When nearly a third of students stopped showing up to school during the pandemic, it became clear: chronic absenteeism is not just a data point—it’s a crisis. Evan Wilson, co-founder of Scaffold Ed, is working to get to the heart of what’s keeping kids out of school. His AI-powered tool helps schools move beyond attendance charts to uncover the real stories behind student absences. By turning qualitative family feedback into tangible insights, Scaffold Ed helps educators identify and address barriers—things like delayed work permits or MetroCard access—that often go unnoticed but make a real difference in whether a student shows up.
Evan’s personal journey through the education system was shaped by early medical challenges. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with cataracts and spent much of his early life navigating school while legally blind. These experiences—often being overlooked, misjudged, and under-supported—fueled his passion for rethinking how schools engage with students and families. For Evan, data shouldn’t just explain what went wrong—it should help shape what comes next.
In this episode, Evan pitches his vision to Jin-Soo Huh, a former classroom teacher and partner at The Learning Accelerator. Together, they explore how Scaffold Ed can evolve from a powerful analysis tool into a true catalyst for change—leveraging AI not just for efficiency, but for equity. They dig into how to build trust with families, the importance of anonymity, and how schools can use real-time feedback to deliver more targeted, responsive support.
Episode Highlights:
02:04 Evan's Educational Journey
04:58 Entrepreneurial Beginnings
07:04 Understanding Chronic Absenteeism
11:06 Scaffold Ed: A Solution to Absenteeism
14:19 The Role of Data in Education
18:02 Pitching to Jin-Soo Huh
27:16 Key Takeaways
Links & Resources:
About the Host, Nicole Jarbo:
Nicole Jarbo is the host of Pitch Playground and the CEO of 4.0. An entrepreneur and 4.0 alumni herself, Nicole took a side hustle from $0 to $500k per year and founded a fintech startup that empowered Gen Z with their finances. She's passionate about sharing the inspiring stories of the 4.0 community and believes in work that makes the world more livable, creative, sustainable, and fun.
About 4.0:
4.0 is a hub for education innovators and social entrepreneurs reimagining the future of learning. Through mentorship, funding, and community support, we empower bold thinkers to turn their dreams into reality. To date, 4.0 has helped spark and invest in over 1,800 ideas, and our alumni have impacted over 10M students and families. We envision a future where our education system meets the needs of every family and improves life outcomes for all.
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