<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=890821589769253&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Skip to main content

Back To School Flash Sale

Rollback pricing available now – extended through August by popular demand.

Confidence is the Catalyst

Inspiring the heart of educators to reveal the brilliance of every child

 

Your Standards and Curriculum Experts

AdobeStock_303989128

ECS Learning Systems develops supplemental and blended learning solutions under the brand STAAR MASTER® to help students in Grades K–12 achieve academic success and master state standards.

 

With over 42 years of history, we’ve always been by Texas teachers for Texas teachers. In fact, no one knows and understands the content better than us. Our quality and rigor are second to none. As the “experts’ experts,” we work directly with state agencies and dozens of publishers to ensure that content is standards-aligned and ready for Texas students.

 

You can count on us to be on your side and by your side. Our modular set of easy-to-use products and tools build on and complement one another, allowing us to create a unique solution packaged for your specific needs. You can count on our professional development platform and personalized coaching to help you be ready for whatever comes your way.

Our Mission

Inspiring the heart of educators to reveal the brilliance of every child.

Corporate Timeline

Sam Mammen starts Educational Consulting Services as a part-time business from the Mammen family coffee table

1982

Company publishes first book by an external author

1983

Company changes its name to ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

1986

ECS receives state contract to train child-care workers

1986

ECS publishes inaugural issue of Writing Teacher™ magazine

1987

ECS publishes the first TAAS MASTER™ product

1989

ECS publishes inaugural issue of THINK™ magazine

1991

ECS receives ED Press award for Writing Teacher™ magazine

1994

ECS receives APEX award for marketing and Writing Teacher

1995

Writing Teacher™ receives Golden Shoestring award

1997

ECS receives its third APEX award, this year for the book Parent Talk

1997

Publications merge to form r-w-t™ magazine

2000

Company installs print-on demand technology onsite

2002

ECS receives regional and local Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Minority Business Enterprise Center and the Small Business Administration

2002

ECS redevelops TAKS MASTER® to align with revised state standards and resulting sales make it the company’s first multi-million-dollar product

2002
ESC Logo

ECS Learning unveils new logo

2008

ECS launches STAAR MASTER® to replace TAKS MASTER®

2009
SM Logo

STAAR MASTER® unveils new logo

2009
Test Smart Logo

Testsmart® unveils new logo

2013

ECS develops TESTSMART® Common Core work texts for states that had adopted the Common Core State Standards

2013

ECS acquired by Asteria

2017
ECS Learning Logo

ECS Learning Systems unveils new logo

2017

ECS launches Custom Curriculum services aimed at supporting education publishers and state agencies creating and reviewing instructional materials

2020

Interactive eBook versions of STAAR MASTER® products launched

2020

ECS launches STAAR MASTER® professional development offerings to aid learning recovery and increase student engagement; ECS becomes a TEA-approved provide of Continuous Professional Education (CPE) hours

2021

High-impact tutoring suite launched to accelerate student learning; the Tutoring program is named a 2023 EdTech Digest Award finalist

2022

STAAR MASTER® Interactive is launched to provide a platform for students to practice for the digital version of the online STAAR®

2023

STAAR MASTER® Interactive 2.0 is launched and is named a finalist for the 2024 EdTech Digest Award and is awarded a Back-to-School Award of Excellence by Tech & Learning

2024

Meet the Leadership Team

  • With over 25 years of experience in marketing, sales, operations, and administration, Mary Jo has held leadership positions with companies such as Apple, IBM, Dell, and K12.

    As the CEO for ECS, she is responsible for redefining and growing all aspects of ECS, including STAAR MASTER® Supplemental Curriculum and Custom Curriculum Services. Under her leadership, STAAR MASTER® has added Professional Development & Coaching for Teachers, Academic Support Tools plus Tutoring Services. Custom Curriculum Services has grown from a start up to a substantial provider of services to state governments and districts. Mary Jo and her team are focused on providing practical yet innovative solutions while maintaining the long-term health of the company.

    Mary Jo holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Missouri and earned her J.D. from St. Louis University.

  • Galina oversees procurement, printing, customer care, warehouse, fulfillment, accounting, and finance for ECS Learning Systems.

    Galina is a CPA and holds a BA in Government and Politics from University of Maryland, and a BS in Accounting from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

  • After a long career as VP of National Sales and Operations in the film business with Landmark Theatres in Los Angeles, Will made the career switch to become a Texas educator.

    His classroom experience includes multiple years as a high-school Communications and Leadership teacher, and long-time Student Council sponsor.

    His other education credits include working with teens from around the world as a curriculum designer and coordinator of experiential education conferences with Envision/Worldstrides, and professional development sales, implementation, and project management with Discovery Education.

