Our story

We always aimed high for our classrooms, trusting that every day would be filled with teaching to the standards. We invested time, money, and belief into tools and programs that promised to deliver the results we hoped to achieve. But, the results didn't match our expectations. We were missing a crucial point: without people understanding the standards, no program can succeed.

It hit us that just adding new tools wasn't cutting it. We had to tackle the real issues causing our students to struggle. This sparked a fire in us to do something about it. Depending on program promises wasn't an option anymore. We had to carve our own way and build the system that educators truly need—a system that not only meets standards, but inspires and empowers every educator in every role to prioritize the standards.

So, we founded Smart Learning Systems in 2018 in North Carolina and we built DOT IT.

Our approach

We're all about building capacity through shared responsibility and distributed leadership, and we've got the research to back us up. DOT IT is engineered to motivate users with delightful resources that save time and secure quick wins. It's so simple to use, there is no need for complicated technical training. If you think you need help, we are happy to provide it!

checkmark Every resource in DOT IT is centered on the standards.
checkmark Grade level teams use DOT IT quizzes to inform lessons and optimize weekly planning time.
checkmark Data teams use DOT IT common assessments to inform coaching cycles every three weeks.
checkmark Leadership teams use DOT IT benchmarks to inform professional development every quarter.
DOT IT approach graphic

Our values

Everything we do is guided by three core values.

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Faith

We believe we can do better. We know students are capable of meeting the expectations when they are given the opportunity. We trust that given the right tools and support, educators will do amazing things.

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Friendship

We empathize with where you are. We have been there ourselves. We embrace the opportunity to build professional friendships that are built on trust, patience, and respect. Our biggest joy is seeing our clients succeed.

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Frankness

We tell you the truth. Our products and services are designed for open communication about what is working and what is not. We will always be forthcoming about what we can and cannot do.

Our Leadership Team

Susan, a founder of DOT IT

Susan Milliones

Co-founder

Susan Milliones has consulted with districts and trained thousands of educators at every level across the United States in instructional improvement and organizational change. She is a graduate of the Learning Forward Academy for professional learning. She has presented at National Conferences including National Title 1 and has worked on federal grants for MTSS implementation. Her work with district and school leaders to raise expectations in purposeful teams has closed achievement gaps and improved the quality of educational experiences for students and adults alike. Susan is a co-founder and systems developer for DOT IT software tools.

Laurie, a founder of DOT IT

Laurie McDanel

Co-founder

Laurie McDanel has an Ed.S in School Administration and a Master's in Special Education from Western Carolina University. She received her B.S. from the University of Tennessee. She has 20 years of special education classroom experience and 10 years of leadership experience at the school and district levels. Her innovative leadership as a Special Education Director led to the significant closure of achievement gaps for students with disabilities in her district. Laurie is the co-founder and application designer of DOT IT.

Britt, a founder of DOT IT

Britt McDanel

Chief Technology Officer

Having grown up around educators, Britt holds tremendous respect for the work that you do, taking special note of the flexibility and empathy that your jobs require. After graduating from Wake Forest University, he channeled that respect into the creation of the suite of DOT IT Software. Britt is responsible for the development, enhancement, and security of DOT IT, ensuring that our software suite is quicker, clearer, and better than any other tool on the market. Britt is happy to field any questions on optimizing your school's usage of DOT IT Software.

Brad, a technology leader at DOT IT

Bradley McDanel, Ph.D.

Software Engineer

Bradley, who holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University and M.S. and B.S. degrees from Wake Forest University, brings his passion for teaching and practical learning to DOT IT. As a professor at Franklin & Marshall College, Brad is known for his hands-on approach and dedication to making deep learning concepts accessible to students. In his spare time, Brad enjoys online chess. At DOT IT, Brad combines his expertise and understanding of student needs to contribute to a platform that supports educators and learners in an effective and user-friendly way.

James, a customer success leader at DOT IT

James Stevenson

District Success Manager

James acquired a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Centre College, who then went on to work at a Fortune 500 company. He is our collaborative, energetic customer success advocate and in-house creative. His expertise in software engineering and experience design manifests in our intuitive, self-guided software that has a human touch. James will be happy to demonstrate the full power of DOT IT professional development and software to find a package that's right for your teams.

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