James Caras

James Caras is the CEO of Catalyst Education, a position he has held since January 2018. He is based in Austin, Texas, and is recognized as an educational technologies entrepreneur with extensive experience in executive leadership roles within the education sector.

Professional Background

• Education and Teaching: Caras taught biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, where he developed a strong foundation in STEM education.
• Entrepreneurship: He founded Sapling Learning, a prominent online learning platform that focuses on STEM subjects. Under his leadership, Sapling Learning became a significant player in the educational technology market, eventually being acquired by Macmillan New Ventures in 2012.
• Leadership Roles: Prior to his current role, Caras served as the Chief Product Officer for STEM at Macmillan Learning and has been involved with various educational initiatives and organizations, including Querium Corporation and Packback, where he holds board member positions.

Contributions to Education

Caras is passionate about improving educational outcomes through innovative technology. At Catalyst Education, he leads the development of products like Labflow, which aims to enhance laboratory teaching by providing insights and saving time for educators. His work emphasizes the importance of making education more accessible and effective for students.

Notable Achievements

• Successfully managed the growth of Sapling Learning, achieving significant revenue milestones and establishing it as a thought leader in the EdTech space.
• Recognized for his contributions to science education through various speaking engagements at industry conferences.

James Caras continues to influence the field of education through his leadership at Catalyst Education, focusing on creating tools that empower both instructors and students in STEM disciplines.