Alma team members share how their past careers in education evolved into roles that positively impact students globally with Alma.
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Here’s a look at Shane’s journey and what motivates him to make a difference in education:
Shane Cloutier’s career journey highlights the profound impact of embracing new opportunities. Having spent nearly a decade as a technology director in Northern New Hampshire, Shane made a natural transition from education to EdTech. Now, as Alma’s Regional Sales Director, Shane uses his extensive experience in schools to help educators and administrators navigate the evolving world of student information systems and improve their educational outcomes.
The leap into education
Before transitioning to EdTech, Shane spent his early career in the private sector. But in 2017, driven by a desire to support schools, he took on the role of a technology director. Over the next ten years, Shane worked for two different SAUs (School Administrative Units) in Northern New Hampshire, supporting six schools across eight towns. This role allowed Shane to develop a deep understanding of educational technology and systems management.
First encounter with Alma
Shane’s first exposure to Alma was at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference in 2017, during his tenure as a tech director. “Before that, I had no idea Alma existed,” he recalls. “I was still relatively new to the education world, looking for solutions to help my schools shift toward competency-based education.” The intuitive interface and seamless integration with Google Classroom immediately caught Shane’s attention. He quickly recognized that Alma’s ability to help teachers grade against competencies was exactly what his schools needed.
The turning point
After implementing Alma in his first school district, Shane became convinced of its potential. “I was sold on the product, and I absolutely loved the company,” he shares. As he continued to work with Alma’s platform, Shane realized that joining the Alma team would allow him to have a larger impact on education. “I wanted to spend more time in schools, so I could better understand their needs and serve them when I eventually transitioned to Alma.”
In 2024, after successfully overseeing his second Alma implementation, Shane felt the time was right. “It was a big decision, but I knew Alma was the right fit for me,” he says. Not only had Shane successfully implemented Alma once, but he had also led its second implementation in a completely new district, proving his expertise and ability to bring lasting change to multiple educational environments.
A shift to regional sales director
Transitioning from a technology director to Regional Sales Director at Alma was a significant shift for Shane. “It was a big change,” he admits, but his knowledge of the Alma platform and his experience implementing it gave him a unique perspective. “I had already set up multiple schools and was a power user in my districts. This experience made it easy for me to show schools how Alma can truly benefit them.”
Having implemented Alma twice, Shane not only understood how to use the platform but also recognized its transformative potential for districts looking to modernize their technology. This hands-on experience became a driving force in his new role. “Now, in my role at Alma, I focus on helping schools implement the platform to streamline workflows, reduce stress, and make a more significant impact on students,” Shane says. “I love that I still get to work with schools and show them how Alma can help them, bringing new workflows and less stress to staff at every level.”
Alma’s evolution: from user to advocate
Having seen Alma from both the user and employee perspectives, Shane has watched the platform evolve. “I’ve seen how much Alma has listened to its customers and improved the product,” he says. In his early experiences with Alma, the implementation process relied on spreadsheets and Gantt charts. But by 2022, Alma introduced Navigator and dedicated implementation specialist teams, transforming the process. “The new project management tools have been a game changer, making the process user-friendly and reducing stress for everyone involved,” Shane explains.
Lessons learned along the way
Reflecting on his journey, Shane shares one of the most valuable lessons he’s learned: “The hardest part of change is just thinking about it. Once you start implementing the change, it’s far easier than you expect.” This mindset has guided him in both his career transition and his approach to helping schools embrace change.
Looking ahead: a vision for the future
Shane is excited about the future of Alma and the broader education sector. “Alma continues to prioritize students while supporting educators,” he says. His vision for the future of Alma is clear: “I believe Alma will keep finding innovative ways to help schools focus on what truly matters—educating students—while making the administrative side of things easier for teachers and staff.”
Advice to educators: embrace change with a growth mindset
For educators considering or beginning to use Alma, Shane’s advice is straightforward: “Change isn’t as hard as you think. We encourage students to have growth mindsets, and we, as educators, need to embrace that mindset as well. Stop doing things just because that’s how they’ve always been done—there’s always a better way.”
Shane’s journey shows how a career in education can evolve into an opportunity to have a larger impact on the broader educational landscape. Alma’s platform continues to make a difference in the education sector, and Shane is proud to play a role in that transformation.
Reach out to Shane to learn more about how Alma can benefit your school or district or schedule a personalized demo with him here.
You can also email him @ shane.cloutier@getalma.com
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At Alma, most of our team started their careers in education, from teaching to school leadership. Now, they’re making a global impact through their roles with us. Our “Journeys to Alma” series highlights these unique stories to showcase how their past experiences continue to shape the future of education.
