About Tools for Schools

Tools for Schools (formerly known as Red Jumper) was established in 2011 by Dan Amos. Tools for Schools has committed to working alongside educators to make Book Creator the simplest, most inclusive way to create content in the classroom. Our mission is to empower students of all ages and abilities to actively engage in the joy of learning.

Book Creator has reached no.1 on the iTunes App Store in 90+ countries, and has won multiple edtech awards. Over 100 million ebooks have been created with our app worldwide.

Tools for Schools on Linkedin

Meet the team

Our main team is based in St. Nicholas House in Bristol, UK - so if you're in town, let us know and drop by and say hello!

Lainey Franks

CEO

Lainey Franks

Lainey joined the Book Creator team in 2020 as VP of Partnerships, before becoming CEO in 2023. A former educator with 15 years of sales and marketing experience, she enjoys mountain biking, dancing, reading and family time.

Dan Amos

Founder & CPO

Dan Amos

Dan started Book Creator to engage his dyslexic son with reading and writing. A father of 4, he wants all kids to be super-engaged in their education, and it pains him when they aren't. He is married to the children's author Ally Kennen.

Thom Leggett

VP Engineering

Thom Leggett

Thom joined us in January 2020 to help run the engineering team and understand the needs of our bigger customers. He brings a strong security and privacy mindset from his years leading public cloud infrastructure teams, and doughnuts on Tuesdays.

Javier de la Vega

Director of Teacher Success

Javier de la Vega

Javier joined Book Creator in January 2023. He has over 25 years experience in education, 10 of those in the classroom. He lives in Miami, FL with his wife and 2 children. He enjoys all types of sports and attending concerts.

Dan Kemp

Director of Marketing

Dan Kemp

Dan K joined in May 2013. He manages our small marketing team and is responsible for spreading the word about Book Creator far and high! Dan lives in Bristol with his wife and daughter, who is homeschooled.

David Swift

Director of Sales

David Swift

David joined Book Creator as head of sales in June 2018. He loves nothing more than supporting educators in using technology that creates new possibilities for students and positively changes the way they learn.

Benedict Co

Finance Director

Benedict Co

Benedict is a qualified accountant with over 16 years of experience. He joined us in June 2021 to head up finance. He loves the outdoors and recently developed a love for camping.

Dan Porter

UI Engineer

Dan Porter

Dan P has been with us since September 2016. He lives and breathes Javascript and CSS and has come on board to build the Book Creator web app and web reader.

Rich Hodgkins

Engineer

Rich Hodgkins

Rich joined in September 2016. He loves tinkering around with any kind of new tech, and is going to be maintaining and adding new features to Book Creator iPad.

Phil Abbott-Garner

Test Engineer

Phil Abbot-Garner

Philip Abbott-Garner joined in November 2016 as a Test Engineer. He's responsible for ensuring the functionality and quality of Book Creator. In 2018 Phil completed a PhD in eHealth.

Kim White

Visual Designer

Kim White

Kim joined in January 2017 as a Visual Designer. Her role is to unify the visual style of the Book Creator brand across all platforms, and nothing satisfies her more than consistency of design and user experience.

Jon Smith

Senior Teacher Success Manager

Jon Smith

Jon is here to help teachers and students get the most out of Book Creator, drawing on 19 years as a special education teacher and technology integration specialist. He is a husband, father of 3, loves golf and is a certified auto detailer.

Suewan Kemp

Teacher Support Lead

Suewan Kemp

Suewan joined us in October 2018. She is the first person most people will speak to when they contact us for support. She knows Book Creator inside out, and even uses it in her homeschool lessons with her daughter.

Chavonne Duckworth

Events Manager

Chavonne Duckworth

Chavonne joined in November 2019. She loves to promote Book Creator across social media and is responsible for managing Book Creator’s presence at educational conferences and events.

Will Pursey

Partnerships Manager

Will Pursey

Will joined the Book Creator team in 2019 and has connected with hundreds of teachers since. He supports educators all around the world to implement Book Creator and creativity into their curriculum.

Gavin Wilshen

Visual Designer

Gavin Wilshen

Gavin joined us in Nov 2019. With a background in design and illustration, he loves using Book Creator to make beautiful books, as well as designing fresh web content and merch.

Catherine Cappiello

Teacher Success Manager

Catherine Cappiello

Catherine joined Book Creator in January 2020. As a former educator, she supports schools and districts in implementing Book Creator into their curriculum. She loves showing educators how to bring creativity and student voice into any classroom.

Kathleen Swift

Partnerships Manager

Kathleen Swift

Kathleen joined the Book Creator team in January 2021, bringing her experience in education to the sales team. Kathleen loves to listen/chat to educators and learners from around the world.

Jen Cousins

Account Executive

Jen Cousins

Jen has been working in edtech for over 16 years. She has a passion for helping educators bring fun and creative tools into their classrooms. She enjoys outdoor adventures with her pups and living in the mountains.

