Inside Gaggle: Interview with Amber Aplington-Johnson

Senior Account Executive Amber Aplington-Johnson has worn many hats during her years at Gaggle. Initially part of the Customer Service team, Amber has spent more than nine years supporting district partners on our Account Management team. In her current role, Amber guides districts through the implementation process, shares customer feedback to help improve the user experience, and provides ongoing support and partnership for large districts across the country.

Start date: August 18, 2008

We asked Amber five questions to get to know a little more about her and her time with Gaggle. Here’s what she had to say:

What are three words to describe Gaggle?

• Collaborative: Any problem that needs to be solved, or any project that needs to be tackled, is always a group effort. There is never a time when you can’t work with somebody else—whether it’s in your own department or across departments—to solve a problem and make sure we are doing things right and meeting the needs of our customers. It’s nice to know that you always have a team available to help when you need them.
• Mission-driven: We are all here for the same reason. Our company’s mission is one that’s so easy to get behind, and that’s the goal everybody has every day with every interaction: making sure we’re helping school districts keep students safe.
• Family: Part of what makes Gaggle so special is that feeling of family you get from all of the people—new and old—and being able to make those connections both on a professional and personal level. I’ve been with Gaggle for a long time and have made a lot of really great connections over the years. I even met my husband here!

What drew you to Gaggle?
I was initially drawn to Gaggle because I needed a job. I graduated from college in 2008, which was a terrible year to try to find work! A customer service position brought me to Gaggle, but what keeps me at Gaggle is the people here, the mission, the ability to contribute to the overall goal, and to be able to impact not just school districts but also the students.

What have you gained from working at Gaggle?
I’ve gained a lot and grown a lot. Being with a company for 12 years and starting right out of college, you’re bound to gain a lot of experience and maturity. I have some great friends because of Gaggle, I have a husband because of Gaggle, and I’ve gained a lot of respect for K-12 as well. I have a greater understanding of what school districts have to do to give students the education they need, including the safety efforts required to ensure students can get that education.

What is your proudest moment at Gaggle?
I feel very proud when school districts purchase Gaggle in order to check a box and I’m able to then build the relationship to a point where they become true advocates. Not only do they need the service for the safety aspect, they truly believe in what we do and support our mission. It’s more than a moment, but it’s an aspect of my job that really motivates me. I love being able to have that impact—working with districts more closely so they can see that Gaggle is not just a tool that’s needed where they are, but other districts need this too.

What is your favorite memory at Gaggle?
The time I painted myself blue for Gaggle’s holiday party! Getting the opportunity to dress up for various themes over the years has been really fun, but painting myself blue to be a character from “Beetlejuice” definitely stands out.

Being with the company for as long as she has, Amber has seen Gaggle go through a lot of changes and growth—all while going through her own changes and growth. But how does she feel about working with her husband? “When you tell people you work with your spouse, most say they would never do that,” said Amber. “I do enjoy having the opportunity to work with my husband. We work well together—we have a lot of respect for each other, and it makes working together really easy. And there’s an advantage to being married to the tech guy!”