StrongMind, a K–12 digital curriculum and learning technology provider, has appointed Rui Costa as chief technology officer. Costa brings over a decade of experience in AI and machine learning from Google, Amazon Web Services, and Epic Games. At StrongMind, Costa will lead the engineering organisation to build a unified platform foundation and make the company "AI-native", integrating artificial intelligence into how software is designed and delivered rather than treating it as an add-on feature. Costa previously built Google's Speech Analysis Framework, led enterprise AI prototypes at AWS including work with Volkswagen, and developed platform tooling for Epic Games Store serving millions of daily users. He holds a patent for securely sharing machine learning models at scale. Since joining StrongMind, Costa has established engineering standards across identity, security, and API systems, with twelve of thirteen platform capability domains now covered.

StrongMind showcases digital curriculum and enrollment solutions at NCSC 2026. Published on: Jun 25, 2026 Education technology provider StrongMind is set to showcase its K-12 digital curriculum and virtual school support services at the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference (NCSC26) in New Orleans. The event, organized by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, brings together charter school leaders, educators, administrators, and policymakers from across the United States, creating an important forum for discussions around digital learning, student engagement, and school growth strategies. As virtual and hybrid learning models continue to evolve, education providers are increasingly seeking technology-driven solutions that improve student outcomes while supporting enrollment growth and operational efficiency. Against this backdrop, StrongMind has announced its participation in the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference (NCSC26), where the company will present its digital curriculum and virtual school services to charter school leaders nationwide. The conference, taking place June 24-26 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, is widely recognized as the largest national gathering focused on charter education. The annual event attracts thousands of attendees, including school operators, board members, educators, administrators, and education advocates exploring new approaches to teaching and learning. StrongMind's presence at the conference reflects growing demand for scalable digital education infrastructure as charter schools expand online and blended learning programs. Since its founding in 2001, the company has focused on providing curriculum development, virtual school management, and student support services tailored to online learning environments. At Booth #659, StrongMind will highlight two key components of its portfolio: its K-12 digital curriculum platform and its marketing and enrollment services designed specifically for virtual schools. The curriculum offering represents one of the company's core differentiators in an increasingly competitive EdTech landscape. Built by educators and aligned with modern instructional design principles, the curriculum has earned Quality Matters (QM) certification, a widely recognized benchmark for quality assurance in online learning environments. As schools continue integrating digital learning technologies, curriculum quality has become a critical factor in student engagement and academic performance. Research from organizations such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Digital Learning Collaborative has consistently emphasized the importance of structured, standards-aligned digital content that supports diverse learning needs. StrongMind's curriculum is designed to address these challenges by delivering interactive learning experiences that can be deployed across fully virtual, blended, and alternative education settings. Beyond curriculum, the company is also emphasizing marketing and enrollment support services, an area gaining increased attention among charter school operators. As competition for student enrollment intensifies, many schools are investing in digital marketing strategies, community outreach initiatives, and enrollment optimization programs to attract and retain students. This trend mirrors broader developments across education, where institutions increasingly rely on data-driven marketing and customer engagement practices commonly used in other sectors. To demonstrate these capabilities, StrongMind plans to offer complimentary marketing analyses to conference attendees, providing schools with insights into their current enrollment and outreach strategies. The inclusion of enrollment services alongside curriculum solutions reflects a broader shift within the education technology market. Rather than focusing solely on instructional content, vendors are increasingly providing comprehensive support ecosystems that address academic delivery, student acquisition, retention, and operational performance. According to market research from HolonIQ, digital learning and education technology investments continue to expand globally as schools seek scalable solutions capable of supporting evolving student expectations and learning models. Virtual charter schools, in particular, have emerged as an important segment within the broader education landscape, creating demand for specialized technology platforms and support services. StrongMind's participation in NCSC26 also highlights the growing role of technology providers within the charter school sector. As schools navigate challenges related to student achievement, staffing, compliance, and enrollment growth, partnerships with education technology companies are becoming increasingly strategic. For charter school leaders attending the conference, discussions are likely to focus on how technology can improve learning outcomes while helping schools operate more efficiently and reach broader student populations. Areas such as digital curriculum development, virtual instruction, student engagement analytics, and enrollment management remain among the most significant priorities for education leaders nationwide. The National Charter Schools Conference serves as a venue where these conversations take place, bringing together stakeholders from across the education ecosystem to exchange ideas, evaluate emerging technologies, and explore new approaches to public education. For StrongMind, the event provides an opportunity to demonstrate how integrated curriculum and school support services can help virtual and online charter schools scale effectively while maintaining educational quality. As demand for flexible learning models continues to grow, technology-enabled education providers are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of charter education. StrongMind's participation at NCSC26 underscores the ongoing evolution of digital learning infrastructure and the expanding intersection between educational outcomes, technology innovation, and school growth strategies. Market landscape. The education technology sector continues to experience significant transformation as schools adopt digital-first learning strategies and expand access to virtual instruction. According to HolonIQ, global investments in digital learning technologies remain strong as institutions seek scalable solutions for curriculum delivery, student engagement, and operational management. Virtual charter schools represent a growing segment within K-12 education, increasing demand for high-quality digital curriculum, enrollment optimization tools, and student support services. As online learning becomes more mainstream, education providers are focusing on integrated platforms that combine instructional excellence with operational efficiency and long-term student success. Top insights. * StrongMind will exhibit at the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference, highlighting digital curriculum and virtual school support services for charter education leaders. * The company's Quality Matters-certified K-12 curriculum is designed to support virtual, hybrid, and alternative learning environments through standards-aligned digital instruction. * StrongMind is expanding focus beyond curriculum delivery by offering marketing and enrollment services tailored specifically to online and virtual schools. * Charter schools are increasingly investing in technology-driven enrollment and engagement strategies as competition for student acquisition continues to grow. * The conference reflects broader industry interest in digital learning infrastructure, virtual education models, and scalable educational technology solutions.