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AdvancePath is led by a team of seasoned business professionals and career educators who, between them, have over 200 years of experience of serving public education.

We have a profound belief in public education and a deep commitment to solving the dropout problem in the United States.


Our Team

John Murray, Chairman & CEO; John Super, President; Carl Thompson, SVP Corporate Operations;
Tinsley C. Goad, Chief Financial Officer Reginald L. Underwood, Vice President of Academy Operations;
Jean Sharp, Vice President Curriculum and Instruction; Tom Williams, Education Consultant

John Murray, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

As chairman and CEO of AdvancePath, John maintains overall responsibility for AdvancePath's strategic and financial objectives.

Prior to joining AdvancePath, John was Chairman, President and CEO of PLATO Learning, Inc. (NASDAQ: TUTR) where he had a successful 18 year career. PLATO is the largest, publicly traded, educational software provider in the world and serves the needs of both mainstream and alternative education. Under John's leadership, PLATO's revenues grew from $33 to $142 million in 7 years, its balance sheet was significantly strengthened, and it became recognized by educators, policy makers, and politicians as an industry leader and change agent.

Prior to assuming the duties of PLATO's Chairman and CEO, John held numerous other positions at PLATO - including President & Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Product Development. John started his career at PLATO by launching the military and aerospace training division in the UK.

Prior to his career in business, John spent 16 years in the British Army's Signal Corp after leaving high school at age 15. John was recognized in the Queens 1985 Birthday Honors list for his outstanding contribution to Army training. John, who is passionate about improving life opportunities for at risk and drop out students, is Chairman of the National Dropout Prevention Network (NDPN), the largest organization in the US focused on the Nation's dropout problem.


John Super, President

John is responsible for the day to day operations, marketing and product strategy of AdvancePath.

Most recently John served as President of LessonLab in Santa Monica, CA and prior to his time there he was Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, at PLATO Learning, Inc. During his tenure at PLATO, he helped guide the company's merger and acquisition strategy to achieve seven acquisitions over a three-year period, growing revenue from $47 million to $142 million. He also held a variety of sales and strategic marketing positions with the company over a 14 year period.

Prior to joining PLATO in 1990, John was a sales director with Computer Curriculum Corporation, (CCC) and also served in several management positions with Wicat Systems.


Carl Thompson, SVP Corporate Operations

Carl is responsible for ensuring that AdvancePath's district contracts are implemented quickly and efficiently, ensuring its Academies are opened to the same demanding quality standards.

Prior to joining AdvancePath, Carl was Vice President International at PLATO Learning Inc, responsible for the two subsidiary companies in Canada and the UK as well as the distributors located in Asia, Southern Africa and the Middle East. Carl has over twenty years of experience in business management holding several positions at senior management level. He has experience in many operational roles including building services, customer service, software development, professional development, business development and general management. He has been responsible for a number of business units and divisions within private and publicly traded companies both in the US and the UK.


Tinsley C. Goad, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Goad brings nearly 20 years of experience in financial and operations management in IT and Web-based service organizations to his post at AdvancePath. After earning his MBA from the College of William and Mary in 1992, he joined a Williamsburg, Virginia-based startup, College and University Computers, Inc. Serving as CUC’s Vice President and CFO, he helped this value added PC reseller secure more than 30 accounts at schools from Pennsylvania to Florida and earn a spot on Inc. Magazine’s 1996 Inc. 500 listing of the fastest growing private firms in the US. He has also served as Sr. Vice President -- Finance and Administration for GuideStar, a nonprofit organization recognized across the US as the national database of nonprofit information. His most recent position was as Sr. Director for TechSoup Global, a San Francisco-based NPO that distributes donated technology products from Microsoft and 40 other vendors to more than 100,000 charities worldwide.


Reginald L. Underwood, Vice President of Academy Operations

Reggie is responsible for guiding districts interested in AdvancePath Academy through an implementation feasibility analysis as well as directing ongoing community liaison work in all of our academies to maximize student enrollment and attendance.

Reggie has spent the past 15 years in education in Virginia. Prior to joining the AdvancePath team, he was the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for Charles City County Public Schools where he was responsible for academic and instructional growth and development. Reggie has also served as a middle school principal, high school assistant principal and teacher and alternative education instructor.

Before embarking upon a career in education, Reggie spent 20 years in the fast-food industry as a district manager and owner-operator of several Burger King Restaurants in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Reggie received his BA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Masters of Teaching from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is presently a Doctoral Candidate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.


Jean Sharp, Vice President Curriculum and Instruction

Jean is responsible for overseeing AdvancePath’s curriculum design, implementation, and efficacy. Prior to joining AdvancePath, Jean was Vice President Curriculum Development at PLATO Learning Inc, responsible for the design, development, and delivery of PLATO’s courseware offering. Jean has more than twenty years of leadership and management experience in the education and software publishing industries with expertise in software design, development, and technology implementation. Among her credits are numerous award winning educational software products published for the school and consumer markets. Her expertise includes project management, curriculum strategy and development, and instructional design. Jean has been recognized for her strong people management, team building, and organizational development skills.


Tom Williams, Education Consultant

Tom manages the creation and operations of AdvancePath's Academies with our partner districts.

Prior to joining AdvancePath, Tom served 35 years in public education at the secondary level as a teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant. He is experienced in a broad range of educational activities with an emphasis on alternative education, school-to-career, educational technology, and educational reform. Tom has implemented numerous alternative education programs including: dropout recovery and prevention centers; federal urban/rural school-to-work projects; opportunity schools; community day schools; credit recovery programs; summer academic enrichment and employment programs; community service learning centers; a 7-12 alternative school; and a wide-area, computer-based curriculum network.

Tom has served as president of the Learning Alternatives Resource Network (LEARN) and executive director of the Community Day School Network. Tom has earned numerous distinctions in education including the Visionary Administrators National Recognition Award (sponsored by Apple Computer and Technology and Learning Publications), California's Outstanding Alternative Administrator Award (LeARN), Administrator of the Year ¬ Educational Options (ACSA), the Community Day School Network Kaleidoscope Award (CDS Network), Sweetwater Innovation Perpetual Award (Sweetwater Union HSD), and Counselor of the Year (Sweetwater Counseling Association).