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K-12 AI Advisory Council

The K-12 AI Advisory Council reflects Frontline’s leadership in shaping the future of school operations with AI — responsibly, strategically, and in partnership with those who know schools best. 

As we move forward, we’re not just listening to administrators — we’re building with them.

Making a Difference with AI

Countless factors influence K-12 administrators’ adoption, comfort level, and use cases for AI. That range is reflected in the inaugural members of Frontline’s K-12 AI Advisory Council.

But all council members share the optimism that AI can make a real difference in the lives of their peers and students when managed responsibly and intentionally.

The Council’s Mission

To harness the power of AI to simplify school operations so that leaders are free to focus on what matters most.  

Meet the Council

Elizabeth Bauer

Supervisor of Special Education Compliance, Plainfield ISD, New Jersey

Liz Bauer brings 16 years of experience in public education, with expertise spanning special education compliance, Child Study Team operations, school psychology, case management, staff supervision, and systems implementation. She began her career as a teacher assistant in a multiple disabilities class, an experience that helped shape her strong foundation in supporting students with complex needs and navigating special education systems. In her current role, she leads compliance initiatives, supports multidisciplinary teams, develops staff training, and works to strengthen service delivery and operational efficiency across the district. Prior to her current position, she served in leadership roles in Teaneck Public Schools, including Lead Child Study Team Coordinator and IEP Software Advisor, in addition to several years as a School Psychologist and Case Manager. Liz holds a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology and a Professional Diploma in School Psychology from New Jersey City University. She is a New Jersey-certified Supervisor and School Psychologist, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She is passionate about using innovation, collaboration, and practical problem-solving to improve outcomes for students and school systems.

Deneé Chilek

Director of Financial Services Support, Klein ISD, Texas

Deneé Chilek serves in the Houston, Texas area where she leads cross-functional efforts to strengthen financial operations in support of student success. With more than fifteen years of experience in public education, she strives to build collaborative teams, translate complexity into clarity, and align systems to the real operational needs of campuses while keeping the focus on students. She is particularly passionate about the responsible integration of emerging technologies to elevate district leadership. She believes artificial intelligence has the potential to reduce administrative burden, enhance decision-making, and create greater organizational insight, while preserving human judgment and the relationships at the heart of K-12 education. Deneé’s leadership philosophy centers on collaborative leadership, clear guidance, and supportive solutions. 

Abigale Garcia

Director of Finance & Accounting, Aldine ISD, Texas 

A transformation-focused Finance and Operations Leader, Abigale currently directs a team of 15 and oversees high-volume operations exceeding $3M+ in monthly transactions. She is a pioneer in digital transformation, having integrated AI-driven automation to reduce manual processing by 90% and slash vendor approval times from 45 days to just seven. With extensive expertise in forensic auditing and internal controls, she has identified over $1M in fraudulent transactions throughout her career while maintaining 100% regulatory compliance across multi-million-dollar budgets. 

Nathan Gerrells

Director of HR, Jackson County SD, Georgia

Nathan Gerrells brings more than 20 years of experience in K–12 education, with a career spanning the classroom, school leadership, district administration, and nonprofit executive leadership. He currently serves Jackson County School System, one of the fastest-growing school districts in Georgia, where he serves on a team overseeing strategic efforts in recruitment, retention, workforce development, and organizational effectiveness. Nathan is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at the University of Georgia, with a focus on supporting new teachers through novel teacher induction practices.

Rachel Hinshaw

Director, Information Systems, Galena Park ISD, Texas

Rachel began teaching as a tech-savvy educator in a middle school classroom with very little tech access. Over the last 16 years in predominantly low-income areas of Houston, TX, she has served in education as a teacher, school administrator, and instructional technology specialist. In her current role, she oversees the district’s information infrastructure and support systems. She is also responsible for leading transformative projects and defining new processes to help the district achieve its strategic objectives, approaching old and new problems with creative solutions. She’s passionate about technology’s impact on education, not only creating more engaging and personalized learning experiences but also giving all students, teachers, and staff the tools they need to thrive.

Josh Middleton

Director of HR, J O Combs USD, Arizona

Dr. Josh Middleton has spent his career in public education, including more than two decades as a superintendent. His work has consistently focused on building systems that support strong teaching, clear leadership, and meaningful student outcomes. As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent, he is committed to ensuring its integration in education is practical, responsible, and focused on improving the daily experiences of students and educators.

Tami Moore

Associate Superintendent of HR, San Mateo County Office of Education, California

Tami Moore leads strategic talent and organizational initiatives that support districts across California’s complex K–12 system. Having served as a TK–8 Principal, Director of Human Resources & Teacher/Administrator Development, she brings a practical, systems-level lens to workforce strategy, leadership, and continuous improvement in public education. Tami believes artificial intelligence can help reduce operational complexity, reveal meaningful insights, and empower K–12 educators to focus more deeply on students. At the same time, she strongly believes how we implement AI matters. We do a disservice to students if we fail to teach them how to use AI tools responsibly, critically, and ethically. Preparing students for the future means modeling thoughtful, human-centered AI adoption within our own systems. She is committed to ensuring innovation supports the real operational needs of districts while strengthening the human side of education.

