All Headsprout programs are fully learner tested and educationally verified.

Headsprout is based in Seattle, Washington, and is funded by Sofinnova Ventures, the Raisin Fund, Roser Ventures and private investors.

Dr. T. V. Joe Layng, Senior Scientist
Joe Layng co-founded Headsprout, and serves as the company's Senior Scientist, in which capacity he led the scientific team that developed Headsprout's patented Sprout Learning™ technology. This technology forms the basis of the company's Headsprout Early Reading program, for which Dr. Layng was the chief architect. Dr. Layng earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Science (Biopsychology) from The University of Chicago, where he collaborated on research investigating the adduction of untrained complex symbolic behavior from simpler behavioral components, which led to some of the key elements upon which the Headsprout Sprout Learning™ technology is based. Dr. Layng has over 25 years of experience in the experimental and applied learning sciences. From 1991 to 1996, he was the Director of the Academic Support Center, and then Dean of Public Agency and Special Training Programs at Malcolm X College in Chicago. In 1992, Dr. Layng co-authored the seminal paper on Generative Instruction, which appeared in the American Psychologist.

Dr. Janet S. Twyman, V.P. Instructional Development
A noted educator and researcher, Janet Twyman is the Vice President of Instructional Development at Headsprout, where she significantly contributed to the development of Headsprout’s Sprout Learning™ technology and led the effort to build that technology into a highly effective beginning reading program. Dr. Twyman developed the research methods and systems that led to Headsprout’s ground–breaking scientific formative evaluation model of program development--coordinating all elements of instructional design, scripting, graphic creation, animation, sound engineering, story development and writing, software engineering, and usability testing within the research model. Formerly the Executive Director of the Fred S. Keller School, a model early childhood center, and an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University Teachers College, Dr. Twyman has been a long-time advocate and investigator of research-based instruction and systems design. She has conducted research and taught courses focusing on effective instruction, technology and education, teacher development, and systems approaches to effective education. She has published and presented widely on these and other topics of broader conceptual interest. Dr. Twyman earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University Teachers College, and is a certified elementary and special education teacher and principal/school administrator. She has authored several book chapters, and published descriptive and experimental studies on learning and education, and sits on the board of several schools and organizations in the public and private sector.

Jeff Bilger, V.P. Software and Engineering
Jeff Bilger joined Headsprout in 2000 and was responsible for establishing the Software and Engineering department and developing the technical platform that is the basis for Headsprout's online educational products. He oversees all aspects of Engineering including software development, technical support, data mining/analytics, and networking. Prior to joining Headsprout, he was a senior GSM/PCS Engineer at Ericsson, where he worked on GSM and GPRS cellular-based systems in Ericsson's Dallas, Madrid, and Aachen Eurolab design centers. He received a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University and a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Washington.

Marshall Eubanks, V.P. School Sales
Marshall Eubanks joined Headsprout in January 2004, accepting the responsibility of leading Headsprout's sales on the school district level. Before joining Headsprout, Mr. Eubanks served as the Director of Education Partnerships at Lightspan, where he was the first field person and was responsible for selling and implementing many of the first pilot sites in the eastern U.S. Subsequently, he served as the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast Regional Vice President for NetSchools Corporation and then as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Riverdeep Interactive Learning. Afterward, Mr. Eubanks held the same position at PlaNet Software and most recently, he was the Vice President of Sales at Wireless Generation and was responsible for all aspects of sales and sales operations. He began his career in the educational technology sector with WICAT Systems where he was the top sales person for the majority of his tenure with the company. Mr. Eubanks holds a B.B.A from the University of Cincinnati.

Victoria Burwell, V.P. of Marketing
Joining Headsprout in 2006, Victoria Burwell is a strategic leader who has successfully led companies in dramatic growth and rapid change through creative marketing solutions. She has over 15 years of executive marketing and strategy experience in the financial services, consumer product, wireless, software, and healthcare industries. She has created best selling products for the Gallo Winery, designed critical market research for Microsoft, lead acquisition work for Vodafone in Brazil, negotiated national contracts for AirTouch, and created many successful marketing campaigns for Washington Mutual. She has a BA in Economics from Stanford University, an MBA in Marketing and Organizational Behavior from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and has done additional coursework at the Stanford GSB, Oxford University and Seattle University. Active in her community, she has been on the board of Washington Literacy, participated in California's Project Read, worked for Social Venture Partners’ Early Childhood Grant Committee, and has guided strategic planning efforts for numerous other non-profits.

Denise Mamaril, V.P. Finance and Operations
Denise Mamaril joined Headsprout in 2007 and leads the team responsible for all financial, human-resources-related, operational, and administrative functions in the company. Prior to joining Headsprout, Ms. Mamaril was Vice President of Administration for SCORE! Educational Centers where she was responsible for technology, finance, human resources, and professional development. She has over 15 years of experience in operations, finance, and technology management in education companies and maintains a consistent focus on driving operational efficiencies, fostering staff development, and delivering strong internal customer support. Ms. Mamaril received her MBA with a specialization in information technology from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin where she was a Longhorn Scholar. Her undergraduate degree is International Affairs from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service.