A Win Powered by Our People
At ESS, we believe strong organizations are built from the inside out. That belief now carries national recognition. ESS, a leader in placing qualified staff in daily, long-term, and permanent K-12 school district positions, has earned the 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces Award. This honor celebrates organizations that prioritize people-first cultures and meaningful employee engagement. This recognition is more than an award. It’s a reflection of the people who make ESS what it is every day.
What This Recognition Means
The USA TODAY Top Workplaces award celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built exceptional workplace cultures rooted in trust, engagement, and employee experience. This year, USA TODAY invited more than 40,500 organizations to participate, making this recognition especially meaningful.
What sets this award apart is its foundation: real employee feedback. The results are based entirely on a confidential survey conducted by Energage LLC, a leader in workplace culture research, the HR research and technology company behind the Top Workplaces program since 2006. Employees respond to statements that measure key Workplace Experience Themes—factors research shows directly drive organizational performance and success.
In other words, this isn’t an application-based award. It’s a reflection of how employees actually experience their workplace.
A Culture Built on Listening and Engagement
“Earning a USA TODAY Top Workplaces award is a testament to an organization’s credibility and commitment to a people-first culture,” said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “This award, driven by real employee feedback, is more than just a recognition — it’s proof that your employees believe in the organization and its leadership. Job seekers and customers look for this trusted badge of credibility and excellence. It signals a company that values its people, and that kind of culture resonates in today’s competitive market.”
That kind of trust doesn’t happen by accident.
At ESS, we place a strong emphasis on listening, engagement, and continuous improvement. Our teams share feedback, contribute ideas, and help shape how we support districts, schools, and education professionals nationwide.
Why This Matters in Education Staffing
Since 2000, ESS has become a national leader in education staffing and management, serving school districts nationwide with a strong team of qualified professionals.
Today, we proudly:
- Employ 100,000+ education professionals
- Support 8.5 million students
- Partner with 15,000+ schools nationwide
From substitute teachers and paraprofessionals to other essential school support roles, our mission remains the same: to ensure every day counts for students. And this award reinforces something we already know: when we invest in our people, they deliver exceptional impact in the communities we serve.
The Heart of ESS: Our Team
While the USA TODAY Top Workplace recognition highlights ESS as an organization, the real credit belongs to our team. Our employees and education professionals make every assignment filled, every classroom supported, and every district partnership stronger. This award simply confirms what we already see every day: a culture built on commitment, collaboration, and purpose-driven work.
Looking Ahead
We’re proud to be named a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplace. We view this recognition as a new benchmark that drives what comes next. As ESS continues to grow, we remain focused on strengthening our culture, listening to our employees, and enhancing the experience for every person who is part of the ESS community. Because at the end of the day, when our people thrive, students thrive.
You can view the complete list of USA Today’s Top Workplaces 2026 here.
About ESS
As leaders in the education staffing and management space since 2000, the ESS family of companies specializes in placing qualified staff in daily, long-term, permanent, and virtual K-12 school district positions, including substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school support staff. Collectively, we employ 100,000+ professionals to help 8.5 million students achieve academic success in more than 15,000 schools nationwide.