Tara Newton

Instructional Support Specialist, JLHHO BOCES, New York

With nearly three decades of experience in education, Tara Newton brings a diverse and well-rounded background to supporting students and educators. She spent 24 years teaching mathematics within Career and Technical Education at the Bohlen Technical Center in Watertown, NY, where she built a strong foundation in applied learning and student-centered instruction. She also served for four years as the Director of Business Services for Madison-Oneida BOCES, gaining valuable leadership and operational experience. Tara currently works as an Instructional Support Specialist for Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, focusing on enhancing teaching practices and integrating innovative tools into the classroom. Some of the professional trainings in AI she has co-led include introductory sessions, platform exploration, and practical applications using tools such as Canva and Magic School.

Kimberly Olsen

Director of HR, WV Department of Education, West Virginia

Kimberly is a seasoned Human Resources professional with 20 years of experience, including 15 years in public education in the state of West Virginia. She holds a M.S. in Human Resources Management from Marshall University and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Kimberly is an active member of the National Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and serves the local SHRM Chapter as Certification Officer. Kimberly spent 10 years working as a Human Resources Specialist for the largest school district in West Virginia. Currently, she serves as the Human Resources Director for the West Virginia Department of Education where she has successfully led the state in the implementation of the Frontline Recruiting & Hiring Consortia. Her expertise spans talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, and compliance ensuring that the WVDE is able to operate smoothly while focusing on and supporting the well-being of employees. She is committed to leading the way in utilizing AI to enhance organizational efficiency while supporting the success of schools, employees, and students.

Peter Pitucco

Director of HR, Hillsborough Township SD, New Jersey

Peter N. Pitucco has over two decades of HR leadership experience across large K–12 school districts and the private sector. He has overseen comprehensive human capital operations supporting organizations with up to 2,000 employees. Peter’s expertise includes talent acquisition, labor relations, staff evaluation systems, contract negotiations, and organizational development. He has led the implementation of innovative HR systems and processes, including Frontline platforms and data-driven workforce management initiatives, to improve efficiency and support strategic decision-making.

Oscar Rodriguez

Chief Information Technology Officer, Austin ISD, Texas

Since taking on the role of Chief Technology Officer for the Austin Independent School District in 2022, Dr. Oscar Rodriguez has been a driving force behind the district’s digital transformation and innovation with a focus on Simple, Standard, and Secure. He leads the teams responsible for maintaining the district’s enterprise IT systems and maintaining data privacy and security, which have seen significant enhancements benefiting students, families, and staff. With over eighteen years of experience in education, Dr. Rodriguez’s career began as a high school math teacher. He has held various roles in Dallas ISD before joining Austin ISD in 2021. A first-generation college graduate, he is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. Dr. Rodriguez holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas Christian University, along with a Master’s in Business Administration and Digital Learning.

Kathryn Rusk

External Business Coordinator, San Joaquin COE, California

Kathie Rusk serves as the External Business Coordinator at the San Joaquin County Office of Education, where she oversees all cash transactions for county schools, including deposits, accounts payable, and payroll. Her office supports a broad educational network that includes the Teachers College of San Joaquin, 14 school districts encompassing 250 school sites, 50 charter schools, and one community college, collectively serving over 154,000 students. In addition to her financial responsibilities, she provides support for finance-related inquiries as well. Kathie brings a diverse professional background that includes coaching Economics for Academic Decathlon, teaching technology classes, and serving as an Athletic Director, along with a strong interest in leveraging AI as a safe and efficient tool in education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. 

Jenelle Williams

County Office Leader, Santa Barbara County Office of Education, California

Jenelle Williams is a District Financial Advisor with over 20 years of experience supporting school district leadership in finance, operations, and strategic planning. She partners with districts to strengthen business processes, interpret complex data, and leverage technology to improve decision-making and efficiency. Jenelle has led major district system implementations and integrations, including Frontline ERP, working closely with vendors on enhancements and training to improve adoption and usability. She brings a practitioner’s perspective to the K-12 AI Advisory Council and is passionate about using AI to reduce administrative burden, expand capacity, and help schools better serve students through more efficient, human-centered systems.

Shannon VanCoughnett

Director of School Improvement, JLHHO BOCES, New York 

Shannon is an experienced educational leader with a strong background in instructional innovation, technology integration, and school leadership. She holds a BA in Adolescence Education (Social Studies 7–12), an MS as an Educational Technology Specialist (K–12), and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration. With more than a decade of experience as a High School Social Studies Teacher, Shannon has progressed into a variety of leadership positions, including Middle School Assistant Principal, High School Assistant Principal, High School Principal, and K–12 Fine Arts Director.  She currently serves as Supervisor of Instructional Technology and School Improvement at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES in Watertown, New York. As a certified Educational Technology Specialist and instructional leader, Shannon has led extensive professional development initiatives, helping educators integrate technology in meaningful, student-centered ways. Her current work includes supporting the thoughtful implementation of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance instruction, increase efficiency, and promote equitable learning opportunities. Shannon brings a systems-level perspective to educational transformation, with a focus on leveraging innovation to improve student outcomes and drive continuous school improvement. 

Additional Council Members

Charmion Patton

Chief HR Officer, Hillsborough CPS, Florida