Amid Rising Teacher Shortages, PD Spending, and Funding Delays, TORSH Delivers a Smarter, More Scalable Coaching Solution

Named Professional Development Solution of the Year by the EdTech Breakthrough Awards, TORSH helps school systems improve retention, reduce costs, and deliver coaching that works—especially for new and early-career teachers.

Across the country, schools and early intervention programs are pouring time and money into teacher recruitment and professional development—but too often, the investment doesn’t translate into long-term success. From high turnover rates to ineffective training programs, the economics of education are under pressure, and with recent federal funding delays creating new challenges for district budgets, education leaders are looking for smarter, more resilient solutions to support and retain the educators who matter most.

That’s where TORSH is making a difference.

TORSH, an education technology company based in New Orleans, is helping school systems nationwide deliver measurable, high-quality coaching at scale through its flagship platform, TORSH Talent. The platform provides everything districts need to develop new teachers, accelerate growth, and track performance across schools—all while improving ROI and reducing the cost of turnover.

The Expensive Reality of Teacher Turnover and Underperforming PD

According to the Learning Policy Institute, losing just one teacher can cost a district up to $20,000, factoring in recruitment, onboarding, training, and lost instructional momentum. Meanwhile, U.S. districts are spending an average of $18,000 per teacher annually on professional development—yet only 29% of educators say the training they receive is meaningfully improving their practice.

“Districts aren’t just facing a funding challenge- they’re facing an effectiveness problem,” said Courtney Williams, CEO and Founder of TORSH. “We built TORSH to make coaching and learning actually drive change. It’s structured, flexible, measurable—and most importantly, it works.”

A Crisis of Support for New Teachers

The situation is particularly urgent for new and early-career educators, who often receive the least individualized coaching despite being at the highest risk of burnout and attrition. In many districts, over 40% of teachers leave within five years—creating a revolving door that drains resources and destabilizes learning environments.

TORSH addresses this head-on by ensuring every teacher—especially new hires—gets access to:

• Structured, role-based coaching from day one
• Ongoing, video-based feedback and observations
• Goal-setting tools, competency-based assessments, and growth tracking
• A digital “Coaching Corner” to centralize progress and interactions
• Support for in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual coaching models

“TORSH allows us to provide new teachers with the consistent support they need without burning out our coaches or breaking the budget,” said a district instructional lead in a recent implementation. “It’s flexible, scalable, and transformative.”

Coaching That’s Measurable, Affordable, and Scalable

Unlike static PD platforms that focus on compliance or course completion, TORSH Talent supports the full coaching cycle, with powerful features that connect coaching to real outcomes. Districts using TORSH report:

• Up to 3x more coaching touchpoints per educator via hybrid and asynchronous tools
• Reduced travel and personnel costs for in-person observations
• Consolidation of PD tools into one platform, improving system efficiency
• Greater visibility into teacher growth and coaching program success
• “It’s not just about checking boxes,” Williams added. “We help educators grow—and we prove it.”
  

  Recognition from the Industry

  In recognition of its impact, TORSH was recently named the 2025 “Professional Development Solution of the Year” by the EdTech Breakthrough Awards, an international program that recognizes innovation, excellence, and measurable results in education technology.
  “TORSH is redefining what coaching and professional learning should look like,” said Steve Johansson, Managing Director of EdTech Breakthrough. “Their platform delivers meaningful results—at a time when our schools need it most.”

  Why TORSH Works When Traditional PD Fails

  Many professional development programs rely on one-off workshops or generic online courses that aren’t grounded in teacher needs or classroom realities. TORSH Talent is different: it embeds coaching in the day-to-day work of teaching and enables administrators to track educator progress at the school, district, or network level. It also aligns coaching workflows to organizational goals and rubrics, using AI to assist- not replace- human-led feedback.

  TORSH’s flexibility makes it ideal for districts facing staffing shortages or looking to expand support without hiring additional coaches. Coaches can provide feedback asynchronously, observe practice through uploaded videos, and collaborate with educators in real time or on their own schedules. And in districts impacted by federal funding holdbacks, TORSH ensures equity by enabling consistent, high-quality support regardless of geography or budget status.

  Better Teaching, Better Learning, and a Better Return on Investment

  At a time when budgets are tight and the stakes for educator success have never been higher, TORSH provides a clear return on investment that goes far beyond the bottom line. Districts using TORSH report fewer teachers leaving the profession, stronger instructional quality, and more strategic use of their professional development budgets. By embedding a culture of coaching and continuous improvement, TORSH helps schools maximize every dollar while driving meaningful growth in both educators and students.

  “The real ROI isn’t just financial—it’s in the growth of teachers and the outcomes for students,” said Williams. “This award confirms what our partners already know: TORSH delivers results.”

  About TORSH

  TORSH, Inc. is a New Orleans-based education technology company focused on improving childhood outcomes by increasing educator effectiveness. Its platform, TORSH Talent, enables structured feedback, collaboration, and data-informed coaching at scale.
  Learn more: www.torsh.co

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