Nautic Partners LLC, a middle-market private equity firm, announced its portfolio company Source4Teachers joined Education Solutions Services LLC. Nautic Partners called the transaction a merger.

Source4Teachers ranked second on Staffing Industry Analysts’ 2016 list of largest education staffing firms in the US with estimated 2015 US education temporary staffing revenue of $150 million. The Cherry Hill, NJ-based company provides managed services to K-12 school districts, covering substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and educational support staff.

“The pairing of ESS’ extensive K-12 industry experience with the management systems and field support of S4T, the largest pure-play company in the industry, will be a winning combination,” said ESS President Buddy Helton. 

“We are now the optimal platform to deliver outstanding support to clients nationwide. We plan to expand our geographic footprint, make accretive acquisitions, and continue to deliver excellent, hands-on service to our district partners as the company continues on its rapid growth trajectory.”

Kendley Davenport, Source4Teachers’ former CEO, will remain in senior leadership.

The combined company will serve nearly 300 districts across 10 states and employ approximately 40,000 educational professionals and 230 corporate staff members. The two companies together filled more than 1.2 million educator and support staff absences in the 2016-17 school year.

ESS was founded in 2016 by the same management team that, in partnership with Nautic, built the education division of GCA, an outsourced provider of facilities services. Nautic sold GCA to Blackstone in 2012, and partnered with management to acquire Source4Teachers in 2015.