Alma team members share how their past careers in education evolved into roles that positively impact students globally with Alma.
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Joe Brzycki’s journey to Alma is defined by one guiding principle: increasing the number of students he can support in meaningful ways. After more than a decade in special education classrooms, Joe transitioned into EdTech with a clear goal in mind—to extend his reach while staying deeply connected to student needs.
A foundation in special education
Joe began his education career as a special education teacher, working for 12 years as a middle school, center-based EBD (emotional and behavioral disorder) teacher. In that role, he supported students with complex needs, built strong relationships, and experienced firsthand how critical the right tools, systems, and support structures are to student success.
That classroom experience shaped how Joe thinks about impact, equity, and the importance of meeting students where they are.
Stepping into EdTech
After 12 years in the classroom, Joe made the transition into EdTech with DreamBox Learning. He began as a professional learning specialist and eventually moved into an account executive role, spending four years helping schools implement instructional solutions at scale. From there, he joined ST Math, where he spent another four years as Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Each role expanded his perspective on how technology, when implemented thoughtfully, can support educators and improve outcomes for far more students than a single classroom ever could.
The turning point
Joe’s move from education into EdTech was driven by scale.
“I moved from education into the EdTech space because I could have a much bigger reach in servicing students,” Joe says. “Rather than impacting 15 students a year, I would have the opportunity to impact thousands.”
That shift did not pull him away from students; it brought him closer to systemic change that affects entire schools and districts.
Finding Alma
Joe’s first exposure to Alma came through conversations with Damon Neiser, Alma’s Chief Revenue Officer. (Damon joined Alma in early 2024 and leads the teams responsible for revenue growth and customer expansion.) What he learned from Damon immediately stood out.
“I was immediately impressed.”
As he looked deeper into the platform and Alma’s approach to student information systems, Joe was impressed by both the product and the mission behind it. Alma represented a chance to apply his experience across education and EdTech in a way that aligned with his values.
Role at Alma
Now at Alma, Joe brings together his classroom experience, EdTech background, and leadership perspective to support schools as they modernize their systems. His work contributes directly to Alma’s mission of transforming education by helping districts operate more effectively so educators can focus on students, not systems.
What motivates Joe is knowing that the work he does today has a ripple effect across schools, teams, and student communities.
Looking ahead
Joe sees the future of education as one that demands scalable, thoughtful systems that support both educators and students. He believes Alma is well positioned to meet that moment, and he is excited to be part of a team that is building tools designed to serve schools now and into the future.
