Allison Reid to retire from Wake County schools and move into EdTech consulting

Allison Reid is stepping down from Wake County Public School System at the end of December, marking a shift from district leadership into consulting focused on digital learning, AI, and education strategy.

Photo credit: Allison Reid

Allison Reid, senior director of digital learning and libraries at Wake County Public School System, announced she will retire from her role at the end of December and transition into full-time consulting.

The move follows more than six years leading district-wide digital learning strategy and comes as school systems continue to reassess how technology, AI, and instruction intersect at scale.

A defining chapter in district leadership

Reid shared the news in a LinkedIn post, describing the decision as the close of a “defining chapter” after serving a district of more than 161,000 students. Her career at Wake County spanned classroom teaching, advocacy, and senior leadership, including a period serving as interim chief technology officer.

“Serving a community of 161,000+ students has been an honor,” Reid wrote. “From navigating the complexities of COVID to driving digital transformation, the partnerships we built made it all possible.”

Reflecting on her progression through the system, Reid pointed to classroom teaching as the foundation of her work, followed by broader advocacy and leadership roles that shaped district-wide technology and learning strategy.

“Starting as a teacher was my foundation,” she wrote. “I’m most proud of the lifelong relationships built with students and staff that continue to this day.”

From district strategy to consulting

During her tenure, Reid oversaw digital learning and library services across nearly 200 schools, leading teams responsible for platform implementation, resource vetting, and digital strategy. She also played a central role in policy development, large-scale platform rollouts, and the district’s approach to artificial intelligence during a period of rapid change.

Looking ahead, Reid said retirement from the district would not mark a pause in her work. Instead, she plans to focus fully on consulting, supporting organizations navigating instructional change and technology adoption.

“Retirement from the district doesn't mean stopping,” she wrote. “I am excited to transition fully into consulting, leveraging my experience in both instruction and technology leadership to help organizations navigate their own innovation journeys.”

She added that her focus would remain on bridging gaps between instructional priorities and technology decision-making.

“If you want to chat about bridging the gap between instruction and technology in your organization, let’s connect,” she wrote.

Continued focus on AI and education systems

Alongside her consulting work, Reid is currently a fellow in the EDSAFE Women in AI Fellowship, a year-long program supporting education leaders engaging with AI safety, ethics, and policy. The fellowship brings together practitioners from across education and industry to explore how AI may reshape learning systems.

Closing her post, Reid reflected on the transition with a forward-looking tone. “Grateful for the past. Ready for the future,” she wrote. “Let’s get to work.”