| Blackboard Inc., the electronic education system for educators and students that’s used in schools and universities in over 70 countries, is opening an office in Boston’s Seaport District.
The offices, which open this week, will be located at 280 Summer St. and support a staff of 50 Boston employees. A spokesperson for the company said it is looking to hire from the pool of Boston talent.
"We are excited to expand our presence in the Boston area as it is a center for technology, innovation and education," said spokesperson Lauren Dyke.
The Seaport District location will not only be the first Massachusetts location, but also Blackboard’s first location in New England.
The Washington D.C.-based company already has offices in cities such as San Francisco, Phoenix, Indianapolis and Chicago. Blackboard also has international locations in seven cities, including Beijing, London and Sydney.
However, the company has had Boston ties for several years. Blackboard CEO Jay Bhatt is based in Boston and has split his time between Boston and the D.C. headquarters.
Most recently, Boston Public Schools launched TipTxt this September, a tipline that aims to stop bullying in schools across the country, including the 128 schools in the BPS district. Blackboard offered the service last May to all K-12 schools in the nation at no cost, according to a press release.
The system allows for confidential text conversations between students and school officials about issues that students face, including bullying, abuse and other problems.
