Gov. Sanders appoints higher ed consultant to state education board

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed Aaron Abbott, a consultant whose employer markets artificial intelligence tools to private schools and higher education institutions, to the State Board of Education.

Abbot’s term on the state board, which oversees K-12 schools, will end in 2032. He replaces Kathy McFetridge, who was appointed in 2018 by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and whose term ended June 30. 

Though he’s been appointed to oversee K-12 education on the state board, Abbot’s career has focused on consulting and administration in higher education. He has previously worked for education consulting firm Ruffalo Noel & Levitz and in roles overseeing admissions and enrollment for the University of Arkansas, John Brown University and Williams Baptist University, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

He currently works as a consultant at Halda, an education consulting firm based out of Provo, Utah, that sells tools that use OpenAI’s ChatGPT large language model to colleges and universities as well as private K-12 schools. The stated goal is to increase the schools’ enrollment and improve their website experience. 

According to a press release announcing his appointment, Abbot is “deeply committed to promoting educational freedom for Arkansas families.” 

In Arkansas, “educational freedom,” along with other buzzwords like “parental empowerment” and “school choice,” typically refers to the policies and programs enacted by the Arkansas LEARNS Act in 2023. The law established, among other things, a school voucher program that hands public money to private schools and homeschooling families. 

Sanders, quoted in the release, called him “the perfect fit for the Board of Education … as we continue to implement Arkansas LEARNS.” 

Here’s the full release from Sanders:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced that she has appointed Aaron Abbott to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Education. Abbott, whose term will expire on June 30, 2032, is replacing Kathy McFetridge.

“Aaron’s extensive background in education and steadfast commitment that every child can learn make him the perfect fit for the Board of Education and to serve the parents, educators, and students of Arkansas as we continue to implement Arkansas LEARNS,” said Governor Sanders. “Education is all about building the future and with people like Aaron advocating for our kids, fighting for parents, and supporting educators, that future is bright.”

“I’m honored and humbled to be selected by Governor Sanders to serve on the State Board of Education,” said Aaron Abbott. “It’s a privilege to be part of education policy and oversight at such an important time for our state and our country. The changes underway are putting parents at the center, raising literacy rates, and building stronger pathways from the classroom to careers or college. I’m especially excited to get involved at a time when more education oversight is being returned to the states by the federal government. I’m looking forward to working with the Governor, my fellow board members, and communities across Arkansas to help ensure every student is set up for success, because when the students win, everyone wins.”

Aaron Abbott Bio:Aaron Abbott is an Account Manager and Consultant at Halda, where he works with colleges and universities across the country to enhance student recruitment, engagement, and success.

Before joining Halda, Aaron served as a Client Success Director and Consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), following more than a decade of leading enrollment management efforts at higher education institutions in Arkansas. These roles include overseeing graduate recruitment for the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, directing graduate and online enrollment at John Brown University, and serving as Director of Admissions at Williams Baptist University.

While his professional focus has centered on guiding students through the path to higher education, Aaron is deeply committed to promoting educational freedom for Arkansas families and ensuring students are equipped to pursue college or career opportunities with confidence.

A native of Northeast Arkansas, Aaron holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Arkansas. He lives in Springdale with his wife, Chelsea, and their four children.