Our Story
Built by educators, for educators.
Get to know the team behind the platform: educators and visionaries united by a purpose to reshape education for the better.
Empowering every learning journey
Born to satisfy the needs of real classrooms, TrekAi connects cutting-edge AI research with firm pedagogical foundations to empower teachers and guide students toward genuine understanding.
Our mission is to create a unified ecosystem where student engagement and teacher effectiveness amplify each other. Powered by a comprehensive K-12 knowledge base, TrekAi delivers measurable improvements in student outcomes while giving teachers the time and support they need to thrive.
Our vision for educational AI
We believe technology should serve the classroom, not disrupt it. We believe that students should learn the smart way, not the hard way (or the dishonest way). We believe that teachers should have time to enjoy their work, not work more.
TrekAi exists to serve education, to illustrate a new path where every student is accommodated, every teacher is supported, and every school is connected like never before.
How our journey began
- In 2022, Dr. Derek Wilson and Dr. Joshua Thomason were colleagues at a large independent school in Atlanta, Georgia, when they began exploring how AI could personalize education.
- In Fall 2023, they launched a pilot with a small cohort of middle and high-school students to test if an AI tutor could enhance learning and streamline workflows.
- The results were undeniable. Teachers saw an immediate impact on engagement and performance, and demanded access for their classrooms.
From pilot to pivotal
- By January 2024, four more schools had begun their own pilots of TrekAi. Usage swept across middle and high school classrooms, and then on to elementary grades.
- Shortly thereafter, teachers began requesting their own AI features to assist them inside and outside the classroom, leading to the development of our teacher platform.
- Since then, TrekAi has evolved into a unified platform for over 40+ AI tools, supporting thousands of educators and hundred of schools nationwide.
Our Founding Team
Dr. Joshua Thomason
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Joshua Thomason is a visionary leader with deep roots in education and a doctorate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Since 2007, he has innovated ways of personalizing online education. While he previously served as CFO for a large independent school, his expertise extends beyond financial strategy, focusing on leading teams to solve complex challenges that improve the lives of students and educators.
Dr. Derek Wilson
Chief Product Officer
As Chief Product Officer, Dr. Derek Wilson is the bridge between the students and teachers using TrekAi in the classroom and our team of world-class AI developers. Based in Atlanta, Derek began his career as a Spanish teacher and brings a unique perspective through doctoral studies in moral development and bioethics. He is passionate about helping schools use technology in ways that are both innovative and ethically grounded.
Erin Burchik
Chief Growth Officer
Erin Burchik has been working at the intersection of personalization and AI since 2019 and holds a patent for her work. Since launch, Erin has lent her background in brand marketing to bring TrekAi nationwide. Today, she helps educators across the country understand the value of the platform, serving as the engine driving TrekAi's growth.
Mike Carroll
Chief Strategy Officer
From his roots on an Ohio farm to executive leadership for global brands, Mike has led massive tech transformations for numerous global manufacturing firms. Most notably, Mike was VP of Innovation at Georgia Pacific and was featured in Forbes for his work in pioneering casual AI during his tenure. Mike has guided the development and strategy of TrekAi since the first students began using it in 2023.
John Vicente
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. John Vicente is a visionary technology leader with deep expertise in AI, cyber-physical systems, and enterprise architecture. With a PhD in engineering and a career spent building large-sclae intelligent systems as a CTO at companies like Intel, he has consistently pioneered solutions that bridge advanced research with real-world impact. At TrekAi, he brings this mission forward, helping shape a secure, high-performing AI infrastructure that empowers educators and students alike.
Brittany Ordu
Director of Partnerships
Brittany leads TrekAi's Partnerships team and brings over a decade of experience as an educator and coach, along with five years in edtech. She works closely with schools and districts to explore how AI can streamline workflows, enhance instruction, and give educators more time to focus on what matters most—connecting with students. She is passionate about helping schools adopt AI in thoughtful, practical ways that truly support teaching and learning.
Jessica Rosario
School Partnership Manager
Jessica serves on TrekAi's Growth team as a School Partnership Manager, collaborating with schools and districts as they explore AI solutions for their campuses. With deep experience in edtech sales and relationship-driven outreach, she helps education leaders understand how TrekAI can support teachers, improve efficiency, and create better learning experiences for students.
Morgan Christensen
Partner Success Manager
Morgan serves on TrekAi's Partner Success team, bringing a strong background in technology customer success and implementation. She is committed to ensuring schools feel supported and confident throughout onboarding and adoption, helping educators experience real, day-to-day value as they integrate AI into their classrooms.
Real results for real classrooms
Book a product tour to see how TrekAi is transforming education for the future, and explore what educational AI could mean for your school.