Trusted by California
education leaders
Our Mission
Our mission is to reach the students others have left behind by helping educators understand what actually drives them.
Real research. Real California educators.
Elevare was founded in 2025 by two California educators, with a research team of K–12 professionals reviewing every assessment, scoring algorithm, and archetype definition before any of it reached a school. This isn't a tool built by software engineers who've never been in a classroom. It's built by experienced educators and K–12 administrators, many of whom still serve in California schools today.
Oscar Luna
Founder & CEOTwenty years in California K–12 — teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent — with cabinet-level oversight of multimillion-dollar budgets and large workforces. A founding member of the Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation and WASC accreditation chair across the state.
Jaime Carias, MPP
Founder & COOOver 15 years in K–12 and higher education, known for his expertise in DEI, culturally attuned programs, and social-emotional support for students. Author of two books and a nationally recognized voice; holds degrees from UC Santa Barbara and USC.
One of the original Freedom Writers; motivational speaker and storytelling advocate helping educators, students, and families reconnect with their why.
Founder of Agile Evolutionary Group with nearly twenty years in education, culminating as Superintendent of Schools.
District administrator overseeing Multilingual Educational Programs, with expertise in K–12 literacy and education reform. Active member of ACSA and CALSA.
Founding faculty member and Assistant Principal at Century Community Charter School, and Professor at Pepperdine University.
A full research bibliography and methodology document is maintained internally and available on request.
Because somebody had to.
There's a student in every California school who can't get out of bed for first period. Climate surveys tell us they're disengaged. Career platforms ask them about their future. Neither tells us why they're not showing up today.
Oscar Luna spent two decades watching that gap widen, first as a teacher, then as a principal, then as an assistant superintendent. The tools kept getting more sophisticated. The students kept disappearing.
So he built the tool he wished existed, alongside a team of California educators who knew the problem firsthand.
Elevare doesn't try to solve every problem in California education. We're trying to help schools reach the students others have left behind, by giving educators real data on what actually drives each student in the room.
That's it. Simple as that.
“I was a suspended kid. I was the one who didn't show up to first period. These kids aren't going to college, so what are we doing for them? That's the question Elevare exists to answer.”
Motivation science, built for California schools.
Elevare uses research-grounded tools and workshops to help educators understand what actually drives each student, staff member, and family they serve. The flagship is CoreDrive, our motivational science assessment, paired with the live workshops and intervention strategies that turn results into action.
Learn more about the CoreDrive methodology →17 Drive Archetypes
Each person receives a personal profile showing which of the 17 research-based motivational drives shape their engagement and behavior.
Built for students, educators, and families
Each version pairs the assessment with a live workshop, so participants don't just receive results. They leave knowing what to do with them.
California funding-aligned
Data maps to LCFF State Priorities 5 (Student Engagement), 6 (School Climate), and 3 (Family Engagement). Aligns with LCAP reporting and Title I-A, II-A, and IV-A use.
