A top education tech investor says these 6 startups could transform how we teach kids

Ever since the days of overhead projectors and microfilm readers, American schools have had to play catch up with the rest of society in the technology they offer.

"Teachers have very complex jobs, and traditionally have had archaic tools to do that complex job," Jennifer Carolan, co-founder and senior partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Reach Capital, tells Business Insider.

Carolan's firm has made it a mission to seek out companies that help schools go from Luddites to early adopters, all in the hopes of personalizing kids' education as much as possible.

Here are some of the companies Reach has invested in that Carolan believes could transform the American education landscape.