Alma team members share how their past careers in education evolved into roles that positively impact students globally with Alma.

Garrett Girouard’s journey to Alma is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: if you step away from the classroom, it should be to help more students and support teachers in meaningful ways. After more than a decade focused on math instruction, Garrett found a new way to scale that impact through education technology.

A foundation in the classroom
Garrett began his career as an elementary teacher in Denver Public Schools, spending most of his time teaching 2nd grade, with additional experience in 4th and 5th grade. Over the years, he developed a deep appreciation for instructional practice, student growth, and the day-to-day realities teachers face.

Math became the subject where he felt the strongest connection between instructional clarity, student confidence, and long-term success.

Finding a new path
Garrett did not initially set out to work in the student information system space. In fact, he had very little engagement with SIS platforms early on. His first connection to Alma came through people rather than products, when several former colleagues joined the team.

At the same time, he had begun thinking more seriously about what it would mean to extend his impact beyond a single classroom.

The turning point
Garrett’s decision-making framework was clear. If he ever moved away from the math space, it would be to do work that either saved teachers time or saved schools money. When he learned more about Alma, he realized it did both, and much more. That alignment made the move feel like a continuation of his work in education, not a departure from it.

Making the leap
After 14 years in math instruction, transitioning into the SIS world was a significant change. What made it possible was the culture at Alma. Garrett found himself surrounded by people who were both passionate and deeply knowledgeable, creating an environment where learning is constant and collaboration is expected.

Role at Alma
Today, Garrett contributes to Alma’s mission by helping schools operate more effectively so educators can focus on teaching and learning. His classroom experience informs how he approaches the work, grounding system-level decisions in real instructional needs. What motivates him is knowing that the tools Alma builds give teachers time back and help schools use their resources more intentionally.

Looking ahead
Garrett sees Alma’s future tied to its ability to continue solving real, complex problems for schools at scale. As education systems face increasing demands, the need for thoughtful, efficient tools only grows. He is excited to be part of a team building toward that future with purpose.