Nicol Christie, MEd, is the project lead for Illinois Equitable Family and Community Engagement under the Region 9 Comprehensive Center. She manages technical assistance and research projects in the Policy, Practice, and Systems Change area at the American Institutes for Research. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Christie has more than 20 years of experience serving public school children and families. She has extensive knowledge of applied research, improvement science, and adult learning methodology.
Christie specializes in conducting professional development, developing best practice case studies, running focus groups, and monitoring and program outcomes. She has experience designing and facilitating training for federal, state, and local audiences. In addition to managing projects and teams, Christie is a highly skilled technical assistance provider with rich content and craft knowledge in several domains: early learning, extended learning, and workforce development.
Christie has extensive experience brokering relationships with state and local education agencies. She has worked with numerous clients in regions across the country. Her primary responsibilities include project management, professional development training and coaching, and guiding state and local education systems’ school improvement activities. Her technical skills include developing multimedia products, including web-based modules and websites, and creating instructional tools and resources designed to highlight best practices and build educator capacity. Christie’s mastery of virtual collaboration methods has led to improved client and partner communications and productivity, which she harnesses to unify internal and external teams as well as form cohesive and collaborative partnerships. Key contributions include advising stakeholders on instructional and behavior management strategies, designing training modules, and developing and aligning curricula.
Christie began her career in Philadelphia and the District of Columbia public education systems as an elementary-certified teacher, teaching second and third grades for several years. She has a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction, and technology from Temple University and is a National Writing Project Fellow.