2009-11-11 06:26:23 - Applebatch is hosting their second K-12 professional networking event in Chicago to connect educators to a diverse support network and help them advance their careers.

Applebatch.com, a Chicago-based K-12 professional community, just released a new version of their online professional networking platform for teachers. Applebatch.com launched in March of 2009 and enrolled over 3,500 members. After months of member feedback, the Applebatch team incorporated member feedback to implement increase privacy features, new online chat features for immediate Q&A, an improved forum that enables sharing resources

and comments.

“The challenge is that we now have to inform all our existing members of the new platform and ask them to rejoin and update their profiles,” said George Hammer, Applebatch Founder. “But, our new platform provides teachers with what they asked for and will better serve our member base in the long run”.

“Teaching has been viewed as a job with no career path and many schools don’t utilize best practices from the business world to connect, mentor and retain their employees,” said George Hammer, CEO of Applebatch.com. “Therefore, teachers lack the support network to be successful in their current jobs and the career assistance to help them find new jobs.”

Applebatch has also dedicated itself to being a not-for-profit corporate in order to reinvest more in their members. Lastly, George Hammer has relinquished his duties as CEO but will remain Chairman of the Board. The CEO position will remain unfilled for the short-term to reduce costs and spend our money on more member benefits.

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Located in Chicago, IL, Applebatch is a K-12 teacher community to build professional connections online for career support. Applebatch.com launched in March 2009 and has accumulated over 3,400 members. Membership into the teacher network is free and benefits include professional networking opportunities, job search assistance, answers to questions and online groups of like-minded professionals.