Curriculum

Elementary

Social Studies

Middle School

Social Studies

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Looking to deepen your understanding of what high-quality, inquiry-based social studies looks like in practice? Join inquirED this fall for Exploring Inquiry Journeys, a webinar series designed to support school and district leaders. Each session offers practical insights into our K–5 social studies curriculum and the strategies schools are using to engage students, support teachers, and build consistency across classrooms.

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Downloadable guides, frameworks, and tools designed to help district leaders take action on social studies curriculum and instruction.

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Fresh ideas, research, and reflections to help district leaders stay sharp and responsive in an evolving social studies landscape.

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Real-time conversations and on-demand learning with experts and district leaders tackling challenges in social studies education.

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Inquiry in Social Studies Guide

Use this clear to guide to bring inquiry to life in social studies classrooms through questions, investigation, and collaborative learning.

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two inquired employees talking

Hi! We’re inquirED.

inquirED works to support every teacher with high-quality instructional materials that make inquiry-based learning possible for every student.

Our mission is

inquiry for every student

Teachers and instructional leaders want classrooms that are rigorous and joyful. They want learning that leads to standards mastery and transfers to the real world. But most instructional materials don’t meet this complex challenge. Instead, educators are forced to choose: rigorous or joyful, academic or applicable. inquirED’s instructional materials support educators in navigating that complexity. Together, we make joyful, rigorous, and transferable learning possible for every student.

Like all good stories in education, inquirED’s started in a classroom

Shanti Elangovan founded inquirED with a clear vision: to bring inquiry-based learning to every classroom.

As a former teacher and curriculum leader, she saw firsthand how traditional instruction often left students disengaged, and how inquiry sparked curiosity, deepened knowledge-building, and transformed learning.

But she also knew that teachers needed more than inspiration. They needed well-designed materials that made inquiry doable, not daunting. That’s why she launched inquirED: to support teachers, schools, and districts with high-quality materials that make joyful, rigorous, and transferable learning possible for every student.

Today, that vision lives on in classrooms across the country, where inquirED’s materials spark curiosity, build deep knowledge, and connect learning to the real world. For Shanti—and for inquirED—inquiry isn’t the end goal. It’s the starting point for deeper understanding and lifelong learning.

picture of shanti, inquired ceo

How we work

01

We are fiercely passionate.

We believe in the power of our work, are infinitely optimistic about its potential, and humbled by the weight of our goals. We keep students, teachers, and their communities at the center of everything.

02

We take responsibility.

We do work we are proud of, act with agency, and take responsibility for all aspects of the work. We hustle, struggle, and then hustle some more. We own our mistakes, ask for and offer support, and solve problems.

03

We check our egos.

We collaborate with trust, humility and empathy, listen intently, and laugh as much as possible. We believe in the immense abilities of each individual, debate vigorously, and make it about the work.

04

We are unfinished.

We take risks, embrace imperfection, and challenge assumptions. We give, receive, and seek courageously honest feedback and stay nimble enough to act – even when it means starting over.

Interested in a career at inquirED?

Job opportunities

Meet our team

We are on a mission to engage students and support teachers by making inquiry-based learning possible in every classroom.

Shanti

Elangovan

CEO and Founder 

Shanti

Elangovan

CEO and Founder 

Shanti Elangovan is the founder and CEO of inquirED. She founded inquirED to help ensure all students, regardless of geography or circumstance, have the opportunity to engage in high-quality inquiry-based learning. As a former elementary school classroom teacher and instructional coach, Shanti believes deeply in high-quality instructional materials that provide both the professional learning and support teachers need to bring inquiry to life in their classrooms. Shanti holds an M.Ed. from Teachers College and an MBA from the University of Iowa.

What’s your inquiry?

How can every child access the same kind of education that I’d want for my children?

Elisabeth Ventling

Simon

Chief Academic Officer and Co-Founder

Elisabeth Ventling

Simon

Chief Academic Officer and Co-Founder

Elisabeth is an ardent educator committed to advancing equity in education, driven by her belief in the transformative potential of high-quality instructional materials, student-centered content, and teacher empathy. With a career spanning over 16 years in public education, she witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact of rigorous, inquiry-based learning on student engagement and achievement. Elisabeth's vision is one where every student, regardless of their background, enjoys equal access to the resources and opportunities necessary for success in both school and civic life. This vision propels her work as Chief Academic Officer at inquirED, where she has been a member of the team since the fall of 2017.

What’s your inquiry?

How can education prepare students to impact their world for the better?

founding team

Sarah Milo

Hoskow

Head of Partner Experience

Sarah Milo

Hoskow

Head of Partner Experience

Sarah has a diverse range of teaching experience, from the very traditional to the very progressive, and believes that inquiry-based learning can be powerful for all students, no matter the school. She’s been a lead teacher in early childhood and upper elementary classrooms, teaching in Washington State, California, Illinois, and Santiago, Chile. More recently, Sarah has focused on mentoring pre-service teachers both in her own classroom as well as through work with Northwestern University. She joined inquirED’s team in the fall of 2017.

