Leeds Equity Partner’s Portfolio Company adds industry-leading coaching platform
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — engage2learn (“e2L”), a leading nationwide provider of leadership coaching, teacher development, and software that help improve instructional quality and student outcomes for K-12 school districts, announced the acquisition of Instructional Coaching Group (“ICG”), an internationally recognized provider of professional development, research-based coaching frameworks, and instructional resources for coaches, administrators, and teachers. ICG represents the third acquisition of the year completed by engage2learn, a portfolio company of Leeds Equity Partners.
The acquisition unites e2L’s research-based coaching services, AI-powered GroweLab platform, and newly launched Jim Knight Instructional Leadership Multiplier (“ILM”) Network with ICG’s globally recognized coaching intellectual property and live coaching events. The combined organization will be uniquely positioned to serve district leaders, instructional coaches, and teachers with significantly greater scale.
ICG’s co-founder and renowned instructional coaching expert, Jim Knight, has spent more than 30 years developing and advancing research-based coaching practices. ICG supports educators through a comprehensive suite of consulting and coaching services, conferences, and institutes. Its proven frameworks, including the Impact Cycle and Instructional Playbook, are used by educators globally to strengthen teacher instruction and improve student outcomes.
“We are excited to welcome Jim Knight and ICG into the engage2learn family, bringing together the leader of instructional coaching with the leading platform for professional learning,” said Shannon Buerk, founder and CEO of engage2learn. “District leaders will finally have one trusted partner for educator effectiveness with a proven, compelling solution that saves them time, elevates the profession, and impacts student outcomes.”
“Our partnership with engage2learn,” said Jim Knight, “will help us make giant steps toward the goal that has guided our work: having an unmistakably positive impact on students’ learning, engagement, and well-being.”
“ICG is a mission-aligned company with a long history of advancing instructional excellence,” said Scott VanHoy, Partner at Leeds Equity Partners. “ICG and engage2learn, together with engage2learn’s other recent acquisitions, bring together unmatched talent and expertise to the K-12 market, enhancing engage2learn’s position as the go-to provider for educator professional learning and development.”
“Instructional coaching is one of the highest-impact investments a district can make in improving teacher quality and student outcomes,” said Eric Geveda, Managing Director at Leeds Equity Partners. “ICG has built the frameworks, content, and community that define best practice in the field. We are proud to support engage2learn in bringing that expertise to more educators and districts nationwide, empowering teachers and driving lasting impact for students.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About engage2learn:
engage2learn is a strategic transformation partner for school districts, helping them sustainably improve student outcomes and teacher retention through research-based coaching, strategic planning, leadership development, and the GroweLab platform. Founded in 2011, e2L’s ESSA-validated approach builds internal capacity so schools see results in weeks that last for years. GroweLab, e2L’s technology platform, centralizes professional learning, support, and tracking into one integrated, data-driven platform. For more information, visit www.engage2learn.org.
About Instructional Coaching Group:
Founded in 2006, Instructional Coaching Group is an internationally recognized provider of professional development content, events, and services for coaches, teachers, and administrators. ICG’s research-based coaching frameworks – including the Impact Cycle and Instructional Playbook – are used by educators worldwide. ICG delivers its programs through consulting services, the annual Teaching Learning Coaching (TLC) Conference, intensive institutes, online learning, and bestselling books and practitioner toolkits authored by Founder Jim Knight. For more information, visit www.instructionalcoaching.com.
About Leeds Equity Partners:
Leeds Equity is a New York-based private equity firm dedicated exclusively to partnering with management teams in the education, training, and information services industries (the “Knowledge Industries”). The firm was founded in 1993 and as of December 31, 2025, manages approximately $7 billion of capital across a broad spectrum of companies within the Knowledge Industries. Leeds Equity seeks to leverage its sector-focused expertise and market insights to create long-term value for its partner companies and investors. For more information, visit https://www.leedsequity.com.
For More Information:
Scott VanHoy
Tel. 212-835-2000
www.leedsequity.com
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SOURCE Leeds Equity Partners
