From a Vision to 5 Million Students: How an Idea—and a Stuffy Dog—Built a Movement
When I first got involved with what would eventually become TestHound, it was really just an idea. There wasn’t a company yet—just a need and a vision. My husband, Jason, who is also our Vice President of Software Engineering, was asked to help build something new to support school testing. He got to work developing the tool, and somewhere along the way, I was asked, “Can you make a logo?”
At the time, I was finishing my master’s degree in graphic design at the University of Idaho. Branding was something I loved, so I jumped in. I started creating the first concepts and designs for what would eventually become TestHound. I also helped come up with the name. I remember floating a few ideas, and when I said “TestHound,” there was some pushback. “We don’t want to hound people,” they said. But I argued that we could make it fun—make it a cute dog. Everyone loves a dog. That idea stuck, and so did the name.
A Brand that Stuck
The funny thing is, I didn’t expect how much people would connect with it. At conferences, folks became fanatical about the TestHound stuffed dog. They’d collect them, set them up in their offices, take them home to their kids, and talk about how much the product meant to them. It sounds small, but those connections mattered. They still do.
In the early days, Jason would literally stay up overnight making changes to the product based on district feedback. If someone said, “Can it do this?”—he’d figure it out. That level of responsiveness and care created something much more than software. It built trust. It built loyalty. That’s why, today, TestHound has a 99% retention rate. It’s about more than functionality. It’s about helping people, listening to them, and showing up for them.
As the company evolved, so did my role. From branding and design to shaping our digital presence, I’ve worn a lot of hats. When Pathways and Evaluation were added in 2020, we had to think carefully about our positioning. Were we a house of brands or a branded house? Should Education Advanced lead, or should the individual products? We explored it all. It wasn’t always clear-cut, and I think we’re still figuring some of that out. But I’m proud of how we’ve charted our own course, leading with what works, staying flexible, and always putting educators first.
One of the biggest reasons I’ve been here all these years is the culture. We started small—just a handful of us figuring it out as we went. We genuinely care about taking care of each other and doing right by our team and customers. Even as we’ve grown, that core culture of collaboration, hard work, and showing up hasn’t changed. We’ve always been remote, which means building connection looks different—but it’s possible. I think it comes down to having the right people on the team. When you’ve got that, culture takes care of itself.
What Comes Next
Over time, this work has become deeply personal to me. TestHound feels like something I’ve helped raise—like a child I’ve watched grow through all its phases. I still see so much potential in everything we do—especially with the new momentum around Pathways and Evaluation. The work our development team is doing to improve usability, especially for students and parents on mobile, blows me away.
After some challenging years and big changes, we’re finding our footing again. And I’m excited. I’m excited to keep telling our story, to help more districts find solutions that truly support their work, and to continue building something that matters.
And yes—people still love the dog.