What’s your inquiry?

How can family who lives far away feel close?

founding team

Tim

Israel

Revenue Operations Lead, Sales Operations

Tim

Israel

Revenue Operations Lead, Sales Operations

Hailing from Philadelphia, Tim has spent his entire professional career within the education space, first in consulting, then as a teacher, and most recently the tech and curriculum world. When he is not working, Tim can be found hiking, finding the best food in town, or seeing live music. Tim joined inquirED in the Summer of 2024.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we reshape and refocus our resources in education to help students learn more about communication and the importance of it as they grow?

founding team

Nick

Jeffress

Director of Revenue Operations

Nick

Jeffress

Director of Revenue Operations

With over a decade of experience in strategy and operations, Nick joined inquirED in April 2023 as our Director of Revenue Operations. In this role, he helps manage and develop operational processes and efficiencies for our Partner Facing teams, and acts as a business partner to other team leads, consulting with them as they think through operational and strategic questions. Nick lives just outside of Washington, DC in Fairfax, VA with his wife, two daughters, and adopted former-street dog.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we build things that are technically complex and logically simple?

founding team

Amanda Whitworth

Johnson

Product Manager

Amanda Whitworth

Johnson

Product Manager

Amanda joined inquirED in January 2023, bringing along 10 years of experience supporting teachers and students as an elementary school educator, teacher leader, and school district solutions specialist in educational technology at Clever. Her passion for cultivating curiosity, celebrating differences, and creating community has been at the heart of her career in education. Amanda holds a B.S. in Education and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. She is excited to empower teachers as they implement inquiry-based instruction in their classrooms.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we support students in taking informed action within their communities?

founding team

Jessica

Kaiser

Customer Support Specialist

Jessica

Kaiser

Customer Support Specialist

Jessica’s career is dedicated to enhancing educational experiences. Based in Dayton, Ohio, she creates high-quality instructional materials that foster teacher growth and engage students in meaningful learning. A lifelong learner, she holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Antioch University and has focused her professional development on writing instruction and supporting inclusive, equitable classrooms. At inquirED, she supports educators in implementing Inquiry Journeys, promoting impactful, student-centered learning solutions.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we design instructional experiences that foster student agency while supporting teachers in implementing meaningful, student-centered learning?

founding team

Megan

Lee

Product Marketing Lead

Megan

Lee

Product Marketing Lead

Meagan’s time as an elementary school teacher was fueled by her passion to cultivate communities where real learning could happen. She then went on to coach pre-service and in-service teachers in higher education and school settings, while also supporting curriculum development for various educational organizations. As a granddaughter of Chinese immigrants and Toisan paper sons, Meagan navigates the world of education with their legacy of sacrifice, resilience, and resistance as her guide. Meagan earned a Bachelor’s in Applied Learning and Development (EC-6) and a Master’s in Teacher Leadership, Mentorship, and Professional Development from the University of Texas at Austin. She joined the inquirED team in 2022.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we humanize educational experiences so that all voices and stories flourish?

founding team

Jason

Long

Enterprise Partnerships Executive

Jason

Long

Enterprise Partnerships Executive

Jason joins the inquirED team with over 12 years of experience building strategic partnerships in the education space. Jason is excited to share the impact of inquirED's authentic, student-centered approach to instruction. He hopes to help grow inquirED's partnerships with districts across the US.

What’s your inquiry?

How do we motivate students in the classroom to promote lifelong learning and continuous personal growth?

founding team

Emerie

Lukas

Chief Product Officer

Emerie

Lukas

Chief Product Officer

Emerie’s commitment to education is deeply rooted in the belief that a student’s early learning experiences shape their growth mindset and intellectual disposition for life. After completing her Masters in Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, she designed and implemented curricula focusing on student-led critique practices, presentation skills, conflict resolution, and other domain-agnostic skills that support young people in navigating their worlds within and beyond the classroom. She joined inquirED in early 2018, and is passionate about equipping teachers with tools that both support and liberate their tremendous power.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we cultivate both the science and art of teaching through a cohesive product experience?

founding team

Crisha Shahzad

Lum

Customer Service Manager

Crisha Shahzad

Lum

Customer Service Manager

Crisha currently works and resides in sunny San Diego, California. Originally from the Bronx, New York, she spent over a decade teaching middle school science in the Bronx and Manhattan with the NYC Department of Education before transitioning into the EdTech space. Crisha's educational work is deeply rooted in empowering students to take control of their own learning, and she is passionate about advancing educational equity. She holds a Bachelor's in Sociology from Fordham University and a Master's in General Science Education from CUNY's City College. Crisha joined the inquirED team in August 2024.

What’s your inquiry?

How can we empower students to become independent thinkers and changemakers while reducing the workload of their educators?

1

Take a closer look at Inquiry Journeys

Inquiry Journeys (K–5 social studies curriculum) provides inquiry-based instruction for young learners through hands-on investigations and primary source analysis. Explore how elementary students build knowledge and skills by asking questions, analyzing evidence, and connecting learning to their lives and communities.

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