Join the K-12 Bridge Movement
Our Story
K-12 Bridge was created from a simple realization: parents want the best for their children but often feel overwhelmed navigating today’s education system. As parents, educators, and advocates, our team has lived these challenges and saw a gap between what families need and the support they receive. We bridge that gap by providing clear, trusted information, practical tools, and a supportive community that empowers parents to confidently advocate for and engage in their child’s education.
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We have created our business plan, and will begin crowdfunding on April 15th, 2026. Interested in helping us succeed? Connect with us so we can keep you updated!
Meet the Team
Founder & CEO
Beth Frost-Johnson
“I believe that every child deserves to succeed, and every parent deserves the knowledge to help them to do so.”
As CEO of K-12 Bridge, Beth leads a dedicated team united by a shared commitment to helping every child receive the best possible education. She oversees the organization’s strategy, educational programs, operations, and finance—and keeps things moving forward with equal parts focus, heart, and a well-timed sense of humor. She finds her greatest reward in seeing her colleagues thrive, knowing that when they do, students, parents, and schools benefit too.
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A serial entrepreneur, Beth has spent the past 20 years building and growing her own business consulting firm while helping clients do the same. Before that, she supported healthcare systems and physician practices in driving meaningful improvement and sustainable growth.
In short: she’s serious about results, bringing both drive and humor to her work, even when technology chooses chaos.
Founder & Chief Learning Officer
Dr. Haydee Smith
“I believe that children are at the center of education and that strong home-school partnerships support a child’s academic and social/emotional foundation and success.”
Dr. Smith serves as Chief Learning Officer at K-12 Bridge, where she oversees learning, curriculum, and instruction. She finds the greatest reward in ensuring that everyone involved in a child’s education has access to the tools, resources, and strategies they need to support student success.
Before joining the K-12 Bridge team, Haydee served as a school administrator in the Glendale-River Hills School District in Wisconsin.
Dr. Smith earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Milwaukee, including a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Early Childhood Education. She later returned to Lesley College to complete a second master’s degree in Technology in Education. A lifelong learner, Dr. Smith went on to earn her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University.
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Founder & Chief School Relations Officer
David Lucre
“I believe that the more families understand how the educational system works, the better they can support and advocate for their children.”
David Lucre earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Education from Beloit College and currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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As Chief School Relations Officer at K-12 Bridge, David leads strategic partnerships with school districts, as well as parent and teacher organizations. He is committed to strengthening collaboration between schools and the families they serve, ensuring stakeholders are supported, informed, and aligned in their efforts to improve student outcomes.
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Before joining K-12 Bridge, David dedicated 33 years to the Brown Deer School District in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, serving as a classroom teacher, creative arts teacher, and Dean of Students. His extensive experience across instructional leadership and student support continues to shape his relationship-centered approach to school engagement and community partnership.
Founder & Chief PR & Communications Officer
Beth Strohbusch
I believe that children are our future. (Yes, it’s a Whitney song, but…). Parents are a primary conduit to ensuring that education sets the stage for a child’s future.
Beth (aka Betty to her K-12 Bridge team) attended St. Mary’s Grade School and Xavier High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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As a solo-practice strategic communications consultant, she has deep experience in helping organizations launch their enterprise or products, secure visibility, strengthen reputation and dominate thought leadership positioning.
She plays a hands-on role in both strategic planning and tactical execution for ensure narrative development, storytelling, public relations, content marketing and copywriting. The most rewarding part of her work is supporting people and advancing organizations that focus on the greater good.
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In addition to serving as a consultant during much of her career, she has served in marketing, communications and PR leadership roles with a dominant focus in startup and early-stage ventures in healthcare and health IT.
Founder & Chief Financial Officer
Jami Wild, CPA
I believe that today’s education system can feel overwhelming for both parents and educators, and that meaningful change happens when families and schools are supported to work together in a cohesive, informed, and respectful partnership—leading to stronger outcomes for children.
Jami is Chief Financial Officer of K-12 Bridge. She earned a BBA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
As Chief Financial Officer, she leads financial planning and reporting, cash flow oversight, budgeting, and risk management to ensure the organization’s resources are aligned with its mission and long-term sustainability.
With more than 45 years of experience in finance, Jami has dedicated her career to using data to tell stories that drive understanding and action. She brings clarity to complex financial and operational information, helping teams make informed decisions that support K-12 Bridge’s commitment to empowering families, supporting educators, and strengthening educational communities. Jami thrives in collaborative environments where her expertise can be used to solve challenges with purpose and impact.
Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
Rebecca Whalen
“I believe that every parent deserves access to clear, practical tools that empower them to actively shape their child’s learning journey.”
Rebecca brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, empathy, and strategic leadership to her role as Chief Marketing Officer at K-12 Bridge. With a degree in Physical Therapy, she spent 26 years as a licensed Physical Therapist, which provided her with invaluable insights into family dynamics, developmental challenges, and the critical importance of effective communication and advocacy.
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She then transitioned into education marketing, serving for four years as Director of Marketing for WonderED K-12 Academy, where she led strategic brand growth and data-driven campaigns supporting students and families.
Rebecca is deeply committed to K-12 Bridge’s mission to empower families and strengthen family-school partnerships. She is passionate about expanding access to practical resources that give parents the confidence and tools to actively support their child’s learning and success.