Student Information Systems (SIS) in Development – May 24, 2021

1. Admin: An administrator role provides the highest level of access including the admission process, student data, calendars, student classroom assignments, and all the general setups (admission steps, classroom levels and names, teachers profiles and classroom assignments, directories, etc. Later on, only admin will have access to fundraising information. In future versions, there will be different access granted to different roles within administration.
2. Teachers: A teacher role provides access to classroom related features. This access includes attendance recording and summary, classroom photos upload, calendar, student profile and in a future product version, lessons planning, lessons recording and progress reports.
3. Parents: A parent role provides access to the admission process status while the child is in the admission process. Once the child is enrolled, parents have access to classroom photos (strictly limited to their child’s classroom), calendars, and in a future product version, progress reports and their child’s progress. Schools have the ability to select what they want the parents to see and edit.

EDNA – We have three main portals.  Admin., Teacher, and Parent.  Each portal has a different view that they will have access to.  The Admin. Portal will allow administrators to customize and grant access to people as they see fit.  Parents will only be able to see views of their own children and not the entire class.

W – Whally is unique in providing all features in a beautiful, single app that works on any device. That means everyone – admins, staff, parents, bookkeepers, IT – can use the same app at whally.com/app. 

What safeguards are there to protect participants’ information? (a link to your privacy page/information would be helpful here)

CES – Our system is developed with data security in mind. We use the most advanced technologies and design protocols to be compliant with California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). We have integrated security features such as email verification to insure the highest level of data security. Click HERE for our privacy page information.

EDNA – We are putting in multi-factor authentication system which will use face and finger print recognition.  Each user will have their own log in requirements that is easy to use and safe.  For our payment portals, we will integrating software that has great reputation for maintaining security for all users.  We will never sell or share any data to anyone outside of your school.  Each school will have their own unique merchant ID which will provide more security.

W – Whally has extensive of security features built in, including fancy permissions and audit histories. Privacy is also a top-most concern, and we think you’ll find Whally without peer in this respect. Learn more about our security and privacy policy.

Why should a school take the risk to transfer to your system?

CES – We are developing a system that is user centered and that focuses on simplicity and ease-of-use. Also, having a single, central datasource will alleviate waisted time spent on maintaining several systems with no added value. Simplicity and integration will free up valuable time that can be spent with school constituencies (Parents, teachers, value added administrative tasks…). Being part of this effort will reward schools with a system that will meet their needs. Because we have time to dedicate to you, support you in the transition and whenever you need help. Because we know Montessori and understand your language, your needs, and operations. And finally, because it is exciting to be part of helping build something new and see it come to fruition.

W – Any new system is a risk, and we are humbled that schools give us a chance to make their world better. Put simply, we created Whally because we didn’t think the existing solutions were doing enough to serve educators.

That said, we also like doing things in a non-risky way . For that reason, our approach is to introduce Whally side-by-side with existing systems and carefully plan the transition to avoid hiccups wherever possible. You won’t be on your own.

How can you speak to your longevity?

CES –

• As a start-up company, we have gone through an incubator program that gave us tools, methodology, and training to develop a software program. They continue to provide us support through their mentoring program. We have also received a grant and support from NC IDEA, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting start-ups. Through thee 2 programs we have made valuable connections with experienced entrepreneurs and investors that support young companies like ours.
• Through these 2 organizations, we have already made contact with local angel investors that are following our development and who will be ready to support us financially once we show that we have a handful of paying customers. We have taken a rigorous approach to our business development because we have some incredible mentors (business people in different fields like software development, finance, sales, etc.) that are guiding us in this process.
• 2 of our partners have professional business experience that they bring to our operations and business development.

EDNA – I am the founder and owner of Montessori ONE Academy.  I have been the Director since I started the school from grounds up in 2007.  I have designed and built all of our buildings from grounds up. We started with our toddler and primary program in 2007.  In 2015, we expanded our school to include Elementary program and in 2019, we opened our NIDO program.  I have spent 30 years of my career in education, 15 of them in Montessori.  In 2021, I opened AMARAN, an intergenerational assisted living and memory care.  The entire facility has been designed and built with Montessori concepts and are actively using the pedagogy with Elders who have Dementia and Alzheimer.  I am a firm believer in providing the best education to all children.  EDNA is a product of my personal experience running a very successful school in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 15 years.  I am not going anywhere!  This is my passion and I want to help other schools provide best education for their children as well.

Integrations – How does your system integrate with other platforms the school might be using – including Quickbooks? Authorize.net? Mailchimp? Calendly? etc?

CES – We are working on making these API (Application Programming Interface: integration).

EDNA – We will have integration with QuickBooks, Google calendar, Boom Commerce (for ACH transactions, invoicing, tuition payments, and bill payments).  We will also integrate Swoop, which is an online fundraising software.  We are also prepared to integrate other systems that will provide services that EDNA currently does not.  EDNA is a very comprehensive program.  Users will be able to do everything in one easy to use location, including but not limited to: communication, event scheduling, registration and admission, tuition billing and payment receipts, professional development, new staff on-boarding and off-boarding, lesson planning, record keeping, progress report and analysis, alumni tracking, drop off and pick up sign in and out, attendance, snack sign ups, birthday reminders, and fund raising.

W – Whally loves integrations. It is, to our knowledge, the first software in the industry to be designed with full transparency and integration-friendliness. Whally has a complete API that can be used to integrate with practically any other system that plays nice with others.

How can interested parties get a demo or get more information on your system?

CES – choose one of the following options

• Here is a Calendly link to my schedule: https://calendly.com/dominique-ces/product-demo
• Email me: Dominique@clevereducationsolutions.com  
• Fill out a form on our website: https://clevereducationsolutions.com/schedule-demo/
• Call me, Dominique, at 919-605-3839.  

EDNA – Please visit our website at www.myedna.net to fill out a contact form.  I would love to speak with interested parties personally either via phone (505.720.6817) or email: director@montessorione.net.