Roger Paramo is a GED graduate who earned his credential and went on to build a career at GED Testing Service. For Roger, the GED represented more than an academic milestone—it was proof that he could succeed within the U.S. education system. That validation gave him the confidence to pursue technical certifications and ultimately apply for technology-related roles.

“Knowing I had earned the GED gave me the assurance to walk into interviews and say, ‘I can learn what you need me to learn, and I can deliver results,’” Roger said. That confidence, backed by a nationally recognized credential, became a turning point in launching his tech career.

In his role at GED Testing Service, Roger has had the opportunity to work on innovative projects that connect data, technology, and learner outcomes. One of those experiences included supporting the development of an AI-powered feedback agent within the GED&Me app. For Roger, the most important part of building any solution is first understanding the problem and defining the outcomes learners and educators need.

“Seeing it in production and helping the team make better decisions made it all worth it,” he said.

Through his work, Roger has seen firsthand how AI can identify patterns in student learning and turn them into actionable insights. By analyzing data within the GED&Me app, he helps pinpoint where learners are struggling and shares those findings with GED development and education teams. Those insights inform product improvements and strengthen the support available to students.

Roger knows firsthand what GED learners need—and that perspective shows in his work. As part of the GED team, he helped improve the GED&Me app in ways that matter most to learners, contributing to a 22% increase in average session length and a 97% increase in sessions where learners get their questions answered.

As AI capabilities continue to grow, Roger sees even greater potential to understand the learner journey, identify barriers earlier, and help teams design more effective resources that meet students’ needs.

Roger is especially proud of experiencing the full data analytics lifecycle in work that directly impacts students. His primary responsibility is to support state education authorities as they seek to better understand their GED student populations and identify opportunities to improve outcomes.

From asking the right questions and preparing data to analyzing patterns, sharing insights, and seeing those insights put into action, Roger is involved in every step of the process. “Seeing how data translates into better access to education and improved student outcomes makes every analysis meaningful,” he said. “Knowing that my work contributes to someone else’s opportunity to earn their GED, just like I did, drives everything I do.”

Beyond his role, Roger is a strong advocate for GED graduates who want to pursue careers in AI and technology. He encourages learners to recognize the grit it took to earn their GED because that same perseverance is highly valued by tech employers. He also recommends building stackable credentials through free or low-cost resources such as Harvard’s CS50, Google’s Data Analytics Certificate, Coursera, and freeCodeCamp.

“You’ve already shown you’re proactive, autonomous in learning, and determined to push forward,” Roger said. “Those are the traits that make someone valuable in a fast-changing field like technology.”