Classcraft - About

In 2013, high school physics teacher Shawn Young was searching for a new way to help his students succeed. He created a basic online role-playing game that would drastically change his perspective on engagement in the classroom. After a former student posted about Classcraft online, thousands of teachers inquired about the platform. Shawn joined forces with his father Lauren, a 35-year business veteran, and brother Devin, a creative director in New York, to make Classcraft available to any classroom around the world.

Shawn Young

Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer

I’m a grade 11 teacher, and I created Classcraft to have more fun with my students and help them succeed in school. I’m the lead game designer, lead developer, and education specialist on our team. My main focus is to make sure Classcraft reaches its fullest potential by using play, engagement, and collaboration to create a truly positive force in the classroom. I’m really proud that we’ve been able to have such a profound impact with so many teachers and students around the globe. I love our team and the teachers we get to work with.

Devin Young

Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer

I spend my days thinking about design and communication, as well as working closely with Classcraft’s illustration, community, and outreach teams. I’ve been a freelance creative director in New York for the past seven years, working with a wide range of startups and established brands like Chanel, Microsoft, and Intel. I love working on projects that have a positive impact and am super grateful to work with my brother and dad on this one!

Lauren Young

Co-founder & Chief Financial Officer

I take care of all the things that ensure Classcraft runs smoothly. I bring about 35 years of business experience to the table, and I’ve been on the ground floor of some pretty significant startups in tech, fashion, and fitness. I also act as a third set of eyes to my two hyper-creative sons and enjoy making contributions to the creative process, marketing, and community development. I love working with great people and doing something that truly makes the world a better place. Oh! … And of the three, I tell the best jokes!

Team

Stephanie Carmichael

Community Manager

Jianli Wu

Illustrator

Alexandre Tremblay

Developer

Advisors

Mark Wilson

Dr. Mark Wilson has been a teacher for over 27 years. He has served as teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal, working at both the middle level and high school level. He was the principal of Morgan County High School from 2003-2012 and while there was recognized as the National High School Principal of the Year. He has spoken to the Georgia legislature, in the Halls of Congress, and has been a guest of President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House.

Jared Cohen

Jared has been helping to build various startups for the past five years. Specifically, he spent three of those years running business operations at Kickstarter, where he played a fundamental role in scaling the company from a 20-person startup to a smooth-running, growing business.

Jared loves to learn, consume content, build websites, exercise, and spend time with his family.

You can find him online blogging at 495west.com and tweeting at @jaredcohe.