Derek Rouch, Ed.D.

Enthusiastic, results-oriented educator with a passion for helping students become all they were born to be. Technologist, strategist, and builder with more than 15 years of experience spanning the middle school math classroom, K-12 leadership, content strategy, and a national AI-in-education company. Currently leading AI strategy across 40 California school districts, developing the curriculum, frameworks, and practical tools that help schools harness AI to improve teaching, learning, and belonging.

Experience

• Director of AI Sonoma County Office of Education2025–Current

  I currently lead the AI integration efforts for Sonoma County’s 40 school districts, as well as for SCOE internal. I create training resources and build case studies for AI’s role in supporting teaching, learning, and belonging in schools.

• Co-Founder Evergreen Education2022–Current

  Co-founded and scaled an AI-in-education company from a single conference into a nationally recognized provider of K–12 AI curriculum, professional development, and thought leadership. Led the development of SequoiaCon’s conference programming, a yearlong district AI Academy, an AI literacy framework downloaded tens of thousands of times, Everwise’s video curriculum, and a statewide AI professional development partnership with Wyoming.

• Adjunct Faculty, Instructional Design Purdue University2023–2024

  Taught instructional design to graduate students in Purdue’s online Master’s in Learning Design and Technology program.

• Chief Technology Officer Nuview Union School District and Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District2021–2025

  Led the Technology department and leaned into AI to build custom tools for teachers, staff, students, and leadership.

• Educational Technology Administrator Hemet Unified School District2018–2021

  Supported teachers in secondary math and technology. Built the cabinet’s data-viz system and a COVID distance learning site that drew 18,000+ visitors from 46 states.

• Sr. Content Strategist Gloo2015–2018

  Pre-IPO. Led content strategy for white-labeled apps, web experiences, and progress monitoring tools, managing instructional designers and developers. Designed and pitched the app that won a $1.2MM contract with ASU and the nation’s leading dental services provider.

• Copywriter LivingSocial2011–2012

  Wrote hundreds and hundreds of daily deals and won the company’s “Best Copy” award.

• Teacher Riverside County2009–2015

  Taught middle school math for underserved populations.