How Kami’s Libby Deleon pivoted from public education to edtech

Libby Deleon was an educator for 29 years before she pivoted to edtech.

“On a daily basis, I had 1,200 students and 125 teachers under my care; I thought surely I could translate that into managing various accounts in edtech,” Libby says, laughing. As the people and culture coordinator at digital learning platform Kami, Libby leverages the same key skills that helped her thrive as a teacher: relationship development, strong communication, and a desire to make learning more engaging.

We sat down with Libby to hear about her transition out of public education and how she leveraged her transferable skills to thrive in the edtech space. Here’s what she had to say.

Getting her start in public education

At 14 years old, Libby landed her first job at a library in her East Texas hometown.

“The librarians took an interest in a small-town girl and encouraged me to go to college,” Libby says. She enrolled at Austin College and quickly realized that education was a natural fit for both her interests and skill set.

“It was after my first semester in calculus two,” she says with a laugh. “I decided that I needed a career involving people.”

Over nearly three decades, Libby grew from a middle school history teacher to a director of special populations. A recurring theme throughout her time in public education was her commitment to providing opportunities for all students — and technology became a major player in that mission.

“I was always learning new ways to use technology to engage students and provide access,” Libby says.

Leaving behind the familiar in pursuit of opportunity

While Libby was familiar with the power of technology, it wasn’t until her son graduated high school that she considered shifting her focus to edtech.

“Being a single parent, I was constantly choosing between work and supporting my own child. Last June, he graduated from high school and went to college to play baseball. I wanted to be able to watch him play,” Libby shares.

Kami was already on her radar as she’d used the tool in her own classrooms. When the company announced they were hiring, Libby embraced the opportunity to try something new.

“I didn’t have edtech engineering skills, but I knew a lot about education, kids, teachers, and implementing processes. I had to consider how that transfers into this new industry,” she says.

During the interview process, Libby was honest about her skills. “No, I had never managed sales accounts, but I had managed 400 seventh graders on a field trip or 350 sixth graders at lunch or 100 parents after a PTA meeting. I connected my skills and experience to the job tasks posted in the hiring application,” she explains.

By relating her past experience to the new responsibilities, Libby landed the role — and she hasn’t looked back.

Overcoming the learning curve

“Stepping into edtech was a natural transition. I’m still connected to public education, I’m still connected to teachers, and I’m still learning,” Libby says.

But even though the transition was a logical one for Libby, it wasn’t without its challenges. “As much as you’d like to tell yourself that the transition is just ‘change’ and you’re okay with the change, your 29 years of experience yearns to connect with something familiar.”

To lighten the nostalgia, she focused on getting up to speed in her new role: she took notes, attended extra meetings, and shadowed her coworkers to understand various aspects of the company. It also helped that Libby is open-minded about new experiences, smart, and adaptable — as this isn't as easy as it sounds. It does take some work and commitment to learn the new system and its demands.

The more she understood about her new job, the more comfortable she felt. “Always look forward,” she advises, adding that she still occasionally has to remind herself that she’s on a new journey. “I’m still the same person but with a new opportunity.”

Drawing from her past to succeed at Kami

As people and culture coordinator, Libby draws from the skill set she developed in public education to support the Kami team.

“Thinking about all the many hats I wore in public education, using these skills in my current role starts with building relationships,” she says.

While working for a middle school, Libby recalls consistently listening and asking how she could help students who lacked fully-developed problem-solving skills. A similar strategy applies in a corporate setting.

“Asking how I can help goes a long way in understanding the needs of the employees and how my involvement can help meet their needs,” she explains.

Libby also draws from her experience prioritizing mental health to promote employee well-being at Kami. “As a student, if you weren’t safe, you weren’t able to learn. This translates 100% to the workplace,” she says. “I want the staff to feel safe.”

The final skill in her toolbox? Building diverse teams.

In public education, Libby concentrated on hiring diverse staff to reflect the student population and boost collaboration.

“Kami has the same vision of providing access to all and building a diverse and inclusive community,” she says. “This role allows me to focus on building diversity initiatives, encouraging inclusive hiring practices, and offering training on inclusive environments for all employees.”

5 steps to follow when pivoting industries

“If you’re willing to learn and leverage your soft skills, people are looking to hire you,” Libby says. “I don’t want people to be discouraged because there are a lot of jobs out there.”

If you’re considering a career pivot, Libby encourages you to follow these five steps:

1. Assess your skills. “What transfers to a new role? Believe it or not, if you have ever worked anywhere for more than six hours, six weeks, six months, or six years, you have some skills that will transfer,” she says.
2. Familiarize yourself with the new industry. “Read, read, and read,” Libby says. “You might need to learn some new stuff. Are there special qualifications or training you might need? Start learning by attending workshops, watching Ted Talks, and learning about the industry you want to join.”
3. Tap into your network. Libby encourages you to reach out to friends, family, previous employers, college friends, and other connections. She says, “Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a new opportunity to repurpose your skills and learn something new. It is surprising what doors can open when you ask.”
4. Be persistent. When Libby applied for her first role at Kami, she was told that another position would open soon that was a better fit for her skill set. Libby patiently waited (while also completing Kami’s online-teacher certification, reading their blogs, and familiarizing herself with the ins and outs of their platform), and when the role opened, she received a call. “Don’t give up hope,” she says. “This was the job I wanted and I’m now honored to have it.”
5. Be willing to start at the bottom. When you switch industries, your first role might involve entry-level tasks. “Be open to doing the grunt work, carrying someone’s briefcase, and volunteering to help,” Libby says.

Even more, Libby points out that pivoting roles extends farther than leveraging transferable skills; it challenges you to assess what’s really important to you in a career. For Libby, this meant not giving up on supporting teachers or education.

“Other job sites will tell you to prep your resume, update your online profile, and highlight your projects, but at the end of the day, you have to trust your gut, believe in yourself, and be willing to try something new,” Libby says.

And as we wrap up, Libby smiles and shares one last piece of advice for her fellow educators: “Don’t worry teachers, a little secret: There is time for lunch in edtech.”