98% Employee Retention Rate Drives Growth for Local Edtech Company

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (June 13, 2023) – Company culture matters now more than ever before. Research shows that 86% of job seekers rank company culture as an important factor, and once those employees are hired, a positive work environment boosts employee engagement, making them 87% less likely to leave. Skyward, a school administration software provider committed to helping K-12 leaders spend less time on tasks and more time with students, is dedicated to deliberate culture building, which has helped them to attract and retain talent.

Compared to the national average of 70-80% across industries, Skyward’s retention rate of 98% reflects their commitment to a strong company culture. As a family-owned business, Skyward has grown tremendously since its start in 1980. Despite surpassing 650 employees, Skyward has maintained a family-like atmosphere. Employees enjoy a competitive hiring package with built-in room for healthy work/life balance and family-friendly events year round. Through various sponsorships and partnerships, Skyward and its employees also focus on growing the central Wisconsin surrounding communities.

Since its humble beginnings, Skyward has maintained close relationships with UW-Stevens Point and Mid-State Technical College. Combined, over 50% of Skyward’s employees are UW-Stevens Point or Mid-State alums, many whom start off as interns. This June, 21 interns are jump-starting their careers with Skyward, and 14 former interns are beginning full-time employment, half of whom are UW-Stevens Point graduates.

“Our employees contribute tremendously to our culture here at Skyward, and it is exciting to watch that culture develop alongside our team,” said Ray Ackerlund, president of Skyward. “Once we get great employees in the door, we are proud that we are able to watch their careers flourish within our organization.”

Since June 2022, Skyward has seen 11 employees return to Skyward after seeking employment elsewhere. Skyward embraces these employees, who have joined the customer success, sales, and programming departments.

“I first worked at Skyward from 2013-2015 as the lone UX designer in the company,” said Michael Bridgeforth, who returned to Skyward as a UX manager in January 2023. “One of the most phenomenal things I found while working at Skyward was being able to make friends quickly — laughing a lot, getting to know people, and enjoying the awesome culture. When the chance came up to return as a UX team manager, I jumped at the opportunity. Now in 2023, I’m grateful and excited for my future here at Skyward.”

As Skyward continues to grow, the company will prioritize creating a well-built team, starting with strong community roots and an employee-centered experience.

About Skyward

Since 1980, Skyward’s SIS and ERP solutions have helped more than 2,500 school districts save time, connect with families, and empower success. By blending advanced technology guided by actual users with world-class support delivered with a personal touch, Skyward is the clear choice for K-12 leaders who want to spend less time on tasks and more time with students. To learn more about the next generation of K-12 administration software, visit www.skyward.com.