Leaders in artificial intelligence and education join Renaissance Board to help advance the future of teaching and learning

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Renaissance, a global leader in pre-K–12 education technology, today announced the appointment of Rajen Sheth and MaryEllen Elia to its Board of Directors. Their appointments further strengthen the Board’s expertise in both educational leadership and emerging technologies as Renaissance continues to expand the capabilities of Renaissance Intelligence, the industry’s first Education Intelligence System.

As schools navigate increasing demands for data-informed instruction, instructional coherence, and trusted AI tailored to educational contexts, Renaissance remains focused on helping educators turn data into action. The addition of Sheth and Elia brings valuable perspectives that will help guide the company’s continued innovation on behalf of educators, administrators, and students.

“Rajen and MaryEllen bring a powerful combination of expertise that reflects where education is headed,” said Chris Bauleke, Chief Executive Officer at Renaissance. “Rajen has helped shape how technology and AI can improve experiences at scale, while MaryEllen has spent her career helping school systems drive meaningful outcomes for students. Together, their insights will help us continue delivering innovations that are grounded in the realities of classrooms and focused on improving learning outcomes.”

Renaissance Intelligence represents the company’s vision for the future of education technology: a connected system that unifies assessment, instruction, practice, and curriculum while using adaptive, educator-guided AI to help teachers personalize learning and support every student’s growth. By combining trusted learning science with advanced AI capabilities, Renaissance is helping educators make faster, more informed instructional decisions while maintaining confidence in the recommendations they receive.

“Renaissance has long been a trusted partner to educators, and I believe the opportunity ahead is extraordinary,” said Sheth. “Artificial intelligence has the potential to help educators work more efficiently and personalize learning more effectively, but it must be implemented thoughtfully and responsibly. I’m excited to support Renaissance as it continues to innovate on behalf of educators and students.”

“I’ve dedicated my career to helping schools create opportunities for every student,” said Elia. “What excites me about Renaissance is its commitment to combining proven educational practices with technology that supports teaching and learning. I look forward to working with the Board and leadership team as the company continues to help schools improve outcomes and meet the evolving needs of students.”

About Rajen Sheth
Sheth is the CEO and Founder of Kyron Learning, a public benefit company using AI to provide every student with access to personalized, one-on-one instruction. Prior to Kyron, Sheth spent 17 years at Google, most recently serving as Vice President of Google Cloud AI and Industry Solutions, where he led the development of Google Cloud’s AI platform and industry-focused innovations.

He also played a key role in creating and scaling Google Workspace, Chromebooks for Education, and Android Enterprise, helping shape products used by millions of organizations and hundreds of millions of students worldwide.

About MaryEllen Elia
For 10 years, Elia served as Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa, Florida), the seventh-largest school district in the United States. After her superintendency, she was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Education Department and President of the University of the State of New York.

During her career, she has navigated some of the most challenging situations education leaders face. As owner of Success for Students, Inc., she continues to serve as an empathic partner and advisor to school systems across the United States to help create innovative strategies and programs that will improve the outcomes of all students.

About Renaissance
As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Renaissance is privately held by Francisco Partners, a leading global private equity firm, which specializes in investments in technology and technology-enabled services businesses, and Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager.

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SOURCE Renaissance