Our Team

AdvancePath has a world-class team that combines deep educational experience with broad operational and business expertise. We have a profound commitment to solving the dropout problem in the United States.

John Murray, Chief Executive Officer

As CEO of AdvancePath, John maintains overall responsibility for the AdvancePath’s strategic and financial objectives.

Most recently John was Chairman, CEO and President of PLATO Learning (NASAQ: TUTR). PLATO is the largest, publicly traded vendor of alternative education software in the world. Under his leadership, PLATO grew from $30 million in revenues to just under $200 million in less than 5 years. John has also been a former Chairman of the National Dropout Prevention Network, the largest organization in the US focused on the Nation’s dropout problem. Mr. Murray continues to serve on the board on the NDPN. Prior to his career in business Mr. Murray spent 20 years in the British military in special operations after dropping out of high school.

Harris Ferrell, Vice President of Program Management

Harris is responsible for the design, development, and performance of AdvancePath’s Academies.

Harris was formerly an associate partner at NewSchools Venture Fund, where he co-led the Performance Accelerator Fund, which invested in tools and services to help school districts become performance-driven organizations. Prior to NewSchools, Harris was director of product management at SchoolNet, a company that provides data analysis, curriculum management, and reporting software to support data-driven decision-making in school districts. Harris began his career in education as a bilingual sixth grade teacher with Teach For America in Houston, TX where he was awarded the distinction of Outstanding and Dedicated Teacher.

Harris holds a graduate degree from Harvard Business School (MBA) and received his undergraduate degree in economics from Yale University.

Tom Williams, Director of Center Operations

Tom manages the creation and operations of AdvancePath’s Academies with our partner districts.

Tom served 35 years in public education at the secondary level as a teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant before coming to AdvancePath Academics. He is experienced in a broad range of educational activities with an emphasis on alternative education, school-to-career, educational technology, and educational reform. Tom has implemented numerous alternative education programs including: dropout recovery and prevention centers; federal urban/rural school-to-work projects; opportunity schools; community day schools; credit recovery programs; summer academic enrichment and employment programs; community service learning centers; a 7-12 alternative school; and a wide-area, computer-based curriculum network.

Tom has served as past president of the Learning Alternatives Resource Network (LEARN) and executive director of the Community Day School Network. Tom has earned numerous distinctions in education including the Visionary Administrators National Recognition Award (sponsored by Apple Computer and Technology and Learning Publications), California’s Outstanding Alternative Administrator Award (LeARN), Administrator of the Year – Educational Options (ACSA), the Community Day School Network Kaleidoscope Award (CDS Network), Sweetwater Innovation Perpetual Award (Sweetwater Union HSD), and Counselor of the Year (Sweetwater Counseling Association).

¨  

¨ 

¨ 

¨ 

Copyright © 2005, AdvancePath Academics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jason Eglit, Vice President of Finance & Operations

Jason manages the financial and operational aspects of AdvancePath.

Jason was a senior manager at Bain & Company in San Francisco, CA.  At Bain, Jason advised Fortune 500 clients on a range of business issues, including growth strategy options, operational efficiency improvements, and organizational design. Prior to joining Bain, Jason worked for Talus Solutions, an economic consulting company, where he helped design and implement pricing and revenue management systems.

Jason holds graduate degrees from Dartmouth College (MBA) and Stanford University (MS, Engineering-Economic Systems).  Jason received his undergraduate degree from Williams College (BA, Physics).