    Will holds a B.S. in Communications and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University and a Master's in Communication and Leadership from Gonzaga University. www.linkedin.com/in/foxwill

  • Christina is responsible for leading the strategy and direction for the company’s entire suite of products and services. Christina has more than 23 years of experience in educational publishing in the roles of project and product management, with an emphasis on content development and standards alignment.

    During her time in educational publishing, she has fulfilled a variety of roles, including editorial work and management, development and review of K-12 standards-based supplemental curriculum, development and review of standards-based state assessments, and sales and marketing initiatives for all core competencies. As the Vice President of Product Development at ECS Learning Systems, Christina’s role is twofold across both our Product Development and Custom Curriculum Departments. Christina is directly involved in leading our product, production, and content development teams. Using a customer-focused approach, she oversees scheduling and workflow processes while successfully spearheading product releases, content development deliverables, and content review deliverables. Christina also holds a leadership role in implementing process improvement and process management to support a strong culture of continuous improvement.

    Christina holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee.

  • Jonathon has 10 years of experience with ECS Learning Systems. As Vice President of Product Delivery, he supports all areas of the business in which curriculum products and services are developed and executed.  Cross-department responsibilities in these areas include working in tandem with ECS Marketing on product placement and messaging, evaluating and proposing high-return business strategies, and conducting cost and organizational analyses that support the company’s mission. 

    Jonathon’s subject matter expertise lies in elementary and secondary mathematics but has experience in all core subject areas of supplemental classroom curriculum, standards alignment, and product efficacy.  Jonathon leads the program management of the ECS Custom Curriculum division for curriculum review services. 

    Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

With over 25 years of experience in marketing, sales, operations, and administration, Mary Jo has held leadership positions with companies such as Apple, IBM, Dell, and K12.

As the CEO for ECS, she is responsible for redefining and growing all aspects of ECS, including STAAR MASTER® Supplemental Curriculum and Custom Curriculum Services. Under her leadership, STAAR MASTER® has added Professional Development & Coaching for Teachers, Academic Support Tools plus Tutoring Services. Custom Curriculum Services has grown from a start up to a substantial provider of services to state governments and districts. Mary Jo and her team are focused on providing practical yet innovative solutions while maintaining the long-term health of the company.

Mary Jo holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Missouri and earned her J.D. from St. Louis University.

Galina oversees procurement, printing, customer care, warehouse, fulfillment, accounting, and finance for ECS Learning Systems.

Galina is a CPA and holds a BA in Government and Politics from University of Maryland, and a BS in Accounting from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

After a long career as VP of National Sales and Operations in the film business with Landmark Theatres in Los Angeles, Will made the career switch to become a Texas educator.

His classroom experience includes multiple years as a high-school Communications and Leadership teacher, and long-time Student Council sponsor.

His other education credits include working with teens from around the world as a curriculum designer and coordinator of experiential education conferences with Envision/Worldstrides, and professional development sales, implementation, and project management with Discovery Education.

Will holds a B.S. in Communications and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University and a Master's in Communication and Leadership from Gonzaga University. www.linkedin.com/in/foxwill

Christina is responsible for leading the strategy and direction for the company’s entire suite of products and services. Christina has more than 23 years of experience in educational publishing in the roles of project and product management, with an emphasis on content development and standards alignment.

During her time in educational publishing, she has fulfilled a variety of roles, including editorial work and management, development and review of K-12 standards-based supplemental curriculum, development and review of standards-based state assessments, and sales and marketing initiatives for all core competencies. As the Vice President of Product Development at ECS Learning Systems, Christina’s role is twofold across both our Product Development and Custom Curriculum Departments. Christina is directly involved in leading our product, production, and content development teams. Using a customer-focused approach, she oversees scheduling and workflow processes while successfully spearheading product releases, content development deliverables, and content review deliverables. Christina also holds a leadership role in implementing process improvement and process management to support a strong culture of continuous improvement.

Christina holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee.

Jonathon has 10 years of experience with ECS Learning Systems. As Vice President of Product Delivery, he supports all areas of the business in which curriculum products and services are developed and executed.  Cross-department responsibilities in these areas include working in tandem with ECS Marketing on product placement and messaging, evaluating and proposing high-return business strategies, and conducting cost and organizational analyses that support the company’s mission. 

Jonathon’s subject matter expertise lies in elementary and secondary mathematics but has experience in all core subject areas of supplemental classroom curriculum, standards alignment, and product efficacy.  Jonathon leads the program management of the ECS Custom Curriculum division for curriculum review services. 

Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Our Core Values

ECS_Home_Problem Solving
Problem Solving
ECS_Home_Proactive
Proactive
ECS_Home_Adaptable
Adaptable
ECS_Home_Perspective
Incorporate Perspective
ECS_Home_Purposeful
Purposeful

Request a Quote