Behind the Scenes of Back-to-School: A Textbook Journey

Pictured from left: Nathan Taylor, Shane Ness, Evin Brown, Luis Acevedo, Tyrone Jones

Have you ever wondered how textbooks arrive in classrooms just in time for the new school year? It’s a huge operation that takes teamwork, precision, and dedication — and it all happens behind the scenes with the help of our textbook distribution team, whose coordination powers a vital part of student learning!

We talked to some of the people who make this happen every year to learn what it’s really like to get those books from the warehouse to our classrooms.

“It’s not just moving boxes,” says Luis Acevedo, a member of the instructional materials team. “It’s making sure the right books get to the right students at the right time.” For Luis, the job is rooted in precision and accountability. Every barcode scanned and title sorted is part of a much larger mission to support teaching and learning without disruption.

The operation relies not only on systems but also on experience. 

Shane Ness has been with the team for nearly a decade, bringing a logistics background that helps streamline distribution year after year. 

“My favorite part is seeing the work that goes into choosing the correct books for students’ needs,” Ness said, pointing out how the office has grown and become more streamlined over time to serve more courses and students each year.

Nathan Taylor, with nearly four years in the department, underscores punctuality. 

See the textbook team in action!

“It’s important that students have the books they need on time so learning and teaching can happen without distractions,” he said, pointing out that the pace rarely slows, even during school breaks when the team is preparing for the next wave of deliveries and working with content supervisors and vendors to stay ahead of schedule.

Textbook Manager Evin Brown oversees the entire process from budgeting and purchasing to monitoring shipments, and describes leading a daily “balancing act.”

“A typical day during textbook season involves coordinating with purchasing, budget, content supervisors, and vendors to keep everything on schedule,” Brown said. “One of the biggest challenges is dealing with shipment delays or lost packages, so we use detailed tracking systems and constant communication to stay ahead of problems.” 

The textbook distribution team is one of many behind-the-scenes operations already in motion long before the first bell of the new school year rings. Their work tracking orders, coordinating deliveries, and overcoming logistical hurdles to ensure educators have what they need on day one plays a critical role in setting the stage for a smooth start to the school year.