Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) is announcing the launch of TrekAI as an independent education technology company, marking a significant milestone for a platform that began as an in-house innovation and has grown to serve hundreds of schools nationwide.

Born within GAC classrooms and shaped by teachers and students, TrekAI was created to connect cutting-edge artificial intelligence with a strong pedagogical foundation. What was first developed as a tool for GAC students has grown into a robust ecosystem of more than 40 AI-powered tools, now supporting thousands of educators and hundreds of schools across five continents.

A Thoughtful Approach to Innovation

At GAC, conversations about using artificial intelligence in the classroom began years ago, building on a long history of thoughtful innovation. More than a decade ago, the school launched Ethos, one of the first online schools to implement flexible, personalized learning tools. While many educational institutions move cautiously in adopting new technologies, GAC has intentionally led with purpose, exploring how AI can support students, strengthen teaching, and prepare learners for the future. This foundation in innovative, technology-driven education laid the groundwork for TrekAI.

“We have talked often about being obsessed with finding a better way,” said Dr. Scott Harsh, GAC President. “I’m proud of what we have created through Ethos Online School and now through the TrekAI platform. It reflects a culture across our school that is committed to thoughtful innovation.”

“Our students are growing up in a world where AI is not optional,” said Dr. Paul Cable, High School Principal at GAC. “We are not going to sweep the tide out or build up a wall high enough that it can’t get into our English classes. Instead, we must ask: How do we steward what is clearly coming? How do we redeem it for good?”

From Classroom Pilot to National Platform

In 2022, Dr. Derek Wilson, then Dean of Technology and Innovation, and Dr. Joshua Thomason, then Chief Financial Officer, began exploring how artificial intelligence could personalize education in ethical, academically rigorous ways. By fall 2023, a small group of GAC middle and high school students piloted an AI tutor designed to enhance comprehension and streamline classroom workflows.

The results were immediate. Teachers reported increased engagement and stronger academic performance and quickly requested access for their own classrooms. Within months, additional schools launched pilots, and TrekAI expanded from a student-focused tool into a comprehensive platform serving both teachers and students.

Designed as a socratic student tutor, TrekAI teaches students how to think by guiding them through questions rather than giving direct answers, creating real learning moments while resisting plagiarism and promoting academic integrity at every interaction. 

In early implementations, students experiencing academic difficulty saw grade improvements of up to 15%, while the overall distribution of A and B grades increased by 25%. Additionally, 94% of students reported that TrekAI improved their grades. With a hallucination rate of approximately 2%, TrekAI offers a significantly more reliable alternative to general-use AI tools, which have reported hallucination rates as high as 23%, reinforcing TrekAI’s role as a trusted partner in the learning process.

Today, TrekAI supports personalized learning, strengthens instructional design, and provides measurable improvements in student outcomes, all while giving teachers more time to focus on relationships and instruction.

TrekAI’s vision is clear: technology should serve the classroom, not disrupt it. The platform is built on the belief that students should learn the smart way, not the hard way (or the dishonest way), and that teachers should have time to enjoy their work rather than simply manage more of it. TrekAi exists to serve education by illustrating a new path where every student is accommodated, every teacher is supported, and every school is connected like never before.

Positioning for Growth

As TrekAI’s adoption accelerated, GAC’s Board of Trustees began evaluating how to sustain its growth while protecting the school’s broader mission and resources. After more than a year of strategic planning, the Board determined that TrekAI’s expansion required capital and operational flexibility beyond what a nonprofit school model can provide.

“To truly allow TrekAI to grow and serve schools at scale, it requires resources beyond what a nonprofit structure can sustain,” said Harsh. “Launching TrekAI as its own company enables outside investment while ensuring GAC remains an investor and strategic partner.”

Leadership Transition

As part of the transition, GAC’s Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Joshua Thomason, is now the Chief Executive Officer of TrekAI. Dr. Thomason holds a doctorate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education from Johns Hopkins University and has spent his career developing innovative, personalized learning models. Members of the original TrekAI team will join him in this next chapter, ensuring continuity as the company expands. GAC has appointed an interim leader to serve in the Chief Financial Officer role and will conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.

As TrekAI enters this new chapter, Greater Atlanta Christian School celebrates the innovation born in its own classrooms, shaped and led by its faculty and staff, and looks forward to a continued partnership that will help shape the future of education. GAC remains steadfast in its commitment to thoughtful, forward-looking innovation and to leading at the forefront of what’s next in teaching and learning.