Matthew Schopp

Account Executive

Matthew Schopp

Matthew has been working with the education sector for 8 years. Joining Book Creator in March 2021, he has experience providing a range of innovative technologies to schools and districts, he is passionate about helping them navigate the ever evolving edtech landscape.

Tom Towers

Sales Development Representative

Tom Towers

Tom joined in July 2021, bringing his experience working with schools and trusts across the globe! Tom strives to provide the best solutions and build great relationships with customers. He loves watching rugby and driving around the countryside with his friends.

Nina Jenkins

International Sales Executive

Nina Jenkins

Nina joined in February 2022 as the international sales executive. Passionate about creating meaningful partnerships, she uses her decade of experience working with international markets to ensure the needs of schools and educators around the world are being met.

Vicky Holt

Partnerships Manager

Vicky Holt

Vicky joined Book Creator in February 2022 after five years working with educators across the UK and New Zealand. In addition to her love of supporting teachers, she enjoys hiking, camping and trying to surf.

Jamie Jones

Teacher Support Specialist

Jamie Jones

Jamie has a background in education and used to work as an English teacher in Vietnam. She loves traveling, spending time with her friends, and pretty much every sport out there!

Hannah Williams

Data Analyst

Hannah Williams

Hannah is a self-confessed data nerd and a Microsoft Certified Trainer. When her head's not down in the numbers she is usually reading fantasy novels, playing tabletop games or lifting weights.

Luke Snelgrove

Senior Accounts Assistant

Luke Snelgrove

Luke has worked in finance for 16 years, mostly in practice supporting small and medium-sized companies. He’s an avid basketball fan and spends most weekends hiking.

Chanel Dublin

Account Executive

Chanel Dublin

Chanel has been working in the Edtech sector for over 7 years and is passionate about bringing innovative classroom solutions to schools and districts. She loves horse riding, spending time outdoors and a good crime podcast.

Tom Parkinson

Test Engineer

Tom Parkinson

An eye for detail and an enthusiasm for quality has led Tom to follow a career in Testing. Outside of work, Tom is an avid sportsman and volunteer.

Vickie Ahearn

Teacher Support Specialist

Vickie Ahearn

Vickie is an educator with over 20 years of experience. She is passionate about supporting innovative learner-centered instruction by engaging students in learning experiences that are relevant, meaningful and authentic.

Ali Taki

Partnerships Manager

Ali Taki

Ali joined in 2023, bringing with him experience in sales and education in Europe and Africa. He’s very passionate about making sure children have the best opportunities available to them to thrive. He is an avid sports fan and loves travelling.

Wallis Lavery

Staffroom Product Manager

Wallis Lavery

I have been solving problems for users through product management for over 14 years. I live with my husband and dog. I love to garden, cook, travel and craft.

April Hayward

Sales Development Representative

April Hayward

April joined Book Creator in 2023, eager to start in the EdTech world. She brings with her experience in international sales and digital business. In her spare time, she also loves swimming and learning languages.

Adam Moncrief

Teacher Success Executive

Adam Moncrief

Adam joined Book Creator in February 2023 with a background in education, languages and business development. He loves music, travel and is a big Manchester United fan.

David Hotler

Education Community Manager

David Hotler

Hotler joined Book Creator in February, 2023. He has 15 years of experience in education as a teacher, coach, and consultant in North America and Europe. His mission is to build and empower communities of educators who are passionate about teaching with Book Creator.

Alejo De Gennaro

Senior Software Engineer

Alejo De Gennaro

Alejo is a full stack developer with many years of experience, fully committed to the Tech For Good world. He is obsessed with cats, music and enjoys cycling and playing guitar in his spare time.

Randi Ahrndt

Head of Literacy Learning

Randi Ahrndt

Randi joined Book Creator in July 2023. With over 15 years experience in education as a Principal, Literacy Coach and Elementary Teacher, she brings a unique perspective to our team. She is a wife and boy mom x3, who loves reading, tacos and travel.

Amelia Hobbs

Sales Development Representative

Amelia Hobbs

Amelia has previous experience in the education sector in the UK and in Madrid. She is passionate about making learning fun and inclusive. Outside of work you can find her cooking and eating with friends, chilly dipping or running.

Janet Burnett

Teacher Success Manager

Janet Burnett

With 25 years of experience in education as a teacher and Technology Specialist, Janet is passionate about helping teachers “power-up” daily lessons while bringing joy to the classroom. She is ready to support schools/districts as they implement Book Creator into their curriculum.

Katie Fielding

Education Content Manager

Katie Fielding

With 20 years of experience in education, Katie is passionate about creating inclusive and accessible classrooms for all students. She loves exploring new places, trying different foods, and connecting with fellow educators.