At Abbott Advisors, we empower education organizations with the tools and expertise needed to harness the power of data and technology to improve student learning and promote digital equity.
Our team is a dynamic blend of education enthusiasts and technology experts, united by a shared vision: to drive innovation in the educational landscape. With years of combined experience, we're not just consultants; we're partners in shaping the future of learning.
Founder / CEO
Jill Abbott, CEO of Abbott Advisor Group, specializes in strategic planning, visioning, and policy development in educational technology transformation. With a rich background including roles as the COO of the SIF Association and Chief Learning Officer, she has pioneered virtual education initiatives and consistently advocated for tech integration in learning. A recognized figure in state and federal circles, Jill offers policy guidance on educational technology, assessment, interoperability, and digital content on a national scale.
Chief Architect
Mike Powell, chief architect of AAG, melds 20 years of software prowess with profound education insight. A lead architect for national consortia with a knack for cutting-edge education solutions, Mike's expertise encompasses data modernization, systems architecture, and the formulation of technical visions for educational transformation.
Technology Lead
Dynamic and innovative leader, with global experience in national-scale program design and deployment emphasizing educational impact, technology strategy, strategic partnership building, and community engagement. Diverse expertise focused on educational technology infrastructure and policy; digital assessment; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development; open source and open educational resources (OER); and data interoperability.
Senior Executive Consultant
Thomas focuses on the business of software and education — delivering products that address the needs of learners, educators and institutions. With experience throughout K20 education and enterprise human capital management he is a thought leader and innovator. A recognized expert in learning, assessment and academic publishing technologies Thomas is a frequent speaker, panelist and advisor throughout the EdTech industry and has concentrated his career on lowering barriers to entry with technology through simple, human-centered solutions.
Principal Consultant | Data Governance
Ann Willemssen helps government and foundation executives align on strategy, governance, and operation objectives to collect and use data more effectively, She has consulted with over 50 public sector organizations over the last eleven years. And she recently created an online course for the University of California at Berkeley, which explores best practices for establishing equitable data governance structures. Prior to consulting, Ann worked for DC's Office of the State Superintendent of Education and for the City Administrator of the District of Columbia, supporting education and workforce development programs.
Privacy and Security Lead
Frankie Jackson is a nationally recognized Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in K-12, leading education technology initiatives for 30+ years at the state and national levels. Frankie is the Program Director for the Cybersecurity Coalition for Education and is the project lead for the development of the framework and instructional content developer for the Certified Cybersecurity Rubric Evaluator (CCRE) training course to certify professionals as cybersecurity evaluators. She serves on the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) advisory board for Driving K-12 Innovation, CoSN's Cybersecurity Advisory Board, using a blend of technical and leadership expertise and performance excellence frameworks.
Empowering Education Through Technology
At AAG, we specialize in bridging the gap between technology and education. Our tailored solutions address the unique challenges faced by educational institutions, ensuring they harness the full potential of modern technology.
Harness the power of modern data solutions to drive decision-making. We help education departments upgrade their data infrastructure, adopt best practices in data management, strategize around privacy and security, and leverage advanced analytics to gain insights and improve student outcomes.
We're committed to bridging the digital divide in education. Our experts work with stakeholders to ensure all students have equal access to technology and digital resources, empowering them to succeed in a digital-first world.
Navigate the complexities of education technology with a clear, forward-thinking strategy. We provide strategic guidance on technology adoption, digital transformation initiatives, and IT management, aligning technology goals with educational objectives.
Case Study
Navigating complexities with precision to enable data-driven decision-making.
“AAG has been the guiding compass on our transformative journey in modernizing our education landscape. Their meticulous planning, collaborative spirit, and step-by-step approach have propelled the Oklahoma State Department of Education towards unprecedented success.”
Over a decade ago, the Oklahoma State Department of Education launched its first Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS). With time, the landscape of technology evolved, leading to an outdated infrastructure and data model. Challenges multiplied: ad-hoc solutions for data collection issues, inconsistencies with unique identifiers, absence of a singular data source, and a pressing need for vendor collaboration. An overarching strategic plan was missing, and with staff turnovers, there was no established governance structure.
Recognizing these multifaceted challenges, the leadership at OSDE collaborated with Abbott Advisor Group. The initial engagement involved in-depth interviews with OSDE stakeholders, district representatives, and other state agencies, followed by a thorough review of existing systems. This deep dive facilitated an all-encompassing understanding of the current scenario, leading Abbott Advisor Group to draft a comprehensive report, outlining the path forward.
In the subsequent phase, Abbott Advisor Group delineated four critical workstreams:
Through this strategic collaboration, OSDE has achieved the following milestones:
Interested in our services or looking to collaborate? Drop us a message. We'd love to hear from you and explore how we can work together to empower education.
