Aaron Abbott, a consultant whose company sells artificial intelligence technologies to private schools and universities, has been appointed to the State Board of Education by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
In 2032, Abbot’s tenure on the state board that regulates K–12 schools would come to an end. He takes over for Kathy McFetridge, whose term ended on June 30 and who was nominated by Governor Asa Hutchinson in 2018.
Despite being nominated to the state board to supervise K–12 education, Abbot has specialized in higher education administration and consulting. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has held positions managing admissions and enrollment for the University of Arkansas, John Brown University, and Williams Baptist University in addition to working for the education consulting firm Ruffalo Noel & Levitz.
He is currently employed as a consultant with Halda, an education consulting company based in Provo, Utah, that supplies private K–12 schools and colleges and universities with technologies that make use of OpenAI’s ChatGPT big language model. The stated objectives are to enhance the school’s online experience and boost enrollment.
Abbot is devoted to advocating for educational freedom for Arkansas families, according to a press statement announcing his appointment.
Along with other catchphrases like school choice and parental empowerment, educational freedom in Arkansas usually refers to the laws and initiatives passed by the Arkansas LEARNS Act in 2023. Among other things, the bill created a school voucher scheme that distributes public funds to homeschooling families and private institutions.
As we continue to implement Arkansas LEARNS, Sanders, who was quoted in the statement, described him as the ideal candidate for the Board of Education.
Here is Sanders’ complete release:
Little Rock, Arkansas.Aaron Abbott has been named to the Arkansas State Board of Education, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today. Abbott is taking over for Kathy McFetridge, whose term ends on June 30, 2032.”As we continue to implement Arkansas LEARNS, Aaron’s broad educational background and unwavering belief that every child can learn make him the ideal candidate for the Board of Education and to serve the parents, educators, and students of Arkansas,” Governor Sanders said.Building the future is the main goal of education, and it is a bright future thanks to individuals like Aaron who stand up for our children, defend parents, and assist teachers.Aaron Abbott commented, “I am honored and humbled to have been chosen by Governor Sanders to serve on the State Board of Education.”Being involved in education policy and oversight at such a crucial juncture for our state and our nation is an honor. Prioritizing parents, increasing literacy rates, and creating more robust pathways from the classroom to college or the workforce are all part of the ongoing reforms. I’m particularly thrilled to be involved at a time when the federal government is giving the states more control over education. Since everyone benefits when students succeed, I’m excited to collaborate with the governor, my fellow board members, and communities around Arkansas to make sure every student is prepared for success.Aaron Abbott Bio:Working with colleges and institutions across to improve student recruitment, engagement, and achievement, Aaron Abbott is an Account Manager and Consultant at Halda.Aaron led enrollment management initiatives at Arkansas higher education institutions for more than ten years before joining Halda as a Client Success Director and Consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL). These positions include Director of Admissions at Williams Baptist University, Director of Graduate and Online Enrollment at John Brown University, and Director of Graduate Recruitment for the University of Arkansas’s College of Education and Health Professions.Aaron is devoted to advocating for educational freedom for Arkansas families and making sure students are prepared to confidently pursue college or job options, even though his professional concentration has been on helping students navigate the path to higher education.Aaron, a native of Northeast Arkansas, graduated from the University of Arkansas with a doctorate in education. He, his wife Chelsea, and their four kids reside in Springdale.
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