Student safety is a top concern in school hiring processes.
Kannan Chettiar, founder of Avvanz, has revolutionized this process with a comprehensive screening platform that has uncovered fake resumes, inflated experiences, and fraudulent claims.
By leveraging AI, blockchain, and robotic process automation, Avvanz highlights the critical importance of thorough credential verification.
In this episode of School of Talk by Teach Away, our host Ryan sits down with Kannan to chat about the advancement of background screenings and how they’re reshaping hiring practices for safer classrooms.
Pressed for time? Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.
The Avvanz Approach
Founded in 2016 by Kannan Chettiar, Avvanz has quickly become a go-to solution for schools worldwide. Their mission? To catch the “Leonardo DiCaprios” of the education world before they can make their mark.
As Kannan puts it: “It’s a bit like the movie ‘Catch Me If You Can.’ We don’t want too many DiCaprios running around. We want to make sure that we get them before they make a negative impact on the business.”
But Avvanz isn’t just about catching the bad guys. It’s about creating a comprehensive safety net that goes beyond the obvious checks.
More Than Just Criminal Records
When you think of background checks, criminal records might be the first thing that comes to mind. But Avvanz takes it several steps further. They perform more than 20 different types of checks, including:
- Education verification (because, yes, people do fake those Oxford degrees)
- Employment history (inflated experiences are more common than you’d think)
- Social media presence (those public posts can be quite revealing)
Kannan explains the importance of social media checks.
“As long as it is publicly viewable, we’ll be able to catch things like derogatory posts related to radicalism, violence, work intolerance…” Kannan reveals. “And of course, these are commonly discussed on platforms like X, Meta, Instagram, TikTok even.”
For school hiring managers, this level of detail can be a game-changer.
“People are the biggest assets to the business, but they’re also the biggest risk to the business.”
-Kannan Chettiar, Avvanz
The Global Reach
One of the most impressive aspects of Avvanz is its global reach. They cover over 150 countries, which means they can verify that candidate who studied in Tibet and worked in Timbuktu.
“A lot of them think that I come from a remote part of the world, you’re probably not going to be able to check on me. I think they are wrong,” Kannan laughs.
The Tech Edge
It’s not just about thorough checks; it’s about smart checks. Avvanz has embraced AI, blockchain, and even robotic process automation to make their services faster and more accurate.
“We also leverage RPA (robotic process automation) for some of the manual tasks within Avvanz, which have been gradually automated as well,” Kannan explains.
For schools, this means quicker turnaround times and more reliable results. When hiring decisions need to be made quickly, this edge can make all the difference.
Beyond New Hires
Here’s a thought that might keep school administrators up at night: what if an existing employee becomes a risk?
Kannan mentioned that some schools are now considering annual checks for existing employees and even background checks for senior students. Why? Because risks can emerge at any time.
Avvanz offers annual screening services, because as Kannan wisely points out: “People are the biggest assets to the business, but they’re also the biggest risk to the business.”
Maintaining vigilance can be crucial for ensuring a safe school environment year after year.
Safety First, Always
Background checks have taken on an advanced approach to preventing misleading credentials and dangerous situations. They’re an ongoing, comprehensive tool for creating and maintaining safe learning environments.
Key takeaways:
- Background checks go way beyond criminal records
- Global reach matters in our interconnected world
- Technology is making checks faster and more accurate
- Ongoing screening is as important as initial checks
- The future of school safety might include student screening
For school hiring managers and administrators, the message is clear: background checks aren’t just a box to tick. They’re a vital tool in creating the safe, nurturing environment that every child deserves.
And with companies like Avvanz pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, that goal is more achievable than ever.
