Jill Aurand

Education Data & Analytics Leader

Results‑driven leader with nearly 30 years in education data systems, reporting, and application development. I help organizations build secure, sustainable data capabilities that improve services and accountability. I’m open to full‑time roles and consulting engagements.

Hire for a Role Engage as a Consultant View Resume Connect on LinkedIn Copy email

Lincoln, NE

jill.aurand@gmail.com 402‑416‑0490 LinkedIn

What I Do

Advisory & Roadmapping
Practical guidance for state agencies, districts, and nonprofits on modernizing education data systems, with an emphasis on governance, interoperability, privacy, and sustainability.
Ed‑Fi / SLDS Implementation
Standards alignment, cross‑system mappings, and secure data exchange patterns based on Ed-Fi and CEDS data standards.
Reporting & Analytics
Design of secure and public reporting portals and actionable dashboards, including data suppression and data quality checks that withstand public scrutiny.

Core Skills

🧮Data reporting and visualizations

ΣEd-Fi Data Standard & ODS/API

🛠️Common Education Data Standards (CEDS)

🌐Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS)

✅Data governance processes and procedures

💰Budget and grant management

✨Federal and state reporting and compliance

🗄️SQL & Microsoft SQL Server

⚙️Agile project management

🚀DevOps methodologies

Selected Achievements & Grants

✅ Spearheaded the statewide implementation of the Ed-Fi ODS/API and Data Standard, establishing a unified framework for education data integration and interoperability across districts.
✅ Guided cross-functional teams through application modernization, introducing DevOps practices and cloud deployment strategies that enhanced collaboration, accelerated delivery cycles, and positioned the organization for long-term innovation
✅ Oversaw the development and submission of the 2023 SLDS grant as Project Director and lead writer, securing $4M in funding to drive multi-year, statewide improvements in longitudinal data systems.
✅ Provided leadership on the 2019 SLDS grant, managing a $3.5M modernization budget that included development of a statewide Longitudinal Data Store.

Experience

IT Administrator · Nebraska Department of Education

Jan 2022 – Present

➜Lead 30 staff across Enterprise Architecture & Business Intelligence, Data Collections & Reporting, and Application Development.
➜Guided Agile & DevOps to improve collaboration and delivery cadence.
➜Directed SLDS grant initiatives and statewide data modernization.

Assistant Administrator · Nebraska Department of Education

Mar 2021 – Jan 2022

➜Expanded responsibilities in statewide reporting & validation; advanced Ed‑Fi implementation.

Director of Data Collections · Nebraska Department of Education

Sep 2012 – Mar 2021

➜Managed team of data analysts for district collections & validation.
➜Led Nebraska’s adoption of Ed‑Fi Data Standard & ODS/API; presented at state & national conferences.

IT Application Developer Senior · Nebraska Department of Education

Aug 2000 – Sep 2012

➜Built NSSRS Validation website; coordinated EDFacts submissions; supported audits & compliance.
➜Served as EDFacts Coordinator.

School Finance Accountant · Nebraska Department of Education

Oct 1996 – Aug 2000

➜Developed district budgeting calculations; AFR submission system; annual finance presentations.

Tax Professional / Enrolled Agent (EA) · H&R Block

Jan 2017 – Present

➜Individual & small business tax prep and advisory; IRS representation.

Education

Kansas State University — Master of Accountancy
Kansas State University — B.S. in Business Administration (Accounting), Cum Laude

Certifications

Enrolled Agent (IRS), 2019 – Present
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Management Accountant

Resume Snapshot

A condensed view based on my full resume. The full PDF version can be downloaded here.

Summary

Results‑driven leader in education data systems, reporting and analytics, and application development within the Nebraska Department of Education; experienced in SQL, governance, and compliance; recognized for securing and directing multi‑million‑dollar SLDS grants and delivering actionable information for policymakers, educators, and the public.

Focus Areas

Statewide data modernization (SLDS/Ed‑Fi)
Secure reporting portals & analytics
Data governance & masking rules
Agile/DevOps ways of working

Let’s Connect

Reach out via email, phone, or LinkedIn — I look forward to connecting.

jill.aurand@gmail.com 402‑416‑0490 LinkedIn

Lincoln, NE