Former Chief of Staff for Idaho Department of Education Joins EdTech Leader to Expand Advocacy Initiatives
Los Angeles, Aug. 30, 2023 – Age of Learning, leading education technology innovator and creator of the widely popular ABCmouse® Early Learning Academy, today announced it has appointed former Chief of Staff for the Idaho Department of Education Luci Willits as Vice President of Public Policy. Willits will focus on expanding the availability of Age of Learning’s evidenced-based school solutions My Math Academy® and My Reading Academy™, by overseeing collaborations with public policy leaders and organizations at the local, state, and national levels.
In her role at the Idaho Department of Education, Willits advised the elected superintendent on multiple policy initiatives designed to improve public education, including academic standards, teacher compensation, graduation requirements, and federal law. She also worked closely with lawmakers to create and execute legislative strategies, helping to pass significant education legislation in Idaho.
Prior to joining Age of Learning, Willits served as Senior Vice President of Government Relations at MetaMetrics, where she oversaw the company’s state portfolio, leading engagement with policymakers and state education departments nationwide. She has also held leadership positions at Curriculum Associates, where she established a national governmental affairs division, and at Smarter Balanced, where she oversaw the successful rollout of online testing for the nation’s largest testing consortium.
“Luci has a proven track record of achievement and brings invaluable insight into how effective education policy is shaped, thanks to her extensive experience as a public sector leader,” said Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer at Age of Learning. “Age of Learning’s personalized math and reading solutions are dramatically improving outcomes for young students, and with Luci joining our team we have the opportunity to increase the scale of this impact.”
“Age of Learning stands out for its best-in-class programs and unparalleled evidence of the effectiveness which is a priority for policymakers,” said Willits. “Students using My Math Academy and My Reading Academy are showing strong academic gains across the U.S. I look forward to working with Sunil and the world-class Age of Learning team to develop new partnerships and collaborate with education stakeholders to help more learners benefit from My Math Academy and My Reading Academy.”
Age of Learning’s My Math Academy® and My Reading Academy™ adaptive, personalized solutions are based on learning science principles and are supported by a body of ESSA-aligned research demonstrating their effectiveness. To date, the company has received 10 ESSA-aligned validations for My Math Academy and My Reading Academy.
About Age of Learning
Age of Learning® is the leading education technology innovator, creating engaging and effective learning resources to help children build a strong foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of learning. The company’s research-based digital education programs have been developed by an experienced team of education experts and have proven efficacy in increasing children’s learning gains. Age of Learning’s flagship product, ABCmouse.com® Early Learning Academy, is an award-winning comprehensive curriculum for children. The company’s school solutions programs include My Math Academy®, an adaptive, personalized program proven to significantly accelerate math learning outcomes, and My Reading Academy™, an adaptive program designed to help young learners build a foundation for reading comprehension and literacy and become fluent readers. With over 11 billion learning activities completed by more than 50 million children worldwide, Age of Learning is a global leader in efforts to advance equity, access, and opportunity for all children. To learn more about Age of Learning, visit www.AgeofLearning.com.