platform where I can quickly share updates, track student behavior, and communicate directly with parents. What makes it so efficient is the ability to send real-time messages and post announcements that reach parents instantly—eliminating the back-and-forth of emails or printed notes that sometimes get lost.
I've found that the transparency ClassDojo offers improves parent engagement; they appreciate being kept in the loop about their child's progress and classroom activities. On my end, having behavior tracking, communication tools, and announcements consolidated in one place saves me hours each week. Instead of juggling multiple platforms, I can focus more on teaching while ensuring families stay informed and involved.

Staci Anderson · Answer

Remind has been an incredibly effective tool for improving communication with students and parents while cutting down on administrative headaches. It allows for quick, direct messaging without the need to share personal contact information, making it easy to send reminders about assignments, schedule changes, or important announcements. Unlike emails, which often go unread, text-style notifications ensure that messages are seen and acted upon promptly.
This tool has significantly improved efficiency by reducing miscommunication and last-minute confusion. I no longer have to chase down students about deadlines or rely on outdated phone trees to reach parents. The ability to schedule messages in advance and see when they've been read adds another layer of organization. Overall, it keeps everyone informed, engaged, and on track with minimal effort.

Beau V. · Answer

One EdTech tool that has greatly improved our communication and streamlined administrative tasks is our integrated online tutoring platform. At BijlesHuis, we rely on this platform to manage scheduling, track progress, and facilitate communication between students, parents, and tutors. A feature that has made a real difference is the ability to generate session summaries after each lesson.
For instance, a parent of a high school student asked for a detailed update on their child's progress in math. Using the platform's session summary feature, the tutor could easily document what had been covered, what needed further attention, and the next steps for future lessons. This not only kept the parent informed but also allowed the tutor to stay organized and focused on the student's needs. The result? Fewer follow-up emails and a more streamlined communication process between all parties.
Actionable takeaway: When looking for an EdTech tool, prioritize one that combines scheduling, communication, and progress tracking in one platform. It saves time, keeps all stakeholders in the loop, and helps tutors maintain a structured approach to their lessons.
By adopting this platform, we've improved the overall experience for both tutors and parents, creating a more transparent and organized learning environment.

Tansha Casarez · Answer

One under-the-radar EdTech tool that has transformed administrative efficiency and communication is custom AI-driven voice assistants built using platforms like Resemble AI or Voiceflow. Instead of relying solely on emails or messaging apps, educators can deploy personalized voice responses for frequently asked questions from students and parents.
How It Works        * Teachers or administrators train the AI assistant with voice responses for common inquiries--homework guidelines, deadlines, school policies, or event reminders.        * Parents and students can call or interact with the assistant through a web or phone interface, getting instant answers instead of waiting for a response via email.        * The AI can also send personalized voice updates to parents about student progress, attendance, or upcoming meetings, making communication feel more engaging and personal.
Why It's a Game-Changer        1. Eliminates Repetitive Emails - Instead of answering the same questions over and over, the AI handles them, freeing up time for more meaningful engagement.        2. Increases Accessibility - Parents who prefer voice communication over text or struggle with language barriers can get clear, spoken updates.        3. Adds a Human Touch to Automation - Unlike text-based bots, voice assistants make communication feel more personal, reducing misinterpretations.        4. 24/7 Availability - Parents and students can access important school info outside of office hours.
Impact
Since implementing this tool, response times have dropped significantly, and educators spend less time buried in repetitive administrative tasks. Instead of scrambling to answer last-minute parent emails, teachers can focus on actual instruction and student support.

Kevin Baragona · Answer

TalkingPoints translates messages between teachers and parents in over 100 languages, making it an essential tool for diverse school communities. It bridges communication gaps by using AI to ensure cultural nuance, helping educators connect meaningfully with non-English-speaking families.
In my expert opinion, TalkingPoints has significantly improved my communication with parents who speak limited English. I have seen an increase in parent involvement and engagement in their child's education by being able to communicate in their native language. During my recent project with client schools, we have noticed a significant decrease in language barriers and an increase in parent-teacher communication thanks to this powerful tool.
It has streamlined administrative tasks such as sending out reminders for assignments or important school events. This has saved the valuable time of my client who can now dedicate to lesson planning and student support. TalkingPoints has helped create a more efficient and inclusive classroom environment for both students and parents.

Khurram Mir · Answer

Google Classroom is one EdTech product that has greatly reduced administrative work and enhanced parent and student contact. This platform effortlessly integrates with other Google Workspace tools to streamline assignment administration, grading, and real-time feedback. By cutting down on paperwork, centralizing communication, and enabling teachers to give immediate updates, it improves efficiency and keeps parents and kids informed. For example, automated deadline reminders help everyone stay on course and eliminate the need for frequent follow-ups.

Manasvini Krishna · Answer

While it's not strictly an EdTech tool, Notion has been a lifesaver! Not only is the site easy enough to use that anyone can get the hang of it, but it also allows for customization. I can build a special dashboard for my students with all the internal tools they need: course information, study guides, etc., that they can refer to and update with comments and questions. It also helps assign group projects, and lets me keep an eye on the progress of every student in real time.

Mateusz Mazurek · Answer

Administrative responsibilities and student-parent engagement have tremendously improved through the use of Google Classroom. The tool automates and centralizes basic communications such as assignment distribution, announcements, and feedback, which reduces the need for emails or even paper-based communication. Additionally, it enables teachers to post materials and schedule assignments while offering instant feedback, which allows students to always have access to what they need, even beyond classroom hours.
The summary guardian feature keeps parents in the loop about their child's GPA without having to send numerous emails. This feature integrates seamlessly with other Google tools such as Docs and Drive, which makes grading and collaboration more efficient. In a nutshell, Google Classroom minimizes time wastage alongside miscommunication, and keeps students, teachers, and parents aligned at all times.

21 Tools to Streamline Administrative Tasks and Communication

21 Tools to Streamline Administrative Tasks and Communication

Airtable Automates and Syncs School Tasks

Google Classroom Simplifies Class Planning

Discord Enhances School Community Communication

Pronto Integrates Messaging for Real-Time Support

Notion Centralizes Student Progress Tracking

Compass Connects School Management Tasks

Classtag Improves Parent-Teacher Communication

MemberPress Coaching Centralizes Administrative Functions

ClassDojo Simplifies Classroom Management

Google Workspace Expedites Project Management

TutorCruncher Automates Admin Work

Google Classroom Centralizes Class Management

LMS Centralizes Resources and Communication

ClassDojo Enhances Parent Engagement

Remind Streamlines Communication with Parents

Integrated Platform Manages Tutoring Tasks

AI Voice Assistants Handle Common Inquiries

TalkingPoints Bridges Language Gaps

Google Classroom Reduces Administrative Work

Notion Customizes Student Dashboards

Google Classroom Automates Basic